LETTERS.
When a man has become famous, there is at once a desire on the part of
the public to know something of his character and habits of thought
aside from the work that has brought him into notice, and these are
generally shown best by his letters. We are permitted to make a few
significant extracts from Admiral Dewey's correspondence, with which we
will close this volume.
Several Confederate veterans at Clarksville, Tenn., some of whom had
belonged to the battery that destroyed the Mississippi when she was
trying to pass Port Hudson, sent him a letter of congratulation. In his
reply, dated July 23, 1898, he said: "I can assure you that, although I
have had letters, resolutions, telegrams, etc., from all parts of the
United States, none has given me more pleasure than the communication
from you. One fortunate result of this war with Spain is the healing of
all the wounds that have been rankling since 1865, and I believe that
from now on we will be a united people, with no North, no South. That
result alone will be worth all the sacrifices we have made. It would
give me much pleasure to talk over with you those stirring days around
Port Hudson, and I hope that pleasure may be in store for me."
Under date of October 3, 1898, he wrote to Mrs. Noss, of Mount
Pleasant, Penn., whose husband had been killed in the battle of Maleté:
"I wish to express to you my deepest sympathy. It must lessen your
sorrow somewhat to know that your young husband fell fighting bravely
for his country, the noblest death a man can know. From the Olympia I
watched the fight that fearful night, and wondered how many American
homes would be saddened by the martyrdom suffered by our brave men, and
my sympathy went out to each and every one of them. Your loss has been
sadder than the others, and I am unable to express the sorrow I feel
for you. Tears came to my eyes as I read the sad story of the father
who never saw his child, and then the loss of all that was left to the
brave mother. It is hard sometimes to believe, but our Heavenly Father,
in his infinite goodness, always does things for the best, and some day
father, mother, and daughter will be joined, never again to be parted.
With my tenderest sympathy, believe me your sincere friend."
[Illustration: The Dewey Triumphal Arch in Madison Square, New York.
(From the model, by the courtesy of the designer, Charles R. Lamb.)]
In a letter to a friend he wrote, after briefly describing the battle:
"The Spanish Admiral Montojo fought his ships like a hero. He stood on
his quarter-deck until his ship was ablaze from stem to stern, and
absolutely sinking under his feet; then, transferring his flag to the
Isla de Cuba, he fought with what was left of his fleet, standing
fearlessly amid a hail of shrapnel until his second ship and over one
hundred of her crew sank like lead in a whirl of water. It seems to me
that history in its roll of heroes should make mention of an admiral
who could fight his ships so bravely and stand on the bridge coolly and
calmly when his fleet captain was torn to pieces by one of our shells
at his side. I sent him a message telling him how I appreciated the
gallantry with which he had fought his ships, and the deep admiration
my officers and men felt for the commander of the Reina Cristina, who
nailed his colors to his mast and then went down with his gallant crew.
I think, my dear Norton, that had you witnessed this, as I did, you too
would have sent the brave sailor the message I caused to be sent to
him, to which he responded most courteously."
Political parties are fain to seize upon popular heroes for their
presidential candidates--often without much reference to the hero's
former political affiliations or want of them. The response is not
always such an emphatic refusal as was given once by General Sherman,
and now by Admiral Dewey. This is what the Admiral said:
"I would not accept a nomination for the presidency of the United
States. I have no desire for any political office. I am unfitted for
it, having neither the education nor the training. I am deeply grateful
for many expressions of kindly sentiment from the American people, but
I desire to retire in peace to the enjoyment of my old age. The navy is
one profession, politics is another. I am too old to learn a new
profession now. I have no political associations, and my health would
never stand the strain of a canvass. I have been approached by
politicians repeatedly, in one way or another, but I have refused
absolutely to consider any proposition whatever. This is final."
THE END.
YOUNG HEROES OF OUR NAVY.
Uniform Edition. Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00.
The Hero of Manila.
Dewey on the Mississippi and the Pacific. By ROSSITER JOHNSON, author
of "Phaeton Rogers," "A History of the War of Secession," etc.
Illustrated by B. West Clinedinst and Others.
The Hero of Erie _(Commodore Terry)_.
By JAMES BARNES, author of "Midshipman Farragut," "Commodore
Bainbridge," etc. With 10 full-page Illustrations.
Commodore Bainbridge. _From the Gunroom to the Quarter-deck._
By JAMES BARNES. Illustrated by George Gibbs and Others.
Midshipman Farragut.
By JAMES BARNES. Illustrated by Carlton T. Chapman.
Decatur and Somers.
By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL, author of "Paul Jones," "Little Jarvis," etc.
With 6 full-page Illustrations by J. O. Davidson and Others.
Paul Jones.
By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL. With 8 full-page Illustrations.
Midshipman Paulding.
A True Story of the War of 1812. By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL. With 6
full-page Illustrations.
Little Jarvis.
The Story of the Heroic Midshipman of the Frigate Constellation. By
MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL. With 6 full-page Illustrations.
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK.