The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-12
SOME LEADING EDITORIALS
wHY rHE pEopLE ARE FoR scHLEY.


WHY THE PEOPLE ARE FOR SCHLEY.
From the Baltimore Sun
The New York Evening Post published dispatch IRON
Washington day or two ago in which the writer pointed
out the remarkable conflict between public and ohciai op-
ion on the merits known the Sampson Schiey
On the authority Of officer OF the navy u
parment alleged that while the people are almost ouy
for Schey officers OF navy almost unanimously OPP
posed him Recently poll was taken at Atlantic Ci on
the question who was the hero OF Santiago One nun
bred fifty persons accorded that honor to Admiral Samp
son. while S47 declared Admiral Schey entitled to the AIS
tncion THAT the feeling in army and navy circles OBJ
Posts correspondent should be so generally tue
other way how different notion of responsibility the
regular officers of the service cherish from that heo by tne
crowd large" According to army officer who under
takes explain this point seniority the key to the theory
responsibility" For after Funston had captured
Agunado General Macarthur would have had perfect
right cable Washington: The troops under my com
nand have captured Aguinado and send him as Wash
ngons birthday present the nation Macarthur was IN
command; he was responsible for everything that went on
there Just as you remember William Henry Harrsons ia
dispatch We have met the enemy and they are ours
referring particularly to Perrys victory on Lake Erie
Officially army all say that Sampson
had perfect right claim the victory OF Santiago as his
own and that be the issue in the popular mind
This sort of reasoning, although be technically
sound from the standpoint of the army and navy depart
ments is convincing General Macarthur did not at
tempt appropriate himself any OF the glory which
have attached Funsons capture of the Filipino chieftan
On the contrary the General the Kansas soldier full
credit the achievement He did under the cloak Of
Seniority claim the honor OF exploit for which his sub
ordinate responsible Evidently General Macarthur is
warrior who is willing acquire fame through the
OF other AS for the battle of Lake Erie
nobody the of General William Henry
Harrison with that famous victory 1t Perrys triumph
and long the annals of the navy preserved men
will be proud of the gallant American sailors victory
the British squadron victory which at critical time
tabshed American naval supremacy Lake Erie 1t was
Perry who to Harrison that famous dispatch I'VE have
the enc md tbeya bripc
sloop and schooner 1t Perry who that fight
after nearly every officer and sailor his flagship the Law
renee had been disabled and his ship had been battered
by the enemy fleet that the American commander had
transfer his flag another vessel General Harrison
claimed this brilliant victory his He not the
kind OF to appropriate anothers laureseven if he had
been privileged to do by seniority. He more
entitled the glory of Perys victory the British
Lake Erie than General Miles entitled take himself
the credit for Deweys triumph the Spanish fleet
Manila
Why people Tor Schey as the naval officer quoted
by Post says they everybody who
public opinion long ago dscovered 1t is because he
has made any preensons be the hero of Santiago
that he has claimed all the credit for victory fight which
has been apty described "A captains fight On the
trary Admiral Schey has borne himself with modesty
which unusual is admirable 1t was Schey who
signaled Sampson when the battle that there
glory enough for ALL 1t Schey who, in his official
report to Sampson with extraordinary magnanimity
Il congratulate you sincerely this great victory
the squadron under your command and glad had
the opportunity to contribute in the least victory
big enough for all The spirit displayed by Ad-
mira Schley should have with prompt and hearty
from the admiral commanding the feet Unfortunate
y for the reputation OF the navy the day
Santiago fought the present time Admiral Schey
been the target for defamation and dsparagement In
and for the vindicaon of the principle of Seniority
the officer whose ship the thckest the battle the
man who led the way the brilliant victory in the
annals OF the has been shamcfuly and perssenty
gncd The effort has been made times it almost seemed
with official sanctions deny him the smallest share in
triumph in which he the conspicuous figure 1t is
deceived by hnespun technicatie have they
regard for the fetch OF Seniority They what
Schey did during the with Spain they know that he
deserves well of his country and they feel has not
had fair play Il for hope says the naval quoted
by the Post that the findings OF the board OF inquiry will
be that there glory enough for ALL for any basis
do how the verdict will do alay the feel
ing that has been aroused Admiral Scheys friends hone
and believe that justice will be done him by of in
qury Whatever the findings OF that may be however
will not affect the popular verdict which rendered long
with full knowledge of the facts The people are con
WINGED that Admiral Schley courageous and efficient Off
II be possible by the logic Seniority that
another entitled the credit which belongs to Scbev
The people do take kindly such reasoning Thv
believe in facts and They have crowned
Schley their hero and all the quibbng the Seniority
experts make them transfer their admiration and
loyalty to the man behind the horizon"