The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-14
SIMPSON IS SICK.

Admiral Sampson is sick. Envy and
jealousy and petulance have done their
work, and left him a nervous wreck. The
worry attending his attempt to destroy
the reputation of a brother officer, that
he might be glorified, has been too much
for his physical constitution. He sees be-
fore him investigation that can have
but one result-the affirmation of the
verdict already rendered by the people
Although not himself on trial, he sees
that the evidence which will exonerate
Admiral Schley will Of necessity condemn
him. He, who of old would rend the
Cak, dreamed not of the rebound" Samp-
son will be hoist by his own petard. This
he now feels. He sees now, that his
malice and ambition carried him too far.
In his old age he finds himself disgraced
and reprobated before the country in
whose service he has spent his life. And.
bitterest Of all, his reprobation was
brought about by his own foolish tongue,
his lack of soldierly generosity, and the
p dictates Of a malignant disposition
Fame came to him, but in his eager
ness to hold her fast he lost her price
less favor. For Sampson the man, we
have naught but pity; for Sampson the
officer, We have admiration mixed with
Observation-Disclosures for his deeds, con-
tempt for his littleness.
What effect will this physical indisposi-
fiOp nf bou
ton Of the Schley inquiry? We cannot
see now it will effect in any way that
proceeding. The friends Of Admiral
Sampson intimate that he ought to be
present and be represented by counsel.
We can see no reason for either. Admiral
Schleg is being tried, as 1t were, upon
the statements Of the official records and
the reports made by Admiral Sampson
The latter must stand or fall by his
official documents wherein ne has ira
duced a naval officer. 1t is true that the
Investigation may bring out many things
inimical to the reputation of Sampson
1t may show that he ran away from me
the act. 1t may show that he withheld
the cipher code from Admiral Schley so
that he would be delayed at Cienfuegos
1t may show that he read and approved
the libelous attack upon Admiral Schley,
written by the paid historian of the navy
department. 1t may show him to have
been in a conspiracy to force Admiral
SChley from the navy. The investigation
may show all these damaging facts, yet
in this court Of inquiry Sampson can
neither rebuff damaging evidence, nor Of
fer any in his own behalf. He must re-
main quiet while Admiral Schley mas his
day in court. He must allow the man he
had traduced chance to vindicate him
self before the world and purge his con-
Guet of the aspersions cast upon it by
the man who was temporarily his su-
perior in authority. When this is done,
when the court has filed it's findings and
rendered it's judgment. it will be the time
FOR Sampson to ask for a court of in
quiry, before which he will be allowed to
offer whatever defense he may have.
This is the legal status of the contro-
versy. The judge advocate may request
Admiral Sampson to be present and act
as a prompter should he so desire. There
are some charges which may be investi-
gated wherein the word of Sampson will
be placed against that of Schley. Unless
there are corroborating circumstances
bearing on one side or the other, this
evidence will be disregarded by the
court. The burden of proof rests upon
the man making the charge.
How far Sampson was influenced in his
conduct by Crowninshield and Long will
probably never be known. The impress
sion is general that the vanity of Samp-
son was played upon by Mephistopheles
Crownlnshield. to make of him tool for
the destruction of sehley man whom he
hates.