New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-20
NrvvoRK DAILY TRIBUNE THURSDAY, JULY 90 1882

worthy of serious consideration. The Navy,
more than any other branch of the public SER
vice, has been commonly represented as q dis
grace to the party in power, and shame TO the
country. ANY American of sincere patriotism
may well be glad if current criticism has al
together exaggerated the defects Of that branch
of the service. Every Republican especially
must be gratified if it can be shown that much
of the censure of past administrations has been
undeseryed. Mr.. Robson has arrayed many
facts with which the public has been not at all
acquainted. It would be too much to say that
he has entirely vindicated his own official man
agement from all criticism, but no has undeni-
ably cleared away many misconceptions, and
disproved many falsehoOds which have been
assiduously circulated and commonly accepted
as facts. While his speech does not settle all
the questions upon which it touches, it is an
important contribution to that impartial his
tory which has yet to be written. That it was
remarkably effective in the debate, and infiu-
enced the action of many Democratic members,
will not seem strange to those who read 1T at
Uentively.
Mr. Robson shows that "mOre than three
"fOurths of all the naval appropriations is ex-
"pended for the maintenance OF the personnel,
the officers and the men, of the Navy" so that
the great increase in its force, which was popu-
larly desired and effected after the close of the
war, involved a great increase of expenditure
Out of fifteen millions or more, appropriated
yearly for the Navy, only $2,5OO,OOO last year
went to the maintenance and Strengthening OF
the Navy itself, while over $7.00O,OOO went for
pay alone. In eight years while Mr.. Robson
was Secretary, the entire appropriations were
but 1888, 00O,O 900, and only about $43, 100000
were appropriated to the working branches OF
the Department, the Bureaus of Steam Engi-
neeriDg and of Construction and Repair. What
ever building, repair or rebuilding was pos
sible, during those eight years, had to be done
with less than $31 100000, Mr.. Robson
states, and yet. during the last eight years of
Democratic administration, from 1858 to 1861,
the appropriations to the same Bureau of Con-
structioniand Repair were $33, $685. OO Mr.
Robson claims that during his eight years,
forty -two ships were built, practically added
to the Navy, or saved from destruction, while all
Others that were worth anything were re-
paired. The details which Mr.. Robson gives,
as to the condition OF the Navy in 1869 and in
1876, certainly merit examination.
1t is also maintained that, during the past five
years, not q new ship has been produced in any
form, nor new gun put aflOat under the flag.
simply because appropriations have not been
sufficient to keep patched, mended and atioat
the vessels previously in service Mr. Robson
claims that the niggardly and short-sighted
policy of Democratic Congresses has caused
the decay of the Navy; that the organization
has become top-heavy, and far too costly for
the vessels provided. The vital principle Of
the bill which he submitted, and carried in the
House, was to thin out the top-heavy and too
costly organization, by stopping appointments
to unnecessary grades, and by closing yards
that are useless except for political purposes,
and to spend the money in building new, swift
and serviceable vessels.
An interesting part of Mr.. Robeson's speech
compares some OF the vessels of our Navy, now
in service, with the best of like grade in the
British Navy The ex-Secretary aflirms, The
q ships which | built were better, faster,
stronger and more effective, ship for ship, than
{" any of their class in the English or in any for
@eIgn Navy" Neither abuse OF the man nor ha-
tired of the party for which he speaks will
lessen the force of the details which he gives.
If they cannot be successfully met, it must be
admitted that public opinion has been led far
astray by Democratic Misrepresentation, and
that the Navy which we have is by no means so
worthless as it has been the fashion TO repre-
sent it in comic caricatures, and i'll sober
speeches even less faithful to truth. That the
House adopted Mr. RObcscn's view of the mat
ter was shown by its vote.