The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-27
TIE END OF THE GREAT PERsECU-
TION.

The present secretary of the navy is
g. Massachusetts man and is named
John d. Long. He wears a tough
face, and is able to do things of which
no conscientious, high toned. sincere
and just man would dare to be guilty.
We felt quite sure that he would after
his many caperings against Admiral
schley put the capstone upon his in
famous monumental acts by deciding
against the most gallant, admirable
southron and in favor Of that greatest
ct all pretenders, failures and frauds
Sampson. Well. the last act in the
long comedy of infamy closes and the
curtain drops upon the absurd and ran
oorous secretary, pilloring him for ever.
\ bad man has done a very bad act.
He will receive the contempt and exc
Grafton of all fair men of whatever sec
lion or party.
The Washington Post is a thorough
faced republican paper of marked ab:l-
'ty. 1t praised Long the other day in
an exalted way. but il was too saga
Cious and just to admire his curse or
20 approve of his general Management
OF the navy department. 1t confessed
70 very high admiration of the Massa-
,husetts malignant and enemy of right
and justice, but it thought that he had
4 plain duty before him to perform-to
get out quietly from the secretaryship
of the navy and let some wiser. safer
man into his place. We quote in part.
and the arraignment is incisive. vigor-
Gus and without wool in the mouth
This able exponent CT r~epublicanism,
says:
mo one. therefore, thus enlightened
n%nagines for one m that u naval
service has fallen into it's present la
nentable condition thi ough any onni-
vance or consent of his. This fact re-
mains, however, that the morale of the
corps has been steadily deteriorating
/ for more tina three years past. The
navy department has become an arena
IN which courtiers. mountebankS and
/ t-icksters thrive n where the test of
merit is not modest worth and profess
sional excellence. but the ability to
make V with the powers that be.
. But Mr.. Long is out of place
at the head of the navy department. He
is disqualified both by temperament
and ill-heaIth for any proper discharge
Of the duties of the position, and he
SIOulo ISSlSI d. OllCc, " OIly III MS
own interests, but in the interests Of
The service and the country. F..
The scandal is notorious. 1t first be-
came a matter of public knowledge and
Comment when. something more than
three years ago, the department cabal
moved heaven and earth to cheat Dewey
Of the Asiatic station. 1t has just now
eliminated in the shameful and fero-
| clouS persecution of Schley. The whole
intervening period constitutes a record
Of petty tyranny, of unblushing favorit-
ISM. of discreditable courts-martial-
notably those of Captain lilly and
Colonel Meade-of feuds, factions. acri-
monious controversies and general de-
liberalization These facts are fragrant,
The older officers deplure them"
And Long. the head of the navy for
years. is the sorry fellow to endorse the
rascals who have assailed. maligned,
and brave Schley. n to put his brand
IF official power upon him. He is
wholly unfit for any place of respectable
ity and decency requiring ability. pro-
priety. wisdom and a sense of justice
and right. Woe be it to any country
! with such officials in charge. Woe be
t it to any people who are thus misrep.
resented and betrayed! We urn t.
Byron for a passage to express con
tempt for the base conspirators wht
have sought to wound and destroy /:
i nobl American:
/ Pardon is for men
And not for reptiles-we have none 20
Steno.
And no resentment things ike hin
must sting.
And higher beings suffer; tits the char
ter OF life"
The New York Evening Post wa