The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-11-09

A large naval squadron is kept up ia
Europe without any advantage 10 the
service, or the least benefit to the couu
try. 1t is gilt sham, which requires
an expenditure of millions annually and
brings no return The preteuce that
tins lorce Is necessary Tor the protec
tlon ol commerce, or Is useful even in
that sense, is one Of the old delusions
which has long since exploded Ii may
have had some reason halt u century
ago, when Barbary pirates Infested the
hediterranean aud the relations between
foreign Powers stood on very different
footing from what they now do. With
the telegraph underlying the ocean, and
commercial treaties regulating inter.
course, that necessity has wholly disap.
peared In the event Of complication
or trouble, diplomacy takes the place OF
broadsides.
Experience has demonstrated, too,
that when an emergency does arise, the
navy, instead oil CO operating with the
Minister or other representative abroad,
Is most apt to refuse assistance, and set
up an arbitrary and offensive indepen
dence, which Is really injurious to the
country, by u collision Of auth ority
The Navy Department protect, its own
otticers, right or wrong, and tho State
Department is th@s lett powerless, even
II well disposed, to extend protection
when an extreme case occurs Congress
By special act, directed two admiraIs to
be called before courts Of inquiry, for
this sort Of conduct, two years ago, but
the Secretary has never respected the
law.
Tho expenses ofthe navy have nearly
doubled since 1860, aud yet the service
to day Is, by common consent, in far
worse condition than it was twelve years
back, PartiaIity aud partisanship are
last destroying It's efficiency, aud under
mining the high character Tor gallautry
aud professional pride, which once were
ITS distinguishing qualities. 1t is sadly
demorallzed in every brunch, aud main.
y from the favoritism or Aunkeyism
through which promotion is procured or
choice service is assigned.
Seven ships are now kept in Europe
without any occasion whatever. Duriu.
the war, "hen there was an urgent
reason for the presence OF u squadron,
as protection against Confederate
cruisers, there were rarely more than
three ships available, aud all ol them
inferior, or wholly luudequa to the
duty they were required to perform
4 his large force is now maintained, for
no other object than to add to the i'm
porIauce oi an augmentlug stock Of un.
necessary admiraIs, who require that
tail 10 their kite OI dIgury ON foreign
stations The expense to the country
is not considered tor moment.
The European squadron is nothing
more than yachting or pleasure seek
Tug affair Compared with the British,
freuch, German, Or Russian, which are
devoted to professional training, aud
seut Out with that express object, it is
sham Here recently Admiral Alden
has beeu reported from various capitals
by the cable-some Of them iuland-as
participating in festivities aud iudulg
lug 10 display, just as it he had been
given command for that purpose only
lie ,ontrlyed to be witlin cul Of every
court festival, aud left his ships to be
present at Berlin, where the navies OF
all other natlons were conspicuous BY
their absence aud engaged in their pro
per spheres OF duty. When these
things happen naturally they are proper
aud no exception can be taken. But
wheu large and costly squadron OF
ships of war, is used merely for personal
vanity or subOrdinated to selfish graft
tication aud love Of pompous parade,
then the people who have to foot the
bills aud are taxed heavily for such ex.
hlbitious have n right to inquire, aud
will be apt to exercise it too, whether
the play pays ior the candle Wash
mgt0n PdTiot.