The Portland daily press., 1884-04-25

not one that can cope with the ships with
which second and and third class powers have
wisely supplied themselves. Nor have we a
merchant fleet that can be turned into fleet
of useful nsVal snip at short notice. The
nation is defenceless on the sea, and it's
rich and popular seaport cities are utterly
unprotected. Neither have we navy
yards, or private ship yaIds equipped to
promptly supply the deficiency.
The last Congress- Republican Con-
gress after series of Democratic Congresses
--tooks steps toward providing remedy for
this condition. The building of few cruis-
ers OF modern character, and the compile
ton of certain armored vessels long ago be-
guns were authorized. But the next Congress
elected had a Democratic majority in the
house of Representatives, which means in
this, as in every other, direction an impede
ment TO national progress, controlling pol
icy of inaction and retrogression. The ma
val appropriation bill was reported and car
ried through the House without any provis.
ion for the continuance of work on the new
cruisers. They were to be left where the
monitors were left when the Democrats
came into power in 1874 10 stay on he
stocks unfinished and useless hulks while
the ships in commission or capable of sailing
the seas became fewer and fewer, and the
prestige of the American flag and of Ameri-
can proves continued to wane.
The appropriation bill went to the Senate
and there, largely owing to the wise and en-
ergetic course of Senator Hale, the bill was
amended by the addition of appropriations
to continue the work begun last year of
building up navy creditsblo to the dignity
of the nation and useful for the guardian
ship of our commerce. The Republicans
having majority in that body, it responded
to the urgent appeal of patriotism. But the
concurrence of the House of Representatives
is necessary. and Wednesday, when the
amended bill came back to the House, Mr..
Randall promptly moved non-concurrence
in the Senate amendments, and the refer
ence of the bill to the committee on appro-
priations. When pressed TO give some state
ment of the character of the amendments
and the reasons why they should not be
agreed to he refused. Mr.. Kasson made a
powerful speech favoring the policy of build
ing up the navy and then Mr.. Reed by skill
tul questioning drew from Mr.. Randall tina:
the reasons for his motion were two, first
that separate bill for building war ships
already passed by the Senate was on the
Speakers table, and second that the Demo
cratic party is not to blame for the past
arrangement of the navy.
Mr.. Reed then made what the New York
Tribune report pronounces Zone of the best
short speeches ever made in the House," he
pointed out that the Democratic party is as
usual grovelling in the past aud excusing it
self for Sinking its present responsibility
and duty. The country demands decent
navy, the Republican party is willing to re-
spond to that demand, but the Democratic
party blocks the way. This is the old story
of incapacity and hostility to the public in
terests. General orosvenor, who presided
over the Ohio State Convention, well sail in
his speech on taking the chair:
No act of the American Congress which has been
passed and took effect during this quarter of
tury, which was in the interest of labor, of educa-
ton, of industrial prosperity of national growth OF
greater civilization that the Democratic party has
not obstructed and resisted. During that great
period it has had policy that has not been con-
demned by the voice of the people, and no policy
has been adopted which has furthered the magnif-
cent growth of the country that it has not resisted
1t has been party of negatives party of obstruc-
ton, party of condemnation.
That is true description, and its truth
will continue to be illustrated whenever the
Democratic party has power to show its real
motive and tendency. The party cannot
rise above the level of the ideas of the bulk
of its voters. 1t represents that South
which is fifty years behind the North in in
telhgence and civilization, and that element
OF the Northern population which least I'M
derstands either the genius of American in
situations or the conditions of national
greatness. There is no hope of having an
American navy SO long as the Democratic
party has the power to prevent it.