The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-03
Washington Letter.
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WASHINGTON, ID. g., Jan. %, 1857

gress is talking about. The Navy, mark
YOU, the Navy, wants itself increased be
cause, forsoolh, 1t is the "laughlng stock OF
Europe" If there Is any role the Navy
cannot endure 1t Is the role of laughing
stock, hence every year is repeated this
ca,apult argument: "Our Navy IS the
laughing stock Of Europe" From ma
val point of view the Navy of the United
States lives, moves, and has its being as
the cynosure OF European admiration
And to be laughed at by Europe. OH!
horrors 1t IL fortunate for the United
States that this morbid love OF admiration
is confined mostly to the official personnel
of the Navy. All of them have been to
Europe at Government expense, and the
most that their travels has taught them is
to be ashamed of their country because it
does no. live for war, and has fewer and
less imposing ships and guns than the
monarchies of Europe which live to fight
and hight to live. If the United States
should endeavor to remodel itself in every
line IN which it is the laughing stock OF
Europe it would have stupendous task
before 1t, and our naval Bunthornes may
as we'll face their share OF European de-
rision But there is a lesson that both the
Army and Naval official personnel should
begin to learn: Our traditions are not war.
like; our chief industry 10 not war; the
flower of our population Is not under
arms; we have not and cannot have per-
sonal interest In the armed balance man
tanned by the colossal, demoralizing, life
and treasure sapping establishments-re-
moved from us, thank heavenl by three
thousand miles OF heaving sea. If our Ar
my and Navy officers feel themselves de
trop without war ships and armies for a
setting, so much the worse for their profes
sion, and 30 much the better for our coun-
try. The United States can well afford to
be laughed at for beating swords and
spears into instruments of husbandry, and
if we have fewer iron clads and guns than
any great European power, we, on the
other hand, have more tbreshing machines
than all of them combined.
! There are at least three branches of the
public service for which we pay great
deal and for which we have very little use
These are the Diplomatic, the Military
and the Naval establishments. 1t may be
we'll to maintain skeleton military and ma
val establishments as Il nucleus of national
defence, but the diplomatic corps is an an
tiqulty, utterly useless in modern times
We had no use for it before the laying Of
the first Atlantic cable, but since then II
has had no shadow of excuse for remaining
above ground.
There was spirited debate in Congress:
on Saturday relative to the Naval bill and
the discussion will be continued to-day
but no real reform need be expected until
another party has control Of legislation
and executive matters.
During the course OF the debate Mr.
Knott OF Kentucky said there were IN
comm ssion thirty stesming vessels. and
for them there were 293 engineer officers al
an aggregate pay Of ss42, 900 for sea duty
Though these gentlemen understood their
duties theoretically, he undertook to say
that with the exception of few men like
Melville, none of them had ever had q
monkey wrench or an OIL can ia theil
hands since they had been in service
Twenty five officers Of this engineer corps
were 80 loaded down with rank and dig
nifty that there was not q ship IN the Navy
big enough to hold them. II some indis-
Greet secretary of the navy should order ,
chief engineer. pay director, and medi-
cal inspector for duty on the same ship
the vessel would inevitably sink.
There was another corps Of which the
country had heard a good deal-the ma
r,ne corps-whlch had long list Of Off
GERS. The duties Of every one of these off
GERS could be as we'll performed by an Off
Ger detailed from the line of the navy; and
il he had an opportunity he would offer an
amendment looking to that result, lie
would also offer amendments for the grad
ual abolition of the pay corps, and for a re
duction in the engineer corps.
Il