National Republican., 1885-06-17
John Roach and the Dolphin.

The country is about tired of the puenl-
ity displayed by the Navy Department in
relation to the dispatch boat Dolphin one
of the four vessels constructed by John
Roach under contracts entered into in strict
conformity with an act of Congress- under
the administration Of President Arthur.
The country is more than tired Oft is
deeply disgusted with-the coarse abuse
and witless ridicule of John Roach and the
Dolphin which has filled the columns Of
administration organs during the past three
months.
Editors who are so ignorant of nautical
affairs that they have spoken of the "fresl
water Of Long Island sound, who do not
know the difference between piston rod
and propeller shaft, who confouud
hawsers with scuppers and crank pins with
binaclcs have written and printed hundreds
OF articles In which mean malice toward
John Roach is even more apparent than
their double-tuueted ignorance and triple
plated conceit.
OF course the chief object OF these super.
servlCeable critics is to curry favor with
the administration, which appears to bs
loading It's political fortunes on the Dol
lhin. Judging by current events II Is fair
10 conclude that the administration regards
the Dolphin as a mandatory of political
capital. Indeed, this is the only possible
explanation Of the treatment accorded Mr..
Roach by the Secretary of the Navy-treat-
ment for which there is no precedent and
which, let IL be hoped, will not be made a
precedent by any future head of the Navy
Department
When the war on Roach and the Dolphin
began, The REPUBLICAN said In effect
"lt Mr.. Roach has filed his contract, let
hm he paid; II not, let the vessel be re-
leCted." Since then, under an incessant
fire Of ahuse-much of It slanderous to the
last degTee--NIr Roach has proved by re,
pGated tests that he has filed his contract
that the boat Is all and more than the cst-
mate calls for.
In several preliminary trials there were
accidents, such as new machinery under
high steam pressure Is always liable to,
such as all who have any knowledge OF
steam machinery expect under such clrcum.
stances These accidents were made tho
preteNt for mcasureless abuse. If Mr..
Roach had been pirate floating the black
flag over his boat and threatening destruc,
tion OF our coastlng fleet II Is doubtful II he
would have been more violently and ma
lic!ously assa!led than be was when the
heating Of journal caused the failure of
trial trip.
But when the new machinery had gotten
into fair adjustment the Dolphin made her
trip in Long Island sound and proved that
she had greater speed than the estimate re
quirCd. Then there was an order for test
in the open sea- aud Mr.. Roach promptly
compiled, Here, again, speed much IN
excess OF the estimate was developed.
But II appears that the wind did not roar
loud enough and that the waves did not
roll up 10 satisfactory height when that
opcn-sea trial was had, and now It is de
manded that another trial shall be made-a
trough watern trial. How trough" is not
stated The order Is not explicit, Whether
Mr.. Roach Is TO keep watch for danger sig
mails and put to sen when they are hoisted,
or whether he Is merely to brave moderate
gale has not been made manifest. But he
Is to go Into trough wntern 10 test the
strength Of tic Dolphin,
- This childish nonsense win go on indei-
IRA!tcIy i Mr. Roach win permit it, And If