Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-12-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Washington, December 70.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy comes into port several days
after the presidents message and the
other departmental returns have been
published. There is a fitness in this |
delay perhaps, as it is significant of
the debilitated condition of the Ma
rine establishment. In looking it over |
one is forced to the conclusion that |
the best thing to do with the Ameri- |
can war navy is to sink it, and either
do without any OF build an entirely
new line of ships. Our American
navy yards are mere "reminiscences.
At Washington there are several
Monitors lying in the stream; they
run them up to fresh water to avoid
the barnacles-but though they are
manned by as brave set of sailor
soldiers as ever walked deck, they
are of no use, and never will be, for
modern artillery would pound them
to splinters in no time. But they lie
On the peaceful waters of the Poto-
mac, resting after their brief lives
of fiery activity, and reminding one
of old sea captains. Their bronzed
and battered appearance inspires rev.
erence rather than fear. / was talk
ing with sensible woman the other
day, about naval affairs. 1t is little
out of the order of things for woman
to be posted about the navy. But
this lady, whose husband is con-
frmed invalid, is his agent in secur-
ing the adoption, by the government
of his inventions, which relate to de-
fecting steel armor for war ships.
She said that the idea of ever build
ing land defenses for our immense
: coast is absurd. The government, in
; her opinion, ought to rely on sea 60
: ing armored ships, for defense to har-
: bors. These are portable fortifca-
/ tons. The invader can be met at the
J entrance to our harbors, and the de-
/ Tense offered would be equal, or bet.
2 ter, than any land constructions could
: give. 1t seems to me she is right.
: The lady | refer to is generally
0 nominated a lobbyist. She goes be
: fore the naval committees and argues
It the abstruse problems of warfare will
}, the knowledge of veteran, and tn
n zeal of woman. Her husband is /:
:. man of great talent, but he has no
: been out of bed for ten long years
: He passes his time inyenting, his spe
re cial study being In the direction o
h naval inventions. His devoted wifi
d is his able assistant outside, workin
al together they have acquired wealth.
4 An old neighbor of Hon. Tor
lie Ochiltree of Texas, complains thu
d the honors bestowed upon the re
t. haired romancist of the Rio Grandt
d. have spoiled him. Ochiltree is yer
ordinary man to tell the plain fac
Us but he acquired a national reputatio
d. as an expert trifler with truth. an
IN some Texans, who like vigorous e,
III aggerators, sent him to congress in
ld sort of broad joke, as a reward fl
a his talents.
on 'sIts an emery looking crowd viii
gh pered half intoxicated habitue
n the gallery to your pendent,
lc- they sat looking down on the ne
lie. House. Some of the gallery tribe a
re- fixtures. They come to their plac
or almost as regular as the speaker bin
at, self. They pretend to know what
re- going on and have the same sort
ownership as Silas Wegg possess
of the mansion opposite his bo
SD stall. This old relic of department
life has seen many congresses in 81
nd sion, but he impaired the informant
4 a that this crowd didn't seem to belo
ia here. s'It's tidal wave congress
it be murmured but here the onion lun
ass which the old vagabond had abe
gle him overpowered me and I moved.
of 1t is evident that congress will |
sim be fully organized and get to We
in until long after the holidays. II
ISIS, the next thing we shall hear of '