The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-12-20
THE VERDICT IN THE SCHLEY
CASE.


The verdict rendered by the court of
inquiry in the case of Rear Admiral
Schley is disappointing one in that
it is divided one, the majority of
the court being against Schley, while
Admiral Dewey, after signing the re-
port of the court, dissents in some par
ticulars. Upon the charge of coward
ice. which was really the most i'm
portant one made, and which was
the real cause of the calling of the
court, there is no disagreement. The
, court is unanimous in the opinion that
, Admiral Schley was most courageous
under fire, and in no way sullied the
bravery for which the American navy
has always been noted.
The ordeal which was placed upon
these three naval officers has been a
most severe one. For months they have
patiently sat and heard the voIumin-
GUS testimony offered, have gone over
it faithfully and sifted it thoroughly,
and presented their decision theron.
The strong partisans of Admiral
Schley will of course commend Dewey
and condemn Benham and Ramsey. But
it must be remembered that they are
old naval officers, we'll versed in every
thing which pertains to the navy they
are on the retired list, have nothing
70 81
fact that they have taken side other
than the popular one at the present
would show that they have put forth
their impartial views of the testimony
independent of all official or political
favor. While the finding of Admiral
Dewey..will for the present find greater
popular favor, and will also be accept
ed as right by Schley's most strong
partisans, it must be remembered that
the majority finding of the court will
be the one that will stand in history
and so accepted, though of course Ad-
miral Deweys exceptions will stand
along with it.
And now that the court has rendered
its verdict and it has fully exonorated
him as respecting the charge of cow
ardice, while it did not find him q
complete success as squadron COM
mander, which really carries no dis
grace with it, the matter should be
allowed to drop. There will be no
good results from carrying it further.
1t is not likely that congressional
verdict would arrive at more salts
factory finding, were it instituted, for
there would in that case be
both majority and minority reports
in the case. Such an inyesti-
cation would cost at least from
$40, 900 to $780, 900. perhaps more, and
settle nothing. 1t would simply thresh
over old straw, add nothing new to it,
cover Schley with no more glory than
now rests upon his shoulders, detract
from the glory of our navy, and then
leave the case practically where it
finds it. Congress will be wise in
nipping the aspirations of some ambi-
tious member who would like to go
down in history, if he could, as the
man who instituted the vindication of
Schley. It has other and more import
ant matters that demand its close at
tention.
1t is better the matter be dropped
with the court of inquiry for no matter
what is the result of any Investigation.
the people will continue to believe
as they do now. 1t is most unfortun-
ate case, and the more it is stirred
up, the more likely to become, while
nothing is likely to be more settled
than is the case at present. AS Schley
once we'll said, there is glory enough
out of the war for all He will con-
tinue to remain naval hero in the
eyes of the American people for what
he did at Santiago, despite of the
shortcomings which seem to be proved
against him previous to that date or
any lack of ability he possessed
as squadron commander AS a
fighter, there is no question but he was
all right. On that point the court
agreed, and so do the American peo-
pie