The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-11-23
NAKAL REooNsrRUorIoY.

NAYAL RECONSTRUCTION.
The bombardment of Alexandria has
set the naval world agog as to the resist
ing power of fortiicatione against mod.
ern war vessels. as well as to the rela
tive naval architecture of the maratime
nations.
We do not need navy to defend En-
poria, but we have an equal interest
wIththe rest Of the country in the de
lenses of our extended sea coast, and in
the ample protection of our great com
mercial cenlers on the sea board. The
country is one, and what effects one af-
fects all.
England is still mistress of The sea"
and apparently it viii be long while
ere another nation shall wrench tina.
power from Brittania's strong arm The
great powers of Europe are now rapidly
casting about TO strengthen their naval
ornaments in view of future complica-
lions which may place either one of
them in sntagOnism To England on the
perilous front of war.
While it is true that as a nation we,
from interest and immemorial policy,
avoid the arena of European politics, yet
as We have grown To be one of the
great nations of the earth and
are now aggressively seeking To
extend our commercial relations over
the world, it is not beyond the POSSIBLE
tiles of the near failure that We may
come in collision with some foreign
power. We have the rich island of
Cuba, but IA days sail from our shores
with Il fruitful commerce in that isle
already grown into vast proper tions and
out of which not unlrequently arises
friction Shich some day may attain the
calamity of collision with Spain
Had Garfield continued to live, Score
tary Blaine avows that it was his pur-
pose to have pushed affairs with Chill,
concerning the dis4Hemberment OF Peru,
even TO the point of war, il that should
have been necessary to avert disintegra-
ton of sister American republic ana
to check the overshadowing and graspiDg
aVarice of English capital aud DONNA
ton in regions where, by reason of con-
tiguitY of territory and sympatLics in
our governmental systems, We have vast
interests in spreading our commerce
There are boundIcss possibilities to our
commerce with the South American
states. could we but restrain 10
those rich fields the greed
and rapicity of English CAPT
tai and diplo@4cy. Senator Blaine
was alive TO The value of that great trade
and to a foreign policy which would
have given US paramount interests there.
In his laconic language, concerning our
foreign policy, lie would not give much
for a great nation which "dare not stay
out over night"
The contingency of a war with Chill,
and thus clashing with English inter-
ests, which came so near happening, and
similar contingencies which may arise
at any time, for sit is the unexpected
which always happens" brings up at
once the question Of our naval end coast
defense.
In the event of foreign war. either
purely defensive or aggressive, it is
needless to say to those who are well In
formed. or even To those who are only |
reasonably we'll informed, that our navy
is farce-'the laughing stock of the |
world" A few old rotten hulks, called |
by courtesy men-ofwar, float around |
over the seas, in The different naval sta
tions to which they are assigned, con-
stantly going into docks FOR rspairssin |
every principal port into which they
come, and only kept from sinking |
by studiously avoiding coming in
contact with any considerable |
4" school OF whales" Our best |
flag ships, bearing the broad pen
nants oil our admirals, Sailing DER the
sea-" are ready TO sink on sight of an
Armstrong or a Krupp gun on every for
eign man-of-war, and our brave tarsH |
are only kept in c"uatcn nee by the |
fact that the "fUIeIgner" shoots nothing |
but salutcs at an American man-uf- war.
In case of war With SO petty d state rs
Chill her navy would not only be able to |
cope with oars, but her formid1bie |
iron-clads would soon send our hulks to
the bottom of lhi sea. Old decPrpid |
Spain could easily put our
vessels in limbo, and |
lay waste our maritime |
cities before We could meet her with |
navy anything like equal 10 her own.
No doubt that our officers and seamen
are as skilled aud intrepid as any who |
walk the decks of ship, but of what |
avail are bravery and setmanssip ON
rotten timbcrS and rickcIy iran cladS, |
RECONSTRUCTED, experimental follies, |
incapable of resisting we'll directed |
six-pounder. Is it not time that the |
should demand The creation Of |
a navy which will give confidence at |
home and inspire ut least some degree |
of respect abroad? Let us eliminate |
from politics the spooks who haunt our |
policy with the belief that We do not
need a navy.