Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-04
OUR NAVY YARDS
The Necessity of Keeping Them in
WOrlkin. Order.


WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 30.-The COM
mlssioners appointed by the secretary of the
navy 10 consider the question of the sale or
retention of the different navy yards report
recommending the sale of the navy yard at
New London, the naval hospital grounds at
Chelsea, Mass, and the naval asylum at
Philadelphia. They recommend the retcn-
lion CT the navy yards at Boston, New York,
Portsmouth, League Island, Washington
Pensacola and Norfolk and the Key West
naval station. In regard to the naval station at
Sacketts Harbor, N. Y, the commissioners
say the great importance of the naval opera.
tons on the lakes during the war of 1872
the exposed condition of that portion of our
frontier and the enormous amount of prop.
erty On the waters belonging to our citizens
aud therefore liable to destruction in event
OF war admOnish your commissioners not 10
recommend the abandonment Of the only
station, whatever its dement's. we now hold
in that quarter. The commissioners give at
great length reasons for their conclu-
slons ID each case and continue: 'tWar
IS the heritage of man and the people of the
United States should not delude themselves
with Idle hopes, of perpetual peace, and
it is swift and terrible. Exposed MS we are.
the damage that could be inflicted upon us
ere note of warning had well sounded
would be beyond calculation, but unmindful of
the great lessons OF war we wait for the cmer-
gcncy OF the hour to force us into measures
which should have been already maturcd
Of all methods this has been found TO be
most wasteful. The panic caused by the
Vlrglnius affair cost the country $4,000, 900
without any adequate return. II is popular
Delief that onr traditional policy of peace is
easily maintained by reason of out
isolation and our freedom from the en-
Engagements which so frequently disturb the
relations OF the European powers. But this
is delusion. We have in common with all
the maritime counties interests which we
are In duty bound to support. The present
disturbed condition of affairs on the Asiatic
station, the construction of the Panama
canal, the Interpolation of the Monroe doc
| trine into our political creed, our growing
commerce in the Pacific and the naval
| strength developed by the rising powers of
South America are each and every one sub.
jects prolific of questions of serious import
TO The people of the United States.
Their government may at any day
DC called upon to take its stand
and carry into practical effect the
oiO'" "uu eniiSuteneu principles which
have characterized Its foreign policy,
To do this and to exercise that moral inflII-
ence which belongs to us of right as one of
the wealthiest AMI most liberal members of
the great family of nations certain reserve
| OF force is absolutely essential. Now the
| number, but more particularly the condition
OF our navy yards may be regarded as part
OF that reserve and as an exponent of our
naual power. The logical deduction there.
fore. is that power must be developed or our
foreign policy be abandoned, if we would
avoid national humiliation.
The commissioners call attention TO the
want OF proper organization of the working
forces OF the navy yards, the multiplicity Of
the shops OF the same class, the diffusion of
work over an unnecessarily extended area,
the want OF uniformity in the transaction OF
business and the Objectionable method If
keeping accounts. They say no reflection
upon individuals is intended as these evils
arc the result of radically defective system