The daily union., 1854-12-16
From the PnladeIphia Evening Argus
,xr .pppENTICESNIP


NAVAL APPRENTICESHIP.
wish 10 raise the standard OF character among seanen
II q NV design also Immediately TO adopt IN nodined
form the apprentice system ana encourage ,he ehise
Uni Of American bows from fourteen until they are TWEEN
oue wears of age The object in view viii be TO tram
them up AT first in large receiving ssps' ana transfer
certain number to each vessel starting on cruise 70
- them practical seanen teach them in their youth
80 become familiar with all the duties OF sailor the re-
renen Of the service the saerednes OF obedience to or
ders TO watch their proper moral and mental Train
M and thus incorporate into the service gradually but
pey body of 10 be proud of in times OF peace
O' Seeretary DoGJin's Report 1854.
Among the very many wise suggestions made by Secre-
y Dobbn for increasing the usefulness and efficiency OF
e navy that embraced in the above extract is worthy OF
nal regard by all true friends of the nayyior the
following reasons -
let N en ,atioaaiize e napylf the plan OF enlisting
,bs he adopted il will inuse spirit into the ma
~ and make it thoroughly national in all respects AT
crescent large portion Of national marine have no at
.hnt TO il save as a means of livelihood. They draw
hair montly pay from the treasury of the nation as me-
apic does from his employer and look upon the service
~ No other light The esprit du corps which is the life
h,ooaibe vitality of the nayy-s wanting with these
men They do not know its history, have not felt that
GLOW which arises knowledge Of the past history OF
those glorious men who have trod the decks OF our ma
ona vessels and the deeds which have made their names
immortal and hence there is no nationality upon when
theyc
nprepoe system he adopted and young lads trained and
educated for the sea under the protection of govern
msut all this will be remeded The history Of the
navy will be their first lesson. They will be taught
the value of this Of our national defence as well
as reverence for those who first carried the flag of
our country in proud defiance the humbled prelen-
ons of the so-called Mistress of the Seas In this
mode the navy will be rejuvenate with national spirit
fully in consonance with the age and that progress which
such prominent Of the American people
If young aspiring spirits be enlisted in the navy at that
age when the mind Is piable and easily moulded their
whole aftere will be fashioned from their education
Their whole will be tnged with the lessons taught
on sh-board in the cassrooms OF the naval school,
and thus the will become much part OF the navy
as the officers. There will be difference in national
feelings when once the apprentice system is adopted.
Roth officers and seamen will have drunk of the foun-
tain of national history, Of American education; and,
therefore, what the ono viii command from national
nrde The other will from the exalted and pa
totc motives
3D. his The only method for manning our national ressets
m praetica seamenThc usefulness and efficiency OF our
navy depend much upon having seamen educated and
trained for skilfu performance of their duty as upon
the education of its officers OF what avail is it that ship
Is ocered by men competent issue the proper commands
in the hour OF need and danger the seamen are not edu
Gated to understand and TO execute the same! Besides
he that the last quarter of century have
suggested the navigation of the seas have made edu-
Gated seamen matter Of necessity. The merchant ma
rne Of the Unied States has made amazing advances IN
that period and the national has not kept with it.
the reasons may looked for in that quarter which will
be the soonest reached by the proposed apprenticeship ss
tenn of Secretary Dobbn. In other mode can the navy
ever be filled with thoroughly trained in all the du-
ties of their profession Under the proposed system boys
will be taught the rudments of their marine education
board receiving ship from thence transferred to vessels
a., tofc
full discharge Of any duty that may devolve upon them
either in peace or war The evenul character Of the
vice constantly placing III posts of danger and
responsibility where for the time being each man has to
assume the responsibility What makes cool calm
and thoughtful ,rompt and efficient when surrounded
With dangers knowledge and confidence in themselves
and these are qualities which only be acquired by ed
uction The ignorant distruss himself and hence
not capable Of assisting others IT. therefore the appren
ceshp system be adopted our national vessels gradually
filed with hardy educated, naonalized seamen who obey
fear but from knowledge the navy will soon re-
ceve an impetus which be felt from the commodore
ote hunbet seaman in the service The apprentice sys
the and only startngpoint for thorough re-
organization Of the American navy
3D. II uU reform he morals Of The nary, and thus add 10
he character Of c lcho may enter H. The want of some
system by which the moral and mental training of seanen
ould be attended to has at all times been sorey felt and
sincerely mourned by the true friends of the navy
The want of education among the great mass of seamen
and their consequent careless and thoughtess habits has
deferred any, that class of and boys from choosing
that profession or calling for livelihood The forecasuc
and the deck have been looked upon the schools Of in
temperance and profanity And why this too often
The case? Because the had been properly educated
for their calling If they had been placed in their youths
under some such system that recommended by the able
head Of the Navy Department the proportion of dssoute
would not be larger than in any other occupation
They have no recourse after the exacng duties of the day
done the long cruise terminated but those sensual
which the uneducated always the victims of
and hence they fall into the paths their associates
have followed But the apprentice system will be the pan
for these evils Seamen to be educated and trained
only to splice rope and fur SAIL and attend 10 the
ordinary duties of their profession but also in those moral
ind scholarly requirements which fit for social inter
course with their faow-men. Win this ietraGt from their
ability to the government in the hour of danger
VIII educated class of be less effective because
they educated? Certainly not and hence the appren
te system with all its moral effects will be substantial
aid in making the American navy the wonder and pride of
the world
ih n uW pronaote he eRceaey Of The nary by melting
he obedience under oH circumstances. Much of
That spirit Of dsobedience which sometimes exhibits itself
IN the navy be traced want of conception the
part Of the the real necessity and meaning of the
order which is promulgated An ignorant man measures
bis duties by his limited standard and what he
not understand he is often disposed TO think OF
sequence 1t thus with educated officer and crew
the opposite character They do not fully understand
or appreciate his for the he fit to pur
sue from his superior knowledge and this leads to dscon-
tent and murmurings aud finally TO open outbreak
but The semcu educated well as the officer they