The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-24
rns crsdit Bslong, 70 the Secretary.
New York Sun,


Twelve days ago the last republican
secretary of the navy, in a public address
delivered at Concord, thus described the
four new war ships, which he had left as
a legacy to his democratic successor:
The ships were carefully designed by
the best talent in the country, within or
without the navy, and the contracts were
advertised and let by contract to the low>
est bidder. One of them, the despatch
boat, the Dolphin, has been finished, and
after repeated trials under unfavorable
circumstances, has more than fulfilled
every expectation. The cruisers, the Bos>
ton, Atlantic and Chicago, are also nearly
ready for trial. | hazard the predict ion,
and am willing to stake my fate upon the
result, that all four Of the ships will prove
successful in every respect; war vessels of
which the country will be proud, and
which will compare favorably with the
best ships of any nation"
There is no doubt that If the Hon. Wills
liam E. Chandler were still at the head of
the department, and If the management
of the business of naval construction
were still in the hands of the old Naval
Advisory Board, the official verdict on the
merits of the Dolphin and the three crui-
sers would be similar to that which Mr..
Chandler has taken the trouble to pro
nounce on his individual responsibility.
But Mr.. Chandler has staked his fate
and lost. The first of the Roach ships
ready for trial has been tested and cons
demned as unfit for government service.
Her performances under the most favor
able conditions prove that she was not
designed by the best talent in the coun-
try. On the contrary, the builder of the
Dolphin now attempts to throw upon the
men who drew the plans and specifca-
tons the blame for her conspicuous sholt.
cOmings. The Dolphin has not proved
successful in every respect. After re-
peated trials she has not fulfilled every
expectation. On the contrary, an impar>
tial and honest examining board, appoints
ed by Secretary Whitney not to put
through job for favored contractor,
but to discover exactly how the contrac-
tor had performed his work, finds that
the ship is practically worthless. She is
wretched failure.
That the exact truth in regard to the
Dolphin's unseaworthiness, lack of speed
absurd design and general faulty con
struction has been made clear to tho
country is due solely to Secretary Whit'
ney's strong will and honest purpose
The change of administration did moi
wipe out all Of the Robbersonism in The
department. The corrupt growth Of six
teen years is not to be uprooted in three
months. The old navy ring still has ;
hold in the bureaus and in that part o
the service which does not depend upor
the votes of the people IL Mr.. Whitne,
were a credulous man, or a weak man, o
a careless man, he would have been BAN
boozled from the start by the powerful
and corrupt influences which have con
trolled every secretary of the navy sine
Gideon Welles, either by operatin,
through the knavery of the individual o
by bedeviling him as a fool.
Mr. Whitney's persistent shrewdness
practical mind, and perfect independents
of judgment have enabled him to rende
the country a service Of the first import
ance. The work which he has begun
as honorable as it is difficult; and we d
not doubt that he will carry it through t
the end