National Republican., 1883-03-01
THE GoRRTNGE CASE.
How II Looks TO n Newspaper In the West
"A Very Clear Statement.
Chicago Jncr- ocean.

Chicago JniCr-O Ocean.
With suggestive unanimity and bitter
ness the free trade journals Of tho country
are condomning and traducing Secretary
Chandler and bestowing corresponding praise
upon ex-Lieut. Comd'r Gorringe. 1t must
be that the shot fred by tho secretary of tho
navy hit bulls eye, to which Gorringe him
self was merely incidental. The facts upon
the surface do not rise to tho dignity of ma
tional Importance, but they have an i'm
portant bearing upon the general question
Shall American interests DO promoted or
crushed?
AS long ago as May last Gorringe contribu-
uted an article TO the North american ReuieiD
entitled "The Navy" in which he freely and
severely censured the recommendations ofthe
naval advisory board of which Com. Shufeldt
was president. He ought, in strict justice,
TO have been called to account for that arti-
Gle. 1t was grossly improper for an officer Of
the navy to mako such an onslaught upon
his fellow officers in the discharge of duty
assigned them in accordance with an act Of
congress. Then, too IL being well known
that tho North american pays for its articles.
Gorringe may fairly be presumed to have
violated the law Of the land in making
the contribution without leave from tho
department, But the matter was passed
over in silence by Mr.. Chandler, and that
seems TO have emboldened the young
man to presume still further upon
the secretary's good nature. The fact is that
the man has the big head, not because Of any
noteworthy naval exploit in timo of war or
peace, but because he had tho good fortune to
be selected TO superintend the job of bringing
to New York, at Mr.. Nanderbilts expense,
the Egyptian obelisk which now stands in
Central park. Cleopatra's Needle is the meat
whereon this our Cesar fed that ho has be-
come bigger man than the secretary of the
navy.
Soon after the publication Of the article in
question Mr. Gorringe made public his opin-
ion as to the abandonment of tho Brooklyn
navy yard, whereupOn the secretary wrote to
inquire what ho had recommended, and how
he came TO discuss the matter ut all. 1t seems
that in this instance his position was consistent
with that of the department, and in saying
rs much to him, Secretary Chandler added
Ifit had not been the singular spectacle might
be presented OF plan Of the department oppOsed d
IN public meetings and publications by a single
officer OF the navy on leave Of absence. There is
no disposition on the part of the department to
prevent free participation by officers OF the navy
In private or public discussions upon subjects con-
nected with the naval establishment, provided
they are general in their character But when
particular questions OF administration are actually
pending IN the department or before congress no
public exp esson Of o. inion thereon by any
oihcer should be made without he first communi-
authority to make them public, You Will please
hereafter be governed BY this rule.
This good advice was given early in June
last and seemed to be taken in good part, but
some seven months later, when asked TO be
present at the Cooper Institute meeting in the
interest of American labor and resources. he
not only declined, but took occasion to express
the most extreme free trade views, including
and emphasizing free trade in ships. lie re-
peated with volubility and intensity the
familiar arguments in favor of playing into
tho hands OF British shipbuilders and destroy
ing the very capacity of the United States for
naval independence The subject had been
discussed great deal in official and unofficial
ways, and he must have known that he was
grossly violating the very essence of the gem
eral rule to which his attention had been
called a few months previous by the secretary.
Even then he was not called to account until
after prominent citizen of New York mot
John Roach, of Philadelphia, or any one in his
interest, as hotly charged) had called the
attention of the secretary to the report that
Gorringo had formed or was about to form n
connection with n foreign company, and there
upon the head of the navy inquired of the
accused If it were so. Gorringe denied that
he had formed any connection, but left the
impression that he was expecting to do so, and
was very indignant ut the question. When
in later letter the secretary frankly told
him what accusation had Occasioned the ques-
tion, his wrath was so very hot that he sent
in his resignation, accompanied with language
unbecoming q gentleman, especially to his
superior officer. Mr.. Chandler is the secre-
tary of the navy, and as such is entitled to
respectful treatment from the lieutenant
commanders and all other persons connected
with that branch of the service.
In attempting TO make martyr out Of an
insolent subordinate, who has been treated
from first to last with too much lenioncy, the
organs of British free trade have overshot the
mark. This government is strongly commit
ted to protection, including shipbuilding, and
has been ever since the republican party
came into power and, while no officer of the
army or navy is asked to take any part in
upholding this policy as against foreign enc
miles and their domestic allies, it would be
inexcusable for any such officer to take an
active part against American interests. The
attempt to put premium upon the first
notable instance of the kind will fail. En-
lightened public sentiment will fully indorse
the course of Secretary Chandler, and be
quite content that Gorringe should retire
from the naval service. 1t is expected that
the British interests will be largely inter-
ested in congress, but John Bull need not try
to capture our navy.