The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-18
Which Was Right!

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 sew
eral new war vessels; and it based its
refusal on the ground boldly and
frankly stated, that it had no conf
dence in the Secretary of the Navy
that the Secretary, Mr.. William E.
Chandler, did not possess either the
ability or the integrity needed to guar
antee that the money would be dis
creetly and efficiently used for the pur-
pose; and further, that the Republican
management of the navy from the be-
ginning gave no assurance that the par
ty would Duild up a COOL navy. The
Republican press loudly denounced the
conduct of the Democratic ma Ority as
unpatrictic and factiOus, and invited
the country to condemn it; neverthe-
less. the House resolutely adhered 10 its
refusal, and Secretary Chandler did not
get the money. Was the House right
or wrong?
Let the Tallapoosa business answer
Here was a naval vessel. used by Secre-
tary Chandler for pleasure purposes,
sunk in Vineyard Sound, off the coast
of Massachusetts, by three-masted
schooner, through the gross negligence
or incapacity of the Federal vessels
crew. Three days afterwards, the
armed steamer Tennessee, the flag ship
of the North Atlantic squadron, while
running through Vineyard Sound.
struck a rock. She got of without seri-
Gus damage, but it is wonder she was
not wrecked and lost with all her arma-
ment.
again: Republican Administrations
have expended on the navy since the
war S39S, 100000; and what has the
country to show for the money? Moth
inc but what Republican papers them
selves rdicule as n group of ''rotten
tubs and hunks like the Tallapoosa,
utterly unserviceable and useless 1or
purposes of modern warfare. The flag
ship Tennessee, fair specimen OF the
lot, is a weak, old wOOdeh ship. armed
with old fashioned guns. She answers
well enough for prOnenading up and
down the Atlantic coat, and giving
and receiving receptions at the seaport
cities; but she would not stand an
hours fight with a second-clas5 British
war ship armed with improved guns
The Republican, platform itself admits
and laments the wOrthlessness OF this
Republican navy by calling for its
restoration TO the cid time strength and
efficiency it had under Democratic man
agement-the worthless navy on which
the Republican party has squandered
nearly 500, 900, 900 sinceithe war The
sum is large enough to build good
navy of one hundred frst-class war
ships out and out; and yet 1t has all
been expended and there is nothing 70
show for it but lot of Tallapoosas and
TenneSsees that are a subject OF de-
risiOn.
Was rot the Democratic Honse right,
then, in refusing - 90. 900 tOSeeretary
Chandler to build new war ships OF the
TaIapoosa pattern with? Does not the
naval management of the last twenty
wears, with the squandering OF $685.
00O. 900, clearly prove that the Republ-
can policy is incapable of producing
respectable navy? That party has ex-
pended on the navy from first to last
the enormous sum of OO,OOOUOQ.
without giving the country a navy. Is
no. this convincing proof OF It's lneom-
potency to the task--St. Louis Rep"o-
licd1-