The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-05
The Coming Naval show.

SECoR RoBEsoN has planned costly ma
val parade of Key West for the beginning
OF next month, somewhat on the seal" of
that which lie tried two years ago, to show
the world that the speed Of theAmerican
navy, averaged little more than that Of
boat driven by steam on the Erie canal.
Guests have been invited and the Talla-
poosa aud the Despatch. two boats fitted
upaud used like royal yachts, are now pre-
M NE TO accommodate and transport tRe
tace.
Some of the Republican leaders who fear
the effect of such an exhibition ut this
| time, and on the very eve OF the elections
in indiana and Ohio, have opposed this
eaudy review and sought TO persuade
RoBEsoN to put IT m to a more convenient
season. He, however, has not yet yielded
to this disciplinary counsel, and Will not,
unless GRANTand HAYES should deem such
show iucouvonient and damaging.
The last parade was turned o profitable
account by RoBEsoN and his confcderates.
II followed closely on the heels OF the Nir-
Eiuus sham demonstration, which was
gotten up for the purpose of furnishing "A
huge job 10 the Ring of which CATTELL
was chief. Another object was to pro-
cure an appropriation from Congress, TO
cover the three millions appropriated for
building eight sloops OF war, which ROBE
son had illegally diverted and used for the
pretended emergency"
There never was an hour when the least
danger of a war with Spain existed, aud
the false pretcnce that the collection of
/ Iii ,,l.. a. -. N,xl
| nor to run away, operated as a scarecrow
II worthy Of the jobber's brain who invent
eel that story, and tried to throw
dust in the eyes OF the public,
while picking its pocket. An that
Spain yielded was obtained through the
vigorous policy of England, to one OF
whose gallant officers exclusively belongs
the credit of having saved the live Of the
passengers and crew OF the Nrginlu., who
were waiting execution. The butcher BUR-
RIEL was promoted on his return e. spain
and to this hour the demand of our Adj
ministration Tor his punishment has never
been needed, although it was a condition
Of the settlement made bet tween us and
Spain at that time.
In spite of the economy which the House
insisted on applying TO the navy, SECoR
Robson and his Ring associates will find
means TO continue the swindling system
which has been in practice since 1870.
They will be constrained. OF course, to re-
| duce the dividends, ana to be content with
diminished plumber But there is still mar
gin enough left On the purchases that are
nee ssary 10 run the naval machine, TO af-
ford large profits undera jobbing manage
ment Instead of honest competition by
contract, the navy has been mainly sup
piled by purchase in open market, as it is
called; and this has thrown the great
bulk of the business INTO the hands of five
or six favorites and friends Of Robson.
The report OF the recent investigation
exposed the system by which two hundred
and sixty millions Of dollars have been ex-
pended for the navy since the close OF the
civil war, without anything to show for
this enormous sum but Il demoralized SER
vice, worthless ships, and the sudden
wealth OF n band OF robbers in ana out OF
the department. The navy yards all over
the country have been little less than par
tisan headquarters, whore competent me-
char rs were discarded as n rule and low
politicians preferred. We know how IL
was tone before our eyes on the Atant G
and II anything, il has been worse on the
Pacific, where ErrIGY SARGENT and his
followers had fun swing. Take two ex.
amplts in point:
The ship LackawapDa was built and
equipped fully for sea at Il cost of $i52, 0G9
She was hauled on the dry dock Of Mar,
Island and kept there from August a. 1869
until June IL, 1872 for "repairs,' whicl
cost in the aggregate $751;, Ol2.O7 or Sl2o,
0i3n more than Lie entire Drico oil th'