The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-27
Voice From Louisiana
Sounds Praises of San
tiago's Hero.
Mr.. BREAzBALEB'S WARM DEFENCE
Southerner Declares Maryland Sailor En-
titled to Full Credit for victory-Holds
UP Presidents Action to RidicuIe-
Sentiment Expressed Meets Approval.

Rear Admiral Schley had a strong de-
fender upon the floor of the House yes
| terday in Representative Breazeale Dem.
La.). who, during the general debate
upon the army appropriation bill, took
occasion to criticise the President for his
attitude toward the popular naval COM
mander.
Mr.. Breazeale's speech was the first
that has been heard in the House since
the decision of the court of enquiry ad-
verse. to Admiral Schley. During the
| course of his remarks the Louisiana NOM
Der declared that the people of this
country are generous people. that they
are courageous. and that they believe in
fairness. and further that they believe
that If any one man more than another
| is entitled TO the credit for the grand
naval victory of Santiago it is Winfield
Scott Schley.
Fun With Verdict.
This sentiment met with vigorous ap-
plause on the floor and in the galleries
Continuing, Mr.. Breazeale said that Ad-
miral Schley stands in the horrible pre-
dicament of being convicted by the Ex-
ecutive of the Government--conyieted in a
most remarkable judgment.
He stated that II had been insinuated
that the persecution OF Admiral Schley
was the result OF a conspiracy among
certain officials of the Navy Department
He said he knew nothing of that. but
wished that he did, as in that case 1t
would be possible to get at the bottom
of the facts.
THE President has weighed Admiral
Schley's appeal with mathematical GER
tainty," said Mr.. Brea-eale. He tells
us that fve-sixths of that appeaI-mark
the mathematical certainty OF that state
ment-is based upon the demand TO know
who is entitled to the credit for the
victory
Mr.. Breazeale then went on to say that
Mr.. Roosevelt had in his decision sought
to hide behind the action OF the late
President Mckinley, and used that as an
excuse for not doing justice to Admiral
Schley.
No reason of state or other character,
he said, should operate to prevent the
rectitication of the injustice done Ad-
mirai Schley. who stands today, he de-
clared, as being the victim of one of the
most cruel, unjust. isnoble prosecutions
ever perpetrated upon a gallant man.
Deals Out Hard Knocks
Continuing. Mr.. Breazeale criticised the
Committee on Naval Affairs for its fail
ure to report the Schley resolutions to
the House, which, he said, should have
had an opportunity to express its opin-
ion by vote upon the subject. He did
not believe that it was right to deny
fair expression of opinion upon any ques-
tion in which all of the people OF the
country are so much interested.
Referring to the statement made by the
President that the Santiago fight was a
victory, Mr.. Breazeale said that
perhaps the President wished to direct |
attention to the battle of San Juan Hill |
and have that declared to have been a |
colonel's victory. |
1t makes no difference to the people, he |
asserted, whether there was a retrograde |
movement or not. whether the blockade /
was maintained at a mile or greater |
distance, whether there was a loop or 1
not, the victory was the grandest in mod |
ern times. and for that victory the people |
are indebted to Rear Admiral Schley.