The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-01-15
SCHLEY TO THE PRESIDENT.

and permitted to say to the Chief Ex-
ccutive some things respecting the
charges his enemies have been making
against him, the accusations affecting
his courage and his conduct in gen
eral as an officer in the service of his
country at a critical stage of the late
war with Spain. These charges ma
iority-in point of numbers-of the
late court of inquiry, has sustained.
The report of the court has been APP
proved by the secretary of the navy
and passed along for final action by
the President.
Throughout the length and breadth
of the nation there has been loud
and indignant protest against the
Judgment of the court, as spoken by
the majority of its members, and APP
prevail of equal intensity and extent of
the minority report of Admiral Dew
ey. 1t is abhorrent to every principle
of honor, repugnant to ones sense of
justice and decency, that brave man
should be handed down to future gen.
erations branded as the court of in
quiry and the secretary of the navy
have marked Admiral Schley. Con
temporary Judgment, almost universal
ly, acquits this officer of the charges,
of whatever degree of foulncss, de-
partment clique has succeeded III
fastening upon him. but the genera
tions of the future read the Official
record. Contemporary Judgment, rem
dered by the people in the light of the
times whom history was made, will be
dimmed, or may fade out utterly, in
the lapse of time, but the blot, the
stigma, department of the govern
ment has succeeded in fastening upon
the name of one of the most gallant
officers of the American navy will
abide forever, if the President does
not come to the rescue and rub over
the record the wet sponge of his Off
cial disapproval.
From the earlier years of his profess
sional career Schley's name has been
associated with glorious deeds. When
an officer of daring, skill and uncon-
querable resolution was wanted to
lead perilous expedition against q
Corean fort, Schley, a lieutenant in
the service, was selected by his COM
mander for this difficult duty. The
man who has but recently been brand
ed coward in that enterprise was
the incarnation of courage and daring.
After a difficult march, encountered
by obstacles insuperable to a less ad
venturous and less resolute and re-
sourcefuleleader, he assaulted the fort,
led his followers over its ramparts into
the midst of the cut throat Coreans,
engaged them in a hand to hand fight,
conquered them and took their strong
hold. The object of his government,
the chastisement of the Coreans for
some offense against American rights,
was then speedily accomplished. For
his conduct in this affair, the young Of
ficer was highly commended by his su-
perior in command, now one of the rear
admirals whom Secretary Long origi-
nally selected for the court of inquiry,
! but who, by reason of the condition of
/ his health asked to be excused from
| serving, and the request was granted.
When an expedition was to be sent
to the Arctic regions to rescue Greedy
and his companions, Schley was the
naval officer selected for its command,
and no charge of "reprehensible con-
duct" was formulated against him
for his gallant and successful conduct
of that difficult enterprise, amidst
the rigors and hardships of the north
polar country.
Dewey and Clark, who knew some
thing of naval operations in the late
war with Spain, and who are judges
or witnesses best qualified by expert.
ence and professional skill to testify
in the matter of Admiral Schleys SER
vices in the West Indian campaign,
acquit that officer of the charges en-
bodied i'll the precepts formulated by
the secretary of the navy for the con-
sideration of the COURT of inquiry.
These officers of acknowledged and
preeminent capacity to judge Alright
pronounce Schley not blameworthy in
the particulars which were the sub
ject, of the courts inquiry. This set
ties the matter with the great public
it ought to with the President. On
this point the Chicago Tribune says:
The Tribune wishes to say to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and the whole coun-
try that the highest naval authority is
standing firmly by Admiral Schley
during this whole case He is sup
ported by Admiral Dewey and by
Capt Clark, the gallant captain of
the Oregon. We feel justified in say
ing that if Admiral Philip were living
he would also be standing by the side
of Admiral Schley. The reasons for
this last statement cannot be given
publicly, but they are well known in
private circles The man who said,
" Don't shout, BOYS, the Door devils