The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-23
SA1IPSoN-SCHLEr TO D4rE.

S1MPSON-SCHLET TO D4TE.
Our hindsight is always better than
our foresight To tell how this or that
should have been done after the event
Is much easier than to decide and do the
proper thing when time demands instant
action. Genius may approximate the per
lection of judgment in dealing with cur
rent events But even the Judgment of
genius upon the spur of the moment is
not in it with ordinary ability when deal
ing with the same circumstances after
the event The greatest make errors
errors of judgment Many an error is
lost sight of in the great average of final
results. The invasion of Russia by Ma
poleOn came very near being wiped out at
the battle of Waterloo. Butcher came to
the relief of Wellington, and the invasion
of Russia was forever fixed in the his
tory of the world as one of the greatest
mistakes of genius. 1t is a mere truism
to say that every great military or naval
leader. every statesman, every lawyer,
doctor. or business man is often guilty
of errors of judgment. And yet it seems
that the Sampson clique and their news
p rper friends throughout the nation,
would hold Admiral Schley responsible
for errors of judgment-would hold him
to a standard established by themselves
after the acts. by the light of a complete
knowledge of events both before and
after the incidents in question
The Precept under which the navy de-
Pertinent is Investigating the conduct of
Admiral Schley contains nothing but al
legations of errors of judgment, which if
true. had no effect upon the ultimate
results of the campaign. He is accused
OF delaying his fleet unnecessarily to
coal; of not proceeding with all possible
dispatch from Cienfuegos to Santiago to
blockade the Cervera fleet; of not obeying
an order from Washington, the execution
OF which he deemed impossible; of ex-
hIbtting cowardice in not entering the
mouth of the harbor of Santiago, and at
ta;king the Colon as she lay at anchor,
aui of making the famous loop at the
great battle where he finally sunk the
entire Spanish fleet. 1t is possible that
some other admiral might not have done
Just what he did; but could the results
have reflected more glory upon the Amer
icsn navy? The Spanish fleet might
have been attacked in the harbor of San
ti6go and destroyed d month before it
was destroyed in the open sea- but in
the light of subsequent events such an
act would have been folly Had this been
undertaken and the daring act crowned
with success, the world would have an
plauded, but had disaster resulted from
the attempt the commander who was
responsible would have met with uni
versal condemnation. Events would have
proved it a gross error of judgment
So far. in the investigation the prose.
cution 1--WE say prosecution for 1t is that
to all intent sand purposes) has made no
point against the applicant. The evi.
deace shows but one thing. the prejudice
OF the witnesses against Admiral Schlev.
.
1t Is their opinion he might have done
diferently-that is all. He might, by TAX.
Ing great risks, have cOaled several hours
before he did; he might, by abandoning
the smaller vessels and the collier. gained
few hours in the run to Santiago; he
might have entered the mouth of tn,
haroor and attacked the Colon and per
hars" sunk her a month before he did
he might have kept his blockading souad
ron nearer the entrance to the harbor in
stead of patroling the waters five mile,
out; he might Cbut this is to come later
have backed one of the engines of tn,
brooklyn and made the loon smaller
he might-have allowed the enemy t.
escape, but he did none of these things
He did exactly as he did, with the re
SUI that he won a victory over which
the civilized world lifted up its million
voices in acclaim.
'fhus far, the evidence of the Sampso,
Wi 2esses has fallen more than fiat. Wha
viii be mustered in the future the fin
turc only knows. The personal enemie.
of Admiral Schley find it much NOR.
diff making their ISLANDERS stick IN
der the cross-examination of men trained
to get at the bottom of things, than they
hid giving their opinions of Schley's mis-
deeds to scandal-loving public Unles.
marked change takes place in tn.
character Of the evidence of the Sampson
crowd, Admiral Schley VIII not only bt
completely indicated of the charges nre
Gerred against him, but it will be show,
that he evinced the most perfect judg
ment- The interest of the public in whc
was the rlghtful hero of the battle of
Santiago is growing beautifully Iess-tha,
question has been settled in the gen
eral mind. Interest now centers in wht
Is the Mephistopheles of the navy de-
partment. Is it Long, Crowninshield O.
Sampson? The investigation will deter
mine this to moral certainty as it pro
crosses. When that is determined, 1
were better for him that a milestone b.