The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-07-23

The Dolphin Controversy.

EX-Secretary Chandler contributes chapter
to the controversy respecting the dispatch boat
Dolphin, in which he clearly shows the weak
ness and the inconsistency of the opinion Of At
torney General Garland. In the meantime, Mr..
Roach has caused a thorough inspection of the
boat to be made by nine men who have had Il
long experience as practical builders, engineers
and superintendent of steamship companies,
particularly in regard to the objections raised
by Secretary Whitney's board. These practi-
cal men express the opinion that the ship is
well built in every respect. and that there is not
the slightest indication that it is structurally
weak or in any manner defective. Four men,
one Of whom is James Parker late Lieutenant
| Commander in the navy. testify that the speed
of the Dolphin was fifteen and one-half and
! part of the time sixteen and one-half knots per
hour during the last trial on the Sound and a
! trte less than fourteen knots an hour during
half OF the sea trial and trife less than fifteen
knots an hour during the other half of the time.
In this connection it may be stated that one of
the members of Mr.. Whitneys board is a rival
shipbuder. Boston journal.
Since the above article was written the report
of the Naval Advisory Board on the consruc
ton of the Dolphin, giving the statements of
the Board in the controversy over that vessel,
and recently submitted to the Secretary of the
Navy has been made public. 1t is volumi-
nous document almost entirely of technical
nature. 1t argues that the vessel is possessed
of the necessary strength and says the design
ers alone are responsible for her speed. The
warfare of Democratic Administration on
Mr.. Roach is animated by two causes. l. Mr..
1 Roach is Republican. .. He has established
/ large works for iron shipbuilding in COMPETE
ton with British shipbulders. A party which
! derives its campaign funds and documents from
| British manufacturers is the natural enemy of
American industries and enterprises There i.
not more disgraceful chapter in Americ IN
history than that which will be devoted to this
attempt of those in the control of the govern
ment to ruin a private citizen because of his
! political belief and advocacy of American in
| terests.
"Attempt to ruin" was written above of the
! Democratic persecution of Mr.. Roach The
! news had not then been received OF the success
of these attempts to destroy the credit and bus
mess of an enterprising American citizen, re-
sulting in the closing of iron works and ship
! yards and the throwing of thousands of persons
out of employment. The assignment, Saturday,
| of John Roach and son was not une expected,
nor are they the only victims of partisan malice
aud British free traders. The Boston journal
| says of Mr.. Roach:
/ Fortunately he has two dollars with which TO
! pay every one he owes. This is well for his
creditors, but il does not palliate the crime of
| those who have for a dozen years a>sailed him
ana his enterprise. and it is all due to the fact
| that As an adopted American citizen he main
4 tanned that great industry could be successful
! in the United States. If Mr.. Roach had set up
a grog shop when he came to America and be-
come Il Democratic politician, his assailants
would have been his champions and he might
have much intGrnce with the Administration
as have Boss Mclaughlin and Hubert Q.
! Thompson.