Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-23
Nhe free Dress.
News rn0;s WASHINGTON.
rhc rr",,cu uor eur tnnats aud CON
incrcc.

rhc rr",,cu nor eur cnns,s and Com
incrcc.
WAsuiNeroN, DC Nov 20. Admiral Por.
ter ( the navy il his report to Sccy. Chandler
comments at length upon tnc recomuienda-
,ons of the advisory boaid and says: Gas 1t
Is universally admitted that we have no navy
either for offence or defence do not see
any reason why Congress should not APP
proprate literally for The immediate increase
Of the navy rs it did at the time of the late
civil war. We are now in fact in as bad II
condition as at the breaking out Of that con-
flict, though then we could conform to the law
of nations by buying up every old ferry
boat and rattle trap that could mount a gun
and using them to blockade the Southern
ports. If Spain, the least formidable Of
nations, went to war with us tomorrow she
would sweep our gradually increasing COM
merce from the ocean by setting atloat
large swift steamer she could buy
in Europe, and we could no, prevent it.
This is not an overdrawn picture it is
simply statement of what is liable to
happen. In the end VIC would no doubt get
the better of our antagonist, but wonld that
satisfy the country for the commerce de-
stroycd or repay our people for the ravaged
coast ahd burned cities for with all
the new appliances for destroying human
life and property the horrors Of war are like
lY to be greater than anything We have ever
imagined. With the private workshops we
have in this country, we could build 30 large
ships in two years. How much better it
would be for us to go to work 10 build a set
of vessels for the immediate wants of the
navy. The argument that we can go on m-
hX l.t.t1. Ea,,, ~
is DOR one. At all events let us have ves-
scls with speed and guns enough to enable
us TO hold our own against any power in the
world. Don't let us stand in the eyes of the
world as nation of shop keepers without
sufficient patriotism to be willing to spend a
FAIR portion of our enormous revenue to pro-
tect our vast domain, Which has resources
superior to any other country"
The report continues when | speak
OF our unprotected coast refer to our lake
coast as well. In case of war with Great
Britain it would be comparatively easy for
the former to get possession of all the lakes
and with her powerful navy lay our cities
under contribution or destroy them. There
is no reason why We should not commence
to build on the lake shore one or two of the
heaviest iron clads, with powerful guns, good
speed and impervious TO the heaviest shot. |
There is every facility for constructing such
vessels on Lake Erie aud one such ship sta |
toned near Buffalo could 10 case of threaten
ed hostiliies drop down 10 the mouth of the |
Wcland canal and with shot and shell |
demoish the entrance, docks, etc, rendering
the work useless for naval or military pur.
poses. The admiral says Congress should |
take steps toward resuscitatng the merchant
marine. The position we hold in the carry
ing trade of the,world is simply humilating."
He suggests the establishment of a govern
ment board of trade to represent the wants
OF our commerce and make such recommen-
dations as would tend to bring our CONNER
cial marine to its proper standard. Admiral
Porter pays high compliment to the military
academy, which he says is vastly superior in
almost every respect to the naval academy.