Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-23
Mrs .FeIton on the schIey Verdict.

II
much, anu amounts to such a little.
" -
Mrs FELTON, on the SchIey Verdict.
There were several persons on trial be-
fore the country as well as the Naval
Court OF Inquiry: besides Admiral Schley.
One Mr.. Maclay-who was drawing pay
IN the Navy department, as a spittoon
washer-or coal HEAVIER. or as engaged in
some other mental work, classed under
the head OF ''laborer'-on the pay-rolls;
was really employed to write a book to
! be used as a textbook for students in
naval schools and he deserved and has
earned attention.
Mr.. Maclay wrote to please his employ
ers. as the most OF persons would do.
whose bread and butter was involved, and
who could willingly masquerade under
the cognomen of ''laborer"-when really
J they are engaged in questionable service
with pen and paper-where the principals
were afraid or unwilling to be seen or
known-in print-as authors of calumny.
Mr.. Maclay wrote up the battle Of San
] tiago-and Admiral Sampson endorsed the
book, when he read the scurvy illusions
made concerning Admiral Schley-by the
''laborer'' Maclay-who dubbed the brave
sea-captain "caitiff and a coward" in
the aforesaid textbook
Caitiff in Webster's Unabridged means
a rascal-in its strongest sense ii means
a vicious slave. Johnson says the word
means a mixture OF misery and wicked
ness-otherwise a mean slave.
Mr.. Maclay having used this epithet
along with coward" and Admiral Samp-
son having approved the book and con-
seQuently the approbious statement, Ad-
miral Schley called for an investigation
OF his individual conduct as commander
OF the famous squadron which destroyed
Cervera's Spanish feet and won the mag
rFA~rnF x-fafnrx~ tho TTuffad
Spain.
Admiral Dewey and two other admirals
OF the navy were selected to investigate
the chsSges and by reason of the evidence
and the ships records. neither of Mac
lays charges could be or were sustained
in the smallest particular by either of the
verdicts.
But Admiral Sampson, Admiral schIey's
enemy Crowningshield. and to some ex-
tent. Secretary Long. were involved along
with their historian, Maclay. All OF these
interested people were to be condemned
as calumniators. IL verdict Of courage
and official capacity was returned by the
court, without qualifications.
As the matter now stands-connected
as were these gentlement with Maclay
! and his so-called history-it becomes evil
dent that the court was packed with two
partisans who could be relied upon to be-
] smirch the naval commander on trial
even while he was necessarily cleared of
the ''caitif" and coward" parts OF the
Maclay indictment.
But Admiral Dewey was not a man who
could be nodded TO their liking, for his
| opinion most certainly outweigh the YER
dict OF both the other admirals, whose
verdict smells loudly of the unfortunate
atmosphere which environs naval affairs
In and about Washington City.
The vindication Of Admiral Schley was
rnranlcfa from the offpu CfN-a rharpaC
tanned in Maclay's book. but the verdict
Of Secretary Longs partizans is fatally
tainted with calumny and injustice.
Wherever Admiral Dewey's name is
known there will his eulogium on the
courage and capacity of Admiral Schley
be accepted as the proper verdict, and
wherever the carping criticisms Of the
other two men are read there viii be in
disputable evidence OF the frailty OF poor
human nature under stress of envy and
jealousy.
Nevertheless, congress owes a duty to
itself and the country to rescue the navy
department OF the government from in
iuences which will destroy its capacity
for usefulness unless a reform is effected.
The pestiferous agencies which dared TO
secrete defamer of character in the de-
artment that malice and envy might
sting the fame Of a great sea captain to
his fatal injury should have a thorough
ventilation in the congress OF the United
States.
That a defamer could be found small
and low enough to appear in the disguise
OF a laborer in the naval service, to do
this dirty work, should be exposed under
the glazing light OF congressional inquiry.
And that fiunkeys can be decorated with
shoulder straps and appointed on courts
Of inquiry should be made so clearly
known to the taxpayers of this country
that no other such verdict may ever be
recorded TO the modification and disgrace
Of the American people.
1t seems that Maclay is either beneath
everybody's notice or thoroughly under
stood to be the tool Of his masters in his
omission from either verdict, but II IS all
the more imperative that congress should
go to the root of the whole business and
extirpate from the pay rolls any other
''labOrers" who draw pay for one service
and are really employed to do other and
dubious work for a laborers pay. Unless
there Is a cleaning out Of such vermin the
character OF department service must fall
under heavy suspicion az not odium), wen
deserved and we'll located by Maclay's APP
pOintment in the navy department as a la
bOrer.
The very idea that a textbook for the
naval schools of the United States had
emanated from the scullery floor OF Sec
rotary Longs principality is unpleasant
to think about, and II is preposterous TO
have a Islander milf engineered by poll
ticians and supported from the treasury
Of the United States in this underhanded
manner to drag down the fame OF great
naval commanders, whose exploits were
resented by the jealousy OF his rivals and
whose reputation can be stabbed by n
hired assassin, disguised as a laborer, In
the army and navy building OF the gov
eminent.
Admiral Dewey's opinion OF Admiral
Schley has in It the ring Of honesty and
Justice, just tribute TO fellow worker
and a great naval commander, which he
was not afraid TO express in the presence
OF influences which were manifestly IN