The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-02
PEARY.

Almost lachrymose was the Wash
ington dispatch yesterday, telling of
the peculiar pathos'' in the situation
in which Commander Peary now finds
fhimself The world was invited to
6come forward and shed a tear for the
Sdiscoverer of the pole, largely because
it seems, no royal berth has been pro,
.ivided for him in which he might spenl
5the rest of his days in dignfed case
"a kind of glorified pensioncr of TIL,
State. We were twice assured tina
n return to the routine of his rank il
the Navy Department would not be ii
Keeping with the commanders dignity
{ Now this seems TO be a matter OF
opinion, with which the news writers
that service as an officer in the United
states Navy is beneath Mr.. Pearys
dignity, or any other mans. Probably
as a matter of fact, no step he could
have taken would have done so much
ito restore the popularity he unhappily
Aost as for him to report to the Secre-
sstary of the Navy Immediately upon
his return, for assignment to active
duty. a.
There is sore ps.lros in Peary's situa-
iion, good deal of it, but it has lit
lie to do with the failure OF Congress
to decorate and salary him. The peo-
ole" have not been fair to Peary The
people are often not fair TO their prom
lnent men. They act from rough
general Impressions, from sentiment.
emotion and prejudice. and there is
never any use trying to argue with
such things as these. You cannot COM
pei popularity, cannot force enthusiasm
9y logic. Peary came out of the North
marked all over for a popular idol. ne
was entitled Ito be, and should have
2een the great hero of his dag. But
partly through bnd luck and partly
through his own mistakes of taste or
Judgment. he muddled his great OPP
9ortunity. There was rival claimant
over whom he had every advantage in
prestige and moral atmosphere. and he
managed not only TO forfeit this advan-
tase, but 10 swing popular sympathy
all 10 che other side. Long before the
rights and wrongs of the case were
1nally settled the people, those who
make and unmake heroes. had lost in
ferest in it, though their prejudces
survived. fair or not, as prejudices
nave a way Of doing. BY the time
2eary could be hailed as the discoverer
IT the pole. few cared about taking
part in the hailng Enthusiasm was
dead. The fires We're cold and there
isas no blowing them a:lame again.
Vow this was not right or fair or Just.
Pearyls title to heroship was that he
5ad discovered the pole, and he had
atill discovered 1t. whether or no his
manners we're good or for a time his
title was clouded. But the heroes of
ne people are not born Of reason ana
5'noi Justice. and they do not kowtow
f&cept at their own good pleasure.
with Congress the case is different.
congress can examine the rationalities
md can and should act upon the pro-
lrleties. We do not think that there
any need for creating a new and
gpeeislly distinguished berth for the
;lscoverer Of the pole, We do not
eel as sorry for him as that. 1t must
re remembered that for twenty three
ears commander Peary has drawn
nl! Pay from the Navy Department,
During which time his absences, nom
naily IN connection with the National
Toast and Gcodetic survey, have ag.
sreaated many years, The people
isre very liberal In thus aiding hin