The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-02-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.


HE Commdnderinchig, why Congress cW
nat pass tie BN. More Hau 1900 BiUs b.
fore the tro Houses.
From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. ~, 1879.
When Mr.. Blaine speaks he avakens echoes,
no matter on what subject. Some say it is
because of his peculiar Henry Clay magnet
ism, but apprehend his magnetism has but
little effect On the press that rc.echoes his
speeches | think it is rather his address in
selecting subjects of broad interests, His last
speech was on Il subject Of the broadest inter.
est; it was IN favor of encouraging American
commerce. He argued that the vast sums of
money annually expended in keeping up
useless and expensive navy were wasted; and
that il portion of this money were appropri-
atcd to building up Il commercial marine it
would do much, indirectly, TO give as real
naval strength in thousands of trained and
hardened seamen, who would be available in
time Of war. He urged the Looping off the
many useless and ornamental attachments of
the navy, the marine corps, and superous OF.
navy had large excess Of expensive officers
us compared with the British and French ma
vics He showed that we had in our navy one
officer to every three and half men; that this
ridiculous disproportion was annually increas.
ing by the addition each year of so graduates
from the Naval Academy to the already over
crowded ranks of the officers. He explained
that we paid the officers of the navy over So
100000 annually, while the pay Of the seamen,
commanded by them, amounted to only So.
100000; that we maintained five expensive
sailing squadrons, composed Of harmless old
fashioned ships, to protect Il commerce that
had long since departed In further compari.
son with the British navy he showed that two
navy yards answered for that gigantic estab
hshment, while we have navy yards at Ports
mouth, New York, Philadelphia, Washington
Norfolk, Charleston, Pensacola and Mare
Island
The navy influence is powerful in Washing
ton, it has qualifications in society, it has
friends III congress, it is supported by political
interests; for certain Eastern members of con
gress hold their seats by virtue of the navy
yards IN their several districts Others have
sons and sons,in.law, fathers and fathcrs-in
law, mothers and mOthcrs-inaw, who derive
their subsistence and social position directly
or indirectly from tie navy. Observe ,no re-
ply of Senator Beck To Senator Blame. Senator
Becli's sonIn-law Is paymaster of the Marine
Corps at IA salary OF $1,000 per annum
Any child must know that the strength Of
our defence is IN the sea. We have absolutely
no one to fear il tins hemisphere. Combined
Europe would not think Of attacking Us on
our own soil But either the British, French,
German, or Norwegian Navies would make II
very uncomfortable for our seaport cities, if
they would sail down upon Us before we had
time to plant torpedoes in the approaches to
our l1arbors. Against the natives of foreign
powers We can oppose only !, 800 seamer, 40
comparatively harmless ships, and 1920 Off
GERS. What policy can be more palpably pru-
dent than to strengthen our navy. But as Mr..
Blaine clearly showed this cannot be effected,
was never effected in the history of any navy,
by building from the top downward, by gradu-
atng astromcrs, French scholars, and accom-
pllshed parlor knigts for the command ofships.
Sailors must be made of serner stuff Long &C
quaintance with the watery element with It's
mysteries and variable moods, nerves strength
ened and braced by long familiarity with dan
ger can qualify men to go down to the sea III
ships.
Mr.. Blaine's speech was in favor of Ameri-
can Commerce, but no policy could so directly
and effectively build up a real navy, revive
and inure thousands of men in
sea taring duties and dangers.
Just at present there is very little to write
about from Washington. Congress Is occu-
pied with bills and debates that are the reverse
Of interesting and exciting, except to the spec
ial classes they affect. OF course, they affect
all indirectly through taXation but the Amer-
can citizen is in the habit of paying his taxes
doggedly, when he cannot avoid them, indif
fcrent as to how much money goes to the
President of the United States, to the disabled
and pcnsioned veteran, or to improve the navi-
CATION of tkc north fork Of the Little Muddy
Run The army bill is Il tolcrably live sub
iect; but this bill, so popular when first intro
duced and which almost all parties agreed
had excellent features, it Is feared, has been al
ready killed by prc-legislative Discussion. !
believe that one of the greatest objections to
the bill is the great authority it confers on the
general of the army. General Sher
man is the antithcsis of Grant in that he talks
and talks. If General Grant must be called
the silent, sagacious man, then General Sher-
man is the noisy, loquacious man. Not that
he does not talk well and cOnyincingly, but he
is devoid of magnetism, and, while his ability
is conceded he is not loved, either in or out OF
the army The American world sees and
hears too much of HIM. He is too conspicu-
ouslv ubioutous If he would only fold him