The Portland daily press., 1885-06-10
ANEW PARTISAN NAVY.
ThelHon. w. e. Chandler Stakes His Fate
ON the Success of the Roar Cruisers.

(His speech to the Amoskeag Veterans at Concord.)
Now a word In behalf of national institu-
tion upon which my thoughts have of late
been engaged-the American navy. l plead
for -partisauship in reference to this SIS well
as the militia, the regular army, and every
other subject which concerns the national safe
ty and honor at home or abroad. About two
years ago the National Congress decided to
cease building wooden vessels of war, and su-
thOrized the construction of feet despatch
boat, to carry one effective modern heavy
riAed gun and the appropriate number of ma
chine cannon, and of these large war cruisers
with full batteries, all to be built Of steel made
in America, and in accordance, in hull, ma
chinery, equipment and armament, with the
best types OF vessels constructed by the great
naval powers OF the world.
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 lowest bidder. One
OF them, the despatch boat, the Dolphin, has
been finished, and after trials under unfayora-
Bile circumstances has more than fulfilled eve
ry expectation. The cruisers, the Boston, At
lsnta and Chicago, are also nearly ready for
trial. hazard the prediction, and am willing
to stake my fate upon the result, that all four
of the ships will prove successful in every re-
spect; war vessels Of which the country will be
proud, and which will compare favorably with
the bsst ships of any nation.
There has been. however, have regretted to
notice, in the newspaper press disposition to
treat these ships from q partisan standpoint;
and the first ship, the Dolphin, has been mer-
cilessly rdieuled, without Cause, up TO the
time OF her last and successful trial trip, sincs
which partisan assaults have ceased. Such
attacks, submit, were mistakes. Keep p0si-
ties out of naval construction and naval man
sgement. Consider the effect upon national
interests of the disposition which has been
manifested, il it is TO continue. Are the Dol
phin, Boston, Atlanta and Chicago TO be called
Republican ships and for that reason condemn
cd by all Democrats? II so, then will the
ships which Secretary Whitney is to build be
called Democratic ships aud be in turn by Re-
publicsDs ridiculed and denounced? Congress
last winter, in accordance with my fecommen-
dstions, authorized the building OF five sddi-
tional war vessels, and Mr.. Whitney found
himself on entering Office in March empower
ed to construct them. Three months have
elapsed and he has done. nothing He must soon
act and tell the country what kind of ships he
intends to build. shall Republicans denounce
them in advance because they are proposed by
| o Democratic Administrator God forbid.
In authorizing the first four vessels Of the
new American navy such distinguished Demo-
Gratis as Senators Beck, Baysrd, and Jones of
Florida, joined with alacrity; to authorize Eve
| more to be built by Democratic sdministra-
| tion all the Republicans OF the House and
Senate cheerfully and heartily voted. Let the
great work 60 on without being hindered by
| the hosrse croak of the nsrrow-minded parti-
san. Cease expensive repairs OF wooden ships
| II you will. Break up sxtravagant navy yard
management if you choose. No language can
be framed stronger than mine has been in con-
| domination OF old methods and old results. Bat
| new era has commenced, and q new work ia
being done. L hope and believe that not only
the first four, but the first nine ships of the new
| navy will be valuable and successful; that they
| will not be treated as four Republican ships
and five Democratic ships, but as nine Ameri.
can ships, bearing the flag proudly wherever
they may go for the protection of our national
| interests.