The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-09-08
Which Was RIght9


AT the late session Of Congress, the
Democratic House, under the lead of
Chairman Randall, of the Committee on
Appropriations, steadfastly refused TO
vote the money which the Navy De-
partment had asked for building several
new war vessels; and IL based its refu-
sal on the ground, boldly and frankly
stated, that II had no confidence In the
Secretary of the Navy-that this
secretary (Wm. II. ChandIer)
did not possess either the ability
or the integrity needed to guar
antee that the money would be discreet
~ ana eihciently used for the purpose;
ana further, that the Republican man.
agement of the navy from the begin-
ming gave no assurance that that party
would build up good navy. The Re-
publican press loudly denounced this
conduct of the Democratic majority ne
unpatriotic and factious, and inyited the
country to condemn il; neyertheless.
the house resolutely adhered TO jts re,
iusal, and Secretary Chandler did not
get the money. Was the house right or
wrong? ~
Let the the Tallapoosa business an
sWer. Here was naval vessel, used by
secretary chandler for pleasure pur-
poses, sunk in Vineyard sound. otf rho
coast of Massachusetts, by n three
masted schooner, through the gross ner-
ligence or incapacity of the Federal ves-
sets crew. Three days after, the armed
steamer Tennessee, the flagship of the
North Atlantic squadron, while running
tnrough vineyard sound, struck a rock.
She got oil without serious damage. but
II Is wonder she was not wrecked and
lost with all her armament.
Again: Republican administrations
nave expended on the navy since the
war S3'S,OOO,0O0; and what has the conn
try TO show for the money. Nothing
Dut what Republican papers themselves
Iluicuie as group OF "rotten tubsr and
hulks IKE the Tallapoosa, utterly un-
modern warfare. The hag-ship Tennes.
see, fair specimen of the lot, Is n weak.
old wooden ship, armed with old-fash.
ioneu guns. She answers well enough
ior promenading up and down the At
lantic coast, and giving and receivinq
receptions at the seaport cities; but she
would not stand an hours fight with n
seeond-class British war shin armed
with improved guns.
The Republican platform itself admits
and laments the worthlessness of this
tepnblican navy by calling for its res
toratlon 10 the old-time strength and
efficiency Il had under Democratic man
agement,this worthless navy ON which
the Republican party has squandered
nearly s4OO,0O0,OO6 since the war. The
sum is large enough to build a good
navy OF 100 tirst.class war ships out and
out; and yet II has all been expended
ana there Is nothing 10 show for Il lint
lot oil Tallapoosas and Tennessees that
are a subject of derision.
Was not the Democratic House right
tnen IN refusing, A,OOOO0O to Secretary
Chandler, to build new war ships OF the
Tallapoosa pattern within Does not the
naval management of the last twenty
Years, with the squandering OF 3ps.-
WO,OOO, clearly prove that the RepublI-
can policy Is incapable OF producing
respectable navyg That party has OK
pended ON the navy, from first to last,
the enormous sum OF $500, 200, 900, without
giving the country navy. Is not this
convincing proof of its incompetency
TO the task.-lMiss Republican.