u , t * '
,
'Si
the Conservative , 9
the fight. On the whole she did well ,
but I agree with the unanimous find
ing of the three admirals who com
posed the court of inquiry ns to the
'loop. ' It seriously marred the
Brooklyn's otherwise excellent record ,
being , in fact , the one grave mistake
made by any American ship that day.
Had the Brooklyn turned to the west
ward ; that is , in the same direction
that the Spanish ships were going , in
stead of in the contrary direction ,
she would undoubtedly have been in
more " dangerous proximity" to them.
But it would have been more danger
ous for them as well as for her. This
kind of danger must not be too nicely
weighed by those whose trade it is to
dare greatly for the honor of the flag.
Moreover , the danger was certainly
not as great as that which , in the
selfsame moment , menaced Wain-
wright's fragile craft as ho drove for
ward against the foe. It was not in
my judgment as great as the danger
to which the Texas was exposed by
the turn as actually made. It cer
tainly caused both the Brooklyn and
Texas materially to lose position com
pared to the fleeing Spanish vessels.
But after the loop had once been
taken , Admiral Schley handled the
Brooklyn manfully and well. She
and the Oregon were thenceforth the
headmost of the American vessels ,
though the Iowa certainly and seem
ingly the Texas also did as much in
hammering to a standstill the Vis-
caya , Oquendo and Teresa , while thw
Indiana did all her eastward position
and crippled machinery permitted.
In the chase of the Colon the Brook
lyn and Oregon share the credit be
tween them.
"Under such circumstances it
seems to me that the .recommenda
tions of President McKinley were
eminently proper and that so far as
Admirals Sampson and Sohley were
concerned it would have been unjust
for him to have made other recom
mendations. Personally I feel that in
view of Captain Clark's long voyage
in the Oregon and the condition in
which ho brought her to the scene of
service , as well as the way in which
ho actually managed her before and
during the fight , it would have been
well to have given him the same ad
vancement that was ' given Wain-
wright. But waiving this , it is evi
dent that Waiuwright was entitled
to receive more than any of the other
commanders , and that it was just to
Admiral Sampson that he should re
ceive a greater advance in numbers
than Admiral Sohley.
"There was nothing done in the
battle that warranted any unusual re
ward for either. In short , as regards
Admirals Sampson and Sohloy , I find
that President MoKinloy did substan
tial justice , and that there would be
no warrant , for reversing his action.
"B6th Admiral Sampson and Ad
miral Scnley are now on the retired
list. In concluding their report the
members of the court of inquiry , Ad
mirals Dewey , Benham and Ramsay ,
unite ill stating that they recommend
that no further action be had in the
matter. With this recommendation I
most heartily concur. There is no
excuse whatever from either side for
a'uy further agitation of this unhappy
controversy. To keep it alive would
merely do damage to the navy and to
the country. ' '
THE BOER CONFLICT.
Editor The Conservative :
Though a subject somewhat stale
by reason of its age and continued
discussion , the conflict between Eng
land and the Boers is still a matter of
concern and interest to the general
public , and must so continue while
the result remains undetermined.
The liberties of a free people are at
stake , and no one who loves either
freedom or justice can bo an indiffer
ent spectator to the conflict now
being waged in the Transvaal , be
tween slavery and freedom , avarice
and independence.
There are , of course , two sides to
this , as to every other question , for
neither party to the conflict is with
out fault , but in the main the South
African republics are in the right and
the contention of Britain indefensible
on any ground whatsoever.
The territory now sought to be
subjugated has never boon a part of
British possession , and its citizens
owe to her no manner of allegiance.
They have an undoubted right to such
Heaven-bestowed gifts as liberty and
independence , and no nation may
encroach upon these without taking
upon herself the character of aggressor
ser , and the office of despoiler. The
wealth of the African mines might
well attract the enterprise and incite
the cupidity of the British citizen ,
and induce his coming to share in the
fruits of their development , but it
could not transport the British con
stitution across the seas , nor convey
to her an allegiance which belonged
at homo. "Big fish eating little ones"
may do in the sea but not on land.
But vital and dangerous as are
impending issues to the republic , they
are still more so to Britain herself.
She is contending at long range , and
at desperate disadvantage , against o
wily , experienced , bravo and deter
mined foe. The cost to her in money
and men is more than any nation is
able long to withstand without ex
haustion and ruin. It matters little
that the African republic is inferior
in numbers and resources. The
mountainous country she inhabits is
t
God's provision against the force of
numbers , and their fastnesses nature's
fortifications against an intruding
foe. Lot courage and hope come with
the reflection that' ' the race is not
always to the swift , nor the battle to
the strong , " and that no free and
brave people , fighting for liberty and
homo , has ever yet been conquered
nor can be so long'as God reigns.
Notwithstanding an almost
universal sentiment and ex
pression -of sympathy for the
Boer cause , one occasionally en
counters an individual who declares
for England , and declaims with the
allrsincerity of ignorance and the
energy of scurrility , against the Boor
cause , but a reason for such prefer
ence would constitute the curiosity of
the age and the novelty of the world.
A monument without a foundation
would not be more rare. There is
absolutely nothing upon which
Britain may base a right to control in
that country. Her errand is robbery ,
her method the highwayman's.
The process of development and
decay is slow in nations , but it will
in time be disclosed that the declara
tion of war by England against the
Boers , was the beginning of the end of
British domination and power. She
can never again hold her former place ,
nor exert her accustomed influence , in
the family and affairs of nations.
' \Vaulting ambition o'er-loaps itsolf"
still , and the saying is as trne of
nations as of men. A nation forgetful
of integrity and indifferent to justice ,
is near the end of her influence and
her power. She has o'erleaped her
self. J. G. LUMBARD.
Omaha , Neb. , Feb. 31 , 1902.
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