The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-02-12
THE MORRISTOWN GAZETTE
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washingtoa Letter.

SEVEN NAVY 1AhDo IN AhG S@NAA~N
STATES WHILE TWO sUFEICE FOR ENG
LAND.-CIPHER INvEsTIeA eATIoNs.-TH1
BATTLE BETWEEN MIR. CONKLIEG AM
THE PRESIDENT LIKELY TO RANGE II
OPEN SESSION.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. %, '7e.
To the Editor Of the MorristOwn Gazette:
When Mr.. Blaine speaks he awaken
echoes, no matter on what subjects
Some say it is because of his peculiar
Henry Clay magnetism, but aPprehene
his magnetism has but little effect OF
the press that re echoes his speeches.
think it is rather his address In selecting
subjects of broad interest. His last
speech was on subject of the broades'
interest it was in favor of encouraging
American commerce. He argued thai
the vast sums of money annually ex'
pended in keeping up useless and e1-
pensive navy were wasted and that il
portion of this money were approprla'
ted to building up commercial marine
It would do much, indirectly, to give us
real naval strength in thousands OF
trained and hardened seamen, who
would be available in time of war, He
urged the Topping off of the many use
less and ornamental attachments Of the
navy, the marine corps, and supertiuous
officers, and he showed by statistics that
our navy had a large excess of expen'
sive officers as compared with the Brit
ish and French navies. He showed that
we had in our navy Cne officer TO every
three and a half men, that this ridicu-
lous dispropOrtion was annually increas-
ing by the addition each year of fifty
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 50, ,0OO, 600 an
nually, while the pay of the seamen'
commanded by them, amounted to only
g, 300, 900 that we maintained five ex-
pensiVe sailing squadrons, composed OF
harmless old fashioned ships, to protect
a commerce that had long since depar- |
ted. In further comparison with the |
British navy he showed that two navy |
yards answered for that gigantic estab.
lishment, while we had navy yards at
Portsmouth, New York, Philadelphia,
Washington, Norfolk, Charleston, Pc
nascola and Mare Island.
The navy influence is powerful in
Washington, it has ramifctiOns in socie~
ty, it has friends in Congress, it is sup
ported by political interests for certain
Eastern members of Congress, hold their
seats by virtue of the navy yards in
their several districts. Others have
sons and sOns-in-laws, fathers and faith
who derive their subsistence and social
position directly or indirectly from the
navy. Observe the reply of Senator
Beck to Senator Blaine. Senator Beck's
IOn-in-law is paymaster of the Marine
Corps, salary $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 in this hemi~
sphere. Combined Europe would not
think of attacking US on our own soil, l
But either the British, French, German, I
or Norwegian Navies would make it. s
very uncomfortable for our seaport
cities, if they would sail down upon us
before we had time to plant tOrpedoes in
,he approaches to our harbors. Against
he navies of foreign powers we can Op.
pose only 1900 seamen, 40 comparative 7
y harmless ships, and 1000 officers
What can be more palpably prudent ,
han to strengthen our navy. But as ,
Mr.. Blaine clearly showed that this can
not be effected, was never effected in
he history of any navy, by building |
from the top downwards, by graduating '
ers, French scholars, and ac
parlor knights for the COM !
mand of ships. Sailors must be made
Of sterner stuff, long acquaintance with
he watery elements, with its mysteries
ID and braced by long familiarity with
langer can qualify men to go down to
he sea in ships.
Mr.. Blaine's speech was in favor of :
American commerce but no policy
,ouId so directly and effectively build I
Up a real navy, revive ship-building, and {
nure thousands of men in sea-faring du- '
les and dangers. +
Just now the Potter cipher inVestiga- /
ion is attracting more attention than
congress, and while it is not believed
hat anything of a starting or sensational
haracter will be discovered, it is al
eady apparent that the investigation s
will not be without interest, and that it f
will result IN disclosures of some here- I
ofore hidden things.
The long talked of war between Mr..
and the President has at last
esulted in a pitched battle. 1t was car
led on yesterday in an executive ses-
ion of the Senate, but, in all prObabili- n
Y, It will be conducted in open Senate /
o-day. ;,
Yesterday afternoon the Senate went
lto executive session for the considera- )
lon Of the appointments in the New II
'ork Custom-house. IL was generally
opposed that there would be an interest
lg time, and the reporters fingered near a
ne sealed chamber anxious to catch the ii
rst whisper of the result of the battle, =
Then the doors were opened 1t was +
armed that the replies of Arthur and :,
ornell to Secretary Sherman had been -
lad. These were voluminous and oc- Is
lpied considerable time in reading. p
nd when they were concluded a note Ell
ON the Secretary of the Treasury WAS M
,ad, asking that copies of the letters be T,
FINISHED him. A motion that the in
motion of secrecy be removed as far as a.
le letters were concerned was agreed vi