The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-06-25
THE CREDIT BELoNos TO THE SCORE
" TARy.
Nav YoIk sun,l


Twelve days ago the last Republican
Secretary Of the Navy, In public ad-
dTess delivered at Concord. thus de-
scribed the four new war chips which he
had left as a legacy to bis Democratic
succaea0r; .d
"The ships were carefully designed BY
the best talent In the country, within or
without the navy, and the contracts
were advertised and lot by contract 10
the lowest bidder. One OF them. the do
ppatch boat. the Dolphin, has heen I'm
ished, and after repeated tri u under
unfayorable circumstances. has more
than fulHlled every expectation, The
cruisers, the Boston, Atlanta and Chicago
are also nearly ready for trial. Ihazard
the prediction, and am willing TO stake
my fate upon the result, that all four OF
the ships will prove succeesfnl In every
7 speot; war vessels Of which the coun-
try will be proud, and which will com.
pare favorably with the best ships Of
any nation" :.
There is no doubt that II the Hon.
william K Chandler we're still at the
head OF the department, and II the man
agement OF the buainess OF naval con
structl0n were still In the hands OF the
old Naval Advisory Board, the official
verdict on the merits OF the Dolphin and
the three cruisers would be similar TO
that which Mr.. Chandler has taken the
trouble to pronounce on his individual
reaponslbiilty.
But Mr.. Chandler has staked his fate
and Lost. The arst OF the Roach ships
ready for trial has been tested and con-
demDed az unfit for Government service.
Hsf performances under the most favor
able conditions prove that she was not
designed by the best talent In the c0un'
try. On the contrary, the builder OF the
Dolphin now attempts TO throw upon
the men who drew The plans and speci-
hchtl0ns the blame for her conspicuous
shortcomings. The Dolphin has not pro
we'd successful In every respect. After re-
peated trials she has not fulfilled every
expectation. On the contrary, an i'm
partial and honest Examining Board,
appointed by Secretary whitney not 10
put through O JOB for favored contrac'
tor, but 10 discover exactly how tho con-
tractor had performed his work, ands
that the ship 10 practically worthless.
She Ia q wretched failure.
That the exact truth In regard TO the
DOlphin's unseaworihiness, lack OF
speed, absurd design aud general faulty
construction has been made clear 70 the
country Ia due solely 10 Secretary Whit
ney's strong will and honest purpose.
The change OF Administration did not
wipe out all Of the RobbersoDism In the
Department. The corrupt growth OF
sixteen years 10 not 10 be upr00ted In
three months. The old navy ring still
has a hold In the bureaus, and In that
part OF the service which does not do
pend upon tle votes Of the peopl,'
II Mr.. Whitney were 0 creduloua
man, or O weak man, or O
careless men, 10 would have been bam-
boozled from the start by the powerful
aud corrupt influences which have con-
tr0lled every Secretary OF the Navy since
Gideon Welles, either by operating
through the knayery OF the individual
or by bedeviliDg him M fool.
Mr.. Whitney's persistent shrewdnesl,
practical mind, and perfect independ-
snce Of judgment have enabled him TO
render the country o service OF the flrst
Importance. The work which be has
begun 10 ne honorable 40 II 10 difllcult,
and we do not doubt that he will carry
II through 10 the end.