The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-12-21

The Philadelphia Times says - CoWardtce
was the chief charge against Schiey. vi that
he il unanimously acquitted. bis conduct
during the battle of July was self-possessed,
and he encouraged, in his person. his subor-
dinate officers and men to fight courageously.
saws the majority report of the Court of In
quiry. Commodore Schley was the senior
officer of our squadron off Santiago when the
Spanish squadron attempted to escape on the
morning Of July 8, 1898. He was in absolute
command. and is entitled to the credit due to
such a commanding officer for the glorious
victory which resulted in the total destruction
of the Spanish ships, says Dewey IN the mi
nority report. Thus the main point is settled,
and in Dewey's opinion the second great con-
tenton, that Schley was in command and was
entitled 10 the victory should be decided IN
SchIey's favor Admiras Benham and Ram
say have plainly done what they could to save
the naval clique from complete humiliation
and have perpetrated another outrage against
hero
The Philadelphia Record says AS sort
of poultice for Admiral Schley wounded self
respect there is presented minority report by
Admiral Dewey, in which he declares fatty
that Schley was senior officer off Santiago
during the fight, in absolute command and
entitled to whatever credit is due tor the VIC
tory then and there achieved. This, after all,
is the main point to be considered and deter
mined, and the applicant, who found no favor
at the hands of Real Admirals Benham and
Ramsay, may think himself fortunate, indeed,
when the victor at Manila bay halls him as
victor at Santiago. This powerful indorse--
ment should be in itself sufficient to upset and
minimize adverse opinion in any other official
quarter, A d so far forth Admiral Schley may
fairly claim congratulation at the hands OF his
| friends"
The Philadelphia Ledger, Republican, says
mo one outside of naval circles cares about
| the details of naval movements leading up to
the battle and the brilliant victory won by the
American feet The central point of interest
is the victory itself Who won it? The en-
tire court commends Schley's conduct during
the battle, and Admiral Dewey gives him such
credit for it as falls to the men in actual and
| absolute command"
The New York Journal says-"Fighters
| know each other The victor of Manila rec
ognizes and does justice to the victor of San
| tiago. Dewey place the laures where they
| belong, and where the American people,
| guided by their common sense and love OF lalr
| play, have insisted on placing them ever since
| the battle of Santiago was fought and won
on Schley's, not on the absent SIMPSONS,
brow. To the American people Admiral
| Dewey was the Court Of Inquiry, summoned
to pass judgment upon Schey"
The Hartford Courant says-"Altogether
Rear Admiral Schley has cause for congratu-
lation, and the majority of the people of the
United States will rejoice thereat. For what
ever the finding as to the details his conduct in
action the 'cowardice' question is commend
ed by the entire court Admiral Dewey even
goes out Of his way to emphasize this all-im-
portant point and to give SchleY the full credit
| for the victory at Santiago
The Washington Post says-'It will be per-
| ceived on close inspection that Admirals Ben
| ham and Ramsay have reached their verdict
| by the simple process of ignoring the testimony
of such men as Cook and Clark and combining
themselves to that of such men as Chadwick,
| Switzerland and Bristol. Either Cook and
Clark have lied or Admirais Ramsay and Ben
ham regard them as lacking in intelligence.
| The American people will have little trouble
in choosing among these contradictory by
potheses. For our part we pass them for the
moment as unworthy of serious consideration.
1t is clear to us that Admiral Schley should
| take his case into civil court, suing Maclay's
| publishers for libel. Through this expedlent
only can he bring to light the infamous con-
spiracy against his fame and hold up to public
execration the conspirators thus far screened
| by the department whose favorites, tools and
benefciaries they VIGOROUSLY are. 1t has not
escaped the attention OF the reading public that
Schley was never permitted to raise the ques-
ton of the motive the character or the record
of his accusers; that he was invariably check
ed in an attempt to unveil the influences that
had made his persecution possible; that, while
Schey was subjected to every assault inspired
by prejudice, ignorance or passion, no chal-
Ienge could ever be permitted in the case of
his known detractors and would-be assassins.
The country is thoroughly aware of this
thoroughly convinced that the Navy Depart
ment is honeycombed with vicious and ignoble
practices. y
The Pittsburg Dispatch says" Schley can
be content to stand with Dewey Endorsement
as representing the actual naval fighters against
the desk critics about the Navy Department"
1t is unnecessary to give futher press COM
ments. The papers, North, South, East and
West, regardless of politics, are overwhelm-
ingly in favor of Dewey's verdict and criticse
Benham and Ramsay as belonging to the Navy
clique, hostile to and prejudiced against Schley.