Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-02

Tsu8 regu a ETDW NAVY.
The fact that the appropriation for
the completion Of Robeson's unfinished
monitors will doubtless pass Congress,
in whole or in part, recalls the fact that
whatever be the merits of the aforesaid
monitors, the United States is without
navy worthy Of the name At the close
Of the civil war the government had
some comparatively formidable cruisers.
All of these for purposes of ofeDse and
defense are now comparatively worthless.
The little Republic of Chill possesses
ironclads that no vessel of ours
could contend against. Any one
of the formidable Italian, British or
French ironclads could lay New York
in ashes, for in addition to having no
powerful vessels we have no guns to
match those that Europeans could bring
against us. The boast of Nicholson,
that, if Arabi's gunners should hit his
ships. he would return the fire, was sim
ply ridiculous. The Lancaster and
Quinneboug are wooden ships, and one
ball from Arabs batteries went clear
through the Invincible, one of the most
powerful vessels in the British navy
1t is humiliating that the flag OF the re-
public should float over mere tubs,
and that we are powerless to attack
or resist on the seas where once the
American navy was respected for its
efficiency and proves. If put to
popular vote tomorrow, the sentiment
of the country would be for the creation
of a navy, but the people at the same
time would insist that the methods en-
ployed by the Navy Departmentrecently
should be radically changed. 1t is the
disgraceful conduct of the department
under Robson and the knowledge that
he is even now striving to control its
management, though not connected
with it, that makes the masses
dubious of the wisdom of ap
propriating any more money than
is absolutely necessary for naval
purposes. Thus it has come to pass
that this country, though contributing
most of the suggestions that have led to
recent Improvements of war ships, is be-
hind Spain and Chill in naval equip
ment. Unquestionably, we should have an
efficient navy, or else cut down the long
roster of blue coats and brass buttons
that fills the Macy Register. This reform
can be obtained only as every other-by
inviting the Radicals to step down and
out, and putting new men in charge of
the department.
One or two ships, built annually of the
best materials and according to the most
recent standard, would in a short time
give us an efficient navy. Nor need the
work of their construction be confined to
Mr.. Roach, or the Messrs. Cramp. or any
others of Robeson's pals. If we must
pay two prices to have ships built at
home, we should send abroad and have
them built there. 1t is well authenti-
Gated fact that excellent British cruisers
have been built for less than it has cost
to repair some of our own tubs
Along with the work of building war
vessels should 90 the construction of
heavy ordnance, or. for that matter, that,
too, could be imported, and the differ
ence in cost would enable us to purchase
more
The time is propitiOus for smashing
up our worthless cruisers. Soon we
would be rid of all of them, and could
have naval equipment that would putus
on an equal footing with the powers of Eu-
rope. Urgent as is the need of rehabili-
tation of our naval establishment, it is
doubtful if anything can be done till
Robson and his influence shall have
been eliminated from the Federal coun-
ellis. Once the people have confidence
that their money will be rightly spent,
they may be trusted to respond willingly
to the pleas made for new navy. As
it is, they know that the money would
be squandered, and that whatever is
given for completing RObeson's monitors
might as well be thrown into the sea.
They have been condemned by naval ex-
perts, and are, every one, jobs.