Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-10

obstinately offending public and patriotic
sentiment concerning this measure. Mr..
Randall either stupidity or willfully plays
into Mr.. Blaine's hand Not even Elkins
or Phelps or Plat is so efficient a worker
for Blaine"
But it is more far-reaching than the help
it gives Blaine and Logan, for it absolutely
endangers the country. The nation is ex-
posed to the assault of any Power pos
sessed of two or three ordinarily strong
ironclads. 1t is all well enough TO say that
we are at peace; but that is precisely the
time in which to prepare for war. Indeed,
preparation and readiness for war is the
greatest conservator of peace. 1t is the I'M
expected that happens, and when the need
for ships of war arises it will be unexpect-
edly.
The sole objection Mr.. Randall raised
to the appropriation was that the Demo
cratic majority had not confidence in the
honesty of the Navy Department to dis
burse the money Congress has expended
several millions of dollars on monitors and
steel cruisers, and at the last moment the
House refuses to have them completed.
When Randall talked about a pend
ing investigation of the Navy Depart
ment, Mr.. Calkins reminded him
that it had no relation to the monitors and
cruisers. Randall was forced to admit this
but thought it should have its effect on the
pending measure. Calkins again put the
question to the House, Do you refuse to
build navy?" and the Democratic ma
jority under Randall replied, I'VE do"
Calkins then got in the neatest of blows by
saying that the reason was one of pride
and perhaps of temper. The Democratic
party had forgotten its traditions and had
gotten to be simply party of criticism.
He referred to the prompt reparation
which Great Britain demanded and re-
ceived for any injury done to one of her
subjects abroad, and contrasted it with the
timid conduct of the United States when
one of her citizens had been maltreated and
abused. There were petitions in the For
eign Affairs Committee which would show
this abuse and maltreatment Under the
leadership of the gentleman who was a
prominent candidate for the Presidency
the fiat had gone forth that the navy should
not be built up until after the next Presi-
dental election. If that was the position
the gentleman chose to assume, the Repub-
Gcan party was ready to meet it"
So it is, and at the polls in November the
electors Of the country must determine
whether the national honor shall be put at
stake, while Democrats use it to aid an
electionecring scheme. Reed of Maine
asked Randall why he did not amend the
bill to meet his objections Randall re-
piled evasively, saying, " You want to con-
struct vessels that we believe twelve
months will show are not equal to the sec
ond class ornaments of the world To
which Reed responded with the question,
Why don't you make the necessary
amendments to build vessels that are
good?' and again Mr. Randall evaded the
inquiry by saying that the Republicans
had the last Congress and refused to COM
plete the monitors. Which answer dis
closed the interest of the Democracy in the
premises. Fortunately however, the
country will not applaud the narrow econ
omy, but Will condemn the Democrats for
the crave mistake Of their leader.