The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1901-07-25


the fact that the work was to be used
as text for the Naval Academy. And
it not only furnishes AlmiraI' Schley
with an opportunity, but, in the de-
tense orshis own good name, it makes
it. obligatory upon nlm to bring suit
in the courts to place the responsible
ity, punish the guilty, and establish
his rights as to the hOnOrs at San
tiagO. It is perhaps an unpleasant
thing to do for a man of Admiral
Schley's retiring disposition as
he fs-and only awaiting retiring or
ders, Whicn must be issued in less than
three months-but there seems to be
no help for it now.
When this suit is commenced yellow
journalism is likely to be furnished
the basis of many sensational and
startling stories. While. itsis. evident
from what has already been done that
Secretary Long, and in fact the entire
Washington Administration, would
like to uphold the Navy "boOtlick'' in
his unwarranted. attack upon a super
ior officer, yet precedent and the rules
of the army and navy for generations
past make it necessary for them to
make a show of prosecuting the case,
besides disclaiming any knowledge of
how it happened.
The culprit at the very first dash
from the box has shown himself ir-
ritable and thoroughly incapable of
understanding the predicament Wash
ington is in. Furthermore, it appears
utterly impossible for him to cOmpre-
hend that Washington is with him
even while denouncing his action by
word of mouth. This gives further
insight to Secretary Longs blunder-
ing, and a promise of still more of that
kind of business as the case progresses.
With such men upon the stage in an
action of this kind it is not likely to
be hard to get at the real truth.
That is what the country wants.
That is what the friends of Rear Ad-
miral Schley are going to bring out
before the matter is dropped.
Commenting on this line, the Sa-
Vannah Morning News, accredited as
the most conservative paper fl the
South, remarks: There Is no season
to doubt that the Admiral will be able
to show that the part he acted in that
battle was highly honorable one. In
the brief talk which he gave out on
Saturday he said that the Brooklyn,
the ship on which he was during the
battle, inflicted over f1fty-efgH per
cent. of the damage suffered BY the
Spanish feet, 2and she 3scefYed Sffts4
four per cent. of the damage inflicted
upon the American feet That. does
not look as if the Brooklyn ran away
from the Spaniards, or that the, Ad-
miral was afraid to meet them, IS as
serted by the author of the obnoxious
history"
And upon the reasons for a civil
court trial, the News says: TT is
thought that it will be easier to get an
impartial verdict from a ciEil1,court
than from a court of inquiry, because
the Sampson-Schley controversy has
been carried on with so much feeling
that it is probable that officers of the
navy have taken sides in regard to it.
A jury can reaully be obtained that is
free from any bias in the matter.euOf
course Maclay's History will be ruled
out of the Naval Academy as a text
book, until the controversy is adjust
ed. 1t ought never to have mad place
in that institution. A historian who
permits his feelings rather than, his
judgment to dominate him is hardly
qualified for writing history"