The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-01-22

hearty appreciation the wide land
over. Of these selections, Coolidge,
the Washington correspondent of the
Boston Journal, says.
President Roosevelt's selection of
lark of the Oregon and Gen. James
II. Wilson to represent the navy and
the army respectively at King Ed
wards coronation is welcomed as a
tactful solution of a problem which
at one time looked embarrassing
Clark of the Oregon is the one officer
of military distinction who has not
been involved i'll any way i'll the un-
fortunate controversy growing out of
the battle of Santiago. He has never
yet received adequate recognition for
the splendid work he did i'll bringing
the Oregon around Cape Horn and i'll
fighting her with greater effectiveness
than any other ship engaged i'll the
battle. He lost three numbers by the
promotions of Captains of Dewey
fleet at Manila; he lost two numbers
by the operation of the Navy Person
mel bill, which gave engineer officers
rank as of the line. He was promoted
six numbers for his work during the
war with Spain, so that he is today
only one number in advance of what
he would have been had there been nc
war.
The selection of Captain Clark to
represent the navy at the coronation is
President Roosevelt's own idea. He
hose Clark because he believed the
Captain of the Oregon ought to receive
special recognition. He would have
made him vice admiral if that could
have been done without act of Con-
gress.
General Wilson is the most eminent
living American soldier. His military
record in the civil war is so far be-
ond that of any other survivor of that
war that no other could be mentioned
in comparison. AS a cavalry leader
he is still regarded by many officers
who served through the civil war as
the superior of Sheridan. He has
commanded more men in the field than
any other American soldier now liv-
ing His service in the war with
Spain and afterwards in Cuba, is fresh
in the public mind. Had he remain
ed in the service continuously he
would have been at the head of the
army instead of General Miles. He is
now q brigadier general on the retired
list
Whitelaw Reid is legacy from the
Mckinley administration. President
Mckinley had promised him the place
of ambassador to attend the corona
ton and President Roosevelt has sim
ply respected that promise.
The selection of Clark and Wilson
illustrates a distinguishing trait of
the President, manly and independ-
ent regard for brave men who have
well done their duty and made no
noise about their deeds, and his deter
mination that such men shall have
their deserts. 1t is right to bring
these modest heroes to the front and
suffer "valor's naughty champions"
to abide in the honors they have re-
ceived and in the radiance of which
they are still basking.
1t is regretable that President Nc
Kinley, as Coolidge says, should have
promised Whitelaw Reid the place of
special civil ambassador at the corona
ton ceremony, and that President
Roosevelt very naturally felt bound
to respect his martyred predecessor S
pledge. 1t would have been extreme
ly gratifying to Americans to show
Britons that there are others among
civilians, as well as among sailors
and soldiers, who would represent
heir countrymen with high distinc-
ton.