The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-01
Our Navy in Europe.

Our Navy in Europe.
The least prctcxt Is seized upon by n Ger.
tain class of patriots, who generally live
upon the Government and pay no taxes. for
Increasing the army and navy. When the
Army bill was pending in the House of Rep
rcscntatives last year, and large rcduc-
tion was proposed a convenient cry was
raised just in the nick of time that great
Indian war was imminent and the Sioux
had ten thousand warriors in the field. Gus
TIERS small command had been ambushcd
and badly supported. and that loss came OPP
portuncly for the advocates of large cx-
penditures and the attendant jobbcry.
As consequence of this clamor. while
the army was kept up to its maximum
~ 80 $4,000 Il force Of $500 additional cavalry
were voted. not a man of whom ever
went near the Sioux. This device was
invented, really 10 get Lore troops Tor
partisan uses in the South and :" con-
troll the Presidential election. OF course
there was no Indian war. though that
was not the fault Of spectators, contractors,
officials, and adVcnturers, who have plum
dcrcd the Indians in peace and would like e.
rob the Government in war. That .ntcrv
y
cost the Treasury at least iiftc,. millions of
dollars, and perhaps L,uch more. between
th'. Ictrcnchment which was thus lost, and
the outlay for the new cavalry.
Now, when Il war has broken out between
Russia and Turkey, it is quickly proposed
to increase our navy in Europe, and to de-
mand extra appropriations nom Congress
for fitting out some of the rotten hulks ON
the stocks or in dock upon which millions
have been expended during the last eight
years. and which were nourishcd with the
same sort of care by SECoR RoBEsoN that
TwEED's Ring bestowed upon that monu-
ment Of corruption and fraud, our new
Court House.
There are now xix or seven ships In tho
European waters. which practically form
yachting squadron, that winters near Nice.
and hardly leaves the Mediterranean until
pleasant summer cruise in the North offers
new attractions for an Admiral and his fol-
lowing. seeking their ease and enjoyment
at the public expense. Some of these ships
cost half million year to keep ailOat.
while one steamer of a thousand tons would
perform all the service required IN those
waters either in peace or in war.
II Secretary THOMPSON is in earnest about
reforms in the navy, he will put his foot
down hard against any and every scheme for
augmcnting our naval force abroad. Oni-
GERS seeking commands and their friends
and others with special interests 10 serve
will urge various theories for multiplying
ships. none Of which can stand the test of
practical scrutiny. They care nothing about
tn" millions that would bee usclessly sunk in
In,. nj lfa
waters Of Europe, without any wcll-dcflncd
object except to swell the active pay list
and the profits Of Ring jobbcrs on foreign
stations for coal and supplies
The United States will bc neutral in this
war. whether it bc localized, as Is hoped, hc-
tween Russia and Turkey. or takes nighticr
proportions. ~ seems probable in view OF the
unsettled state Of Europe and the compli-
cations that are likely to arie" between Soy
cral of the great powers and their small al
lies. Our flag. and our diplomatic agents.
and our Con-uls will enjoy an exceptional
immunity, not only protected 10y the law of
nations hu, sought after for friendly acts OF
mediation by the contnndins parties The
absence of force will strengthen their moral
power and if the country Is oven dcccntly
represented. this war which has opened by
heavy tax on the n"ccssaries of life, ma Y
be converted into source of profit and of eX-
tended commercial intercourse.
During our civil war, when rebel cruisers
and blockade runners were built and
equipped i'm England and France, and large
part Of the commercial marine sought refuge
under the British nag. we had at no time
more than three wooden ships Of war in Eu-
rope. which were who'll unable to fight The
hostile runclad cruisers or oven t. run
away from them. Tho old sailing ship -,
Louis was the first sent ont and had NJ
utility except To- show the flag The Niagara
once famous the world over ~ Il sailer, wa.
converted into a steamer with loss II hal
her speed. She and smaller vessels. los
turns, represented our naval strength
abroad, in the time OF greatest need, an'
when vast commerce required the utmost
vigilance and support
That experience is a useful instruction
now, when We are To change positions Will
England and to become n neutral not sucl
as she wa, hut in the true sense, with fair
ness Ia all hrllgrrcnt-. Every one o
our ships of war might be withdraw
from fornign sous without in the leae
degree iupairng our position anonl
the nations. or affecting our relation
toward them The nag is all that Il
needed. aud il ary "Nisnry should arise
Vosscl- could be- despatched sooner from thi
side to a given point upon message by tn
cGllc than by call from the Mediterranean
or distant point in the north of Europe
The whole cry for more ships Is dc
ccption and q snare to squander the people
money.