HONORS.
Dewey's dispatches of May 1st and 4th, announcing the naval victory and
the capture of Cavité, were as brief and modest as possible. The shower
of honors that immediately fell upon him was such as perhaps no other
man has received within the memory of this generation. The Secretary of
the Navy, John D. Long, telegraphed to him, under date of May 7th: "The
President, in the name of the American people, thanks you and your
officers and men for your splendid achievement and overwhelming
victory. In recognition he has appointed you Acting Admiral, and will
recommend a vote of thanks to you by Congress."
Two days later the President sent a special message to Congress, in
which, after briefly recounting the victory, he said: "Outweighing any
material advantage is the moral effect of this initial success. At this
unsurpassed achievement the great heart of our nation throbs, not with
boasting nor with greed of conquest, but with deep gratitude that this
triumph has come in a just cause, and that by the grace of God an
effective step has thus been taken toward the attainment of the
wished-for peace. To those whose skill, courage, and devotion have won
the fight, to the gallant commander and the brave officers and men who
aided him, our country owes an incalculable debt. Feeling as our people
feel, and speaking in their name, I sent a message to Commodore Dewey,
thanking him and his officers and men for their splendid achievement,
and informing him that I had appointed him an Acting Rear Admiral. I
now recommend that, following our national precedents, and expressing
the fervent gratitude of every patriotic heart, the thanks of Congress
be given Acting Rear-Admiral George Dewey, of the United States navy,
for highly distinguished conduct in conflict with the enemy, and to the
officers and men under his command for their gallantry in the
destruction of the enemy's fleet and the capture of the enemy's
fortifications in the bay of Manila."
Congress promptly, enthusiastically, and unanimously, by a rising vote,
passed the joint resolution of thanks to Admiral Dewey and to the
officers and men of his fleet.
Then a bill was passed unanimously increasing the number of rear
admirals from six to seven, and the President at once promoted Dewey to
the full rank.
Furthermore, a resolution was passed unanimously instructing the
Secretary of the Navy to present a sword of honor to Admiral Dewey, and
cause bronze medals to be struck commemorating the battle of Manila
Bay, and distribute them to the officers and men who had participated
in the battle, and the sum of ten thousand dollars was appropriated for
the purpose.
Two days before the adjournment, in March, 1899, Congress passed,
without division, a bill reviving the grade and rank of Admiral in the
United States navy, "to provide prompt and adequate reward to
Rear-Admiral George Dewey, the said grade and rank to exist only during
the lifetime of this officer." The President signed the bill and gave
Admiral Dewey the commission on the 2d of March. This made him the
ranking officer not only of the navy, but of the army as well, in any
operations where the two arms of the service are employed.
Montpelier celebrated the victory with a public demonstration on the
9th of May, in which ten thousand persons participated.
The legislatures of several States passed complimentary resolutions,
and in Pennsylvania and California May 1st was made a legal holiday in
commemoration of the victory.
Money was raised by private subscription for a statue of Admiral Dewey,
to be cut in Vermont marble and placed beside that of Ethan Allen in
the State House at Montpelier. Many colleges conferred honorary degrees
upon him, and learned societies and social organizations elected him to
honorary membership.
It is proposed to erect a beautiful memorial hall, as an addition to
the buildings of Norwich Academy, and name it Dewey Hall.
When, in the summer of 1899, he was relieved and ordered home, he came
slowly, stopping often for rest on shore and being everywhere received
with honor. A great reception, with an immense procession and other
demonstrations, was prepared for him in the city of New York, where he
was to arrive on the 28th of September.
[Illustration: Bronze tablet for forward turret of Admiral Dewey's
flagship, Olympia. Presented by citizens of Olympia, Wash. (Copyright,
1899, by D. C. French.)]