The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-17

Washington, October 16.-(Special)-lt was my fortune to be frequent Visltor to the navy yard, at the foot Of Eighth street, southeast, when Winfield scott Scbley was the mark of envy, the sport of malice. and haled before a court martial that tried him as malfactor for the glory he had gathered for the American navy and tile American flag, and as I walked back home, hating the cabal that was snarling at this hero, sometimes wound up by reverting to this circumstances Madam de Maintenon took come arp from a muddy pool, placed them in marble basin, filled with pure and clear water, fed them on scraps from the royal table, and the fish perished.
 And when the navy department is oieansed of snobbery and sneakery and no favoritisin practiced by it, such a per secution as was visited on Admiral Schley will be impossible. Lord Macaulay declared that no mismanagement could ruin the British navy. The same is true If our navy, but favoritism and faction in the navy department can bring dis repute on the service as it did in the case of the hero of Santiago.
 When Martin Frobisher sought to make his sword acquaint with the vitals of Francis Drake because the reports or the destruction of the "lnVinelble Armada" gave to Drake more glory than he was convinced was his due, it was a jealousy personal to two individuals. The
 .lat n Hn with it, but in the case of Schley the navy department and the entire federal administration bounded him. But the American people, men, women and chli- dren, took charge of the case and not cnly vindicated a hero, but set him on a pedestal so high that the shaft of envy and the mendacity of spite could not reach him. And so he died the other dey. a hero in the class with Jones, Preble. Decatur. Stewart, Truxton, Perry Shaw, Bainbrdge, Hull, Lawrence and the rest of them.
 When the friction arose between Com nodores Perry and Shaw neither of them would have pucked a single laurel the other had gained by heroic conduct on he quarter deck in the red glare of bat tie, And it was the injustice the service visited on James Barron that led to the duel, and the death of Stephen Deca- tur.
 middle sea
 Such noble men and valiant have sailed
 in company
 As the men who went with Preble to the
 siege of Tripoli.
 That is praise too extravaSant. perhaps, but 1t would have taken the pick Of the British navy, commanded by Nelson to match them, and Nelson himself never found words to express his admiration for Decatur's exploit in destroying the tilgate Philadelphia
 The story of the United States navy affords much to sustain those who be- lieve in destiny, or fate, or luck. as you choose to call it. About the close of the eighteenth century the United States built four frigates-the "Constitution, "the President" each a A. and the con stcllation'' and the "Chesapeake. each 3s The first named of each of these two classes were remarkably lucky ships and .be other two were always unfortunate, 10th being captured by the enemy, the 'tPre sident" when commanded by Deca- tur himself In time of peace the Chesa-
 
 flag to a British "A, and it was on her deck that Lawrence fell so heroically just before the ship struck the British TIT gate Shannon after terrific duel be- tween them, the result of a formal chai' iohee from the Enslishman.
 On the other hand the ''Const1tutlon, commanded by Isaac Hull, made her escape from q British squadron that was one of the most marvellous exploits Tn reval annals, the pursuit lasting about a week and the ships were frequently bccalmed, though never for sufflcieht time to allow the boats crews rom the so,,adron to board the chase. A nttie willie later the "Constituton," after se- were action. captured the British 1riga,e' ..C,uerriere." Later. when commanded by Painbridge, she played havoc with the British frigate Java capturing her. Then. with Decatur captain. after se- were action, she took the British frigato "A,acedonian," and lastly, with Stewart on the quarter deck. "Old lfonsldes c,ntured two of the enemy's craft in the same action though their combined streneth was much the greater. No ur.nder Oliver Wendell Holmes thrilled aIl America with stirring lyric when it was proposed to break up the old frigate:
 n better that her shattered hull
 should sink beneath the wave!
 Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
 And there should be her grave.
 Nail to the mast her holy flag,
 Set every threadbare sail,
 And give her to the god of storms,
 The lightning and the gale
 7 The grand old poet saved the grand old