The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-04
Our NAVY.

Our Navy
The Congress that rs about to assem-
BILE must expect to become the recipient
of much gratuitous advice. Nor will 1t
do to discard advice as worthless, be-
cause it is gratuitous. 1t may be just
as valuable and as sincere when 1t costs
nothing, as when it is paid for. But,
whether Congress will hear, or torbear,
the advice is inevitable. The temper Of
the public mind, at the present time,. is
such that it will not refrain from free
utterance Of its views and ideas on pub
ance be restrained? Are not these affairs,
concerning which Congress is to delib-
crate and act, the affairs Of the public? ?
May not the public address the agents
of the public concerning it's own busi-
nessi The conscientious Representa-
tive will never turn dull ear 60 the
public advice.
What will prompt the utterance of ad.
wee at the present time is, the special
need there is for the country's represen-
tatives in Congress assembled TO con-
slider favorably every suggestion tending
to economy and the retrenchment of our
national expenditure. This need is uni
versally felt and appreciated by the peo-
pie, and they will insist upon having
Congress give due heed to their advice,
having this great end in View.
one general item of expenditure to
which the attention of Congress must be
directed is, that in relation to our Navy.
We presume that the United States
must have naval esta blishment. There
are foreign and commercial interests
that will require the occasional presence
of a naval vessel to examine into and
protect. But it does not follow that in
times Of peace with all the world, the
United States should support Navy at
an enormous expense, and that is abso.
luJely profitless to the country. 1t has
been argued that we must always have
q strong Navy at hand and in commits
sion, in order TO be prepared for war
But the argument is worthless; because
Navy thus Kept in commission is itsell
worthless. The moment q war is upon
US, we have always found the Navy un.
ready and untitled for service.
Since the civil war closed we have moi
had the slightest need for the service Of
the Navy in any part of the world. Yet
we have kept up a naval establishment
at an expense that becomes exceedingly
burdensome. In 1860 the total expendi
ture for the United States Navy amount
ed to S11, ,514, $40, and this was then con
sidered extravagant. In 1874, nearly ter
years after every sign Of war had disap
peared from our horizon, ana while al
the world was at peace, the expenses o.
the Navy Department amounted 10 $31,
coo 900. Here then Is one item Of ex
penditure concerning which Congress
men must take little wholesome ad
vice.
During the year when these thirty-o
millions were being expended, we reat
glowing accounts in the newspapers o
the brilliant uniforms displayed by th,
officers OF our Navy at the court balls
and receptions given at Paris, at st
Petersburgh, at Berlin, at Rio de Jan
elro, and Constantinople. Beyond tina
who ever heard anything done or at
tempted by the United States Navy
Where, during that entire year, did 1
vessel otsour Navy sound q sea, or sur
yey coast? The echo answers, no
wheres And we Che people of thes
United States paid in that one yea
thrty-one millions OF our dollars TO sup
port the Navy in such pleasure excul
sdons around the world.
And with all that expenditure in 1871
itso happens that now in 1876, when
iistle breeze springs up that may POI
tend storm with Spain, the Navy
lound In NO condition for actual service
aud Tie Navy Department goes 70 wor
with Cyclopoan strength and vulcanl
zeal to get some naval vessels ready
20 into commission; so that our expen'
lturs OF 81, ,Oo0, 900 In 1874 actually foun