The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-12-31

u..a ~ the Navy Department u
Wovinr Cautiously, Hat Laying the
Foundation for One or he Finest
NavIes In the World.
The practical manner IN which 'ne
Secretary Of the Navy Is setting about
! the work Of building up the navy ana
restoring to the country the prestige u
once enjoyed in that line. gives assur-
ances Of success. The wretchcd mis-
management Of that departments under
Republican Administrations, and the
culpable inefIiciency in the perform
ance OF DUTY which characterized those
Administrations form . chapter IN
the history Of our Government
that reflects indelible Disgrace on
those responsible for the dc-
cline Of the navy. Favored con-
tractors. worthless ships and enormous
expenditures were the principal feat
ures Of Republican control Of the NAVY
Department When Mr.. Whitney -
mmed charge he found himself in Pc
sition Of exceeding embarrassment m
Predecessor having not only awarded
tha contracts for three steel cruiser
D and 4 dispatch boat to q favored con
, tractor. but having. in defiance Of law
! advanced large sums of the rcserva
: tions 10 the contractor before the wor
( was completed. The entire set OF ves
y sels designed under the Chandler r.
= gime have disappointed the expects
d lions Of those who naturally though
J. thew would possess the most essenti'
% features Of the modern cruiser. spec
ard stren 9th. Admiral Porter declar'
d that he has no faith in those heirloom
5. 81 the Chandler Administration.
10 their lack Of speed places them at
serious disadvantage with the ships
other nations. We shall have to re
mon more efficient vessels for the ne
navy. and to this end Mr.. Whitney
u efforts are being directed.
He proposes 70 secure the best attai
he able models for the new ships,with :
in HIGHEST rate Of speed consistent W
nd offensive and defensive Requirement
He adopts 4 broad. sensible policy
GO cain his point. seeking to avail hi
Dn- self of the best naval skill obtainat
m There will be none Of the hasty. r.
less. inconsiderate methods tnat 3
The crncd the former Administration OF
'ad department Mr.. Whitney prefers
OF move slowly and cautiously 50 as
do his work thoroughly. The =
lde Ships will. undoubtedly. represent
lgs latest and choicest improvements
tly naval architecture and higher rats
net speed than those designed under
ach Chandler regime. Admiral fo'
speaks Of three classes OF vessels
the the new navy, the first represented
Die ! Vessel OF between six and seven e.
age xand tons and able TO make. foe q
the hours. a speed Of nineteen ant
ste. knots. He is Of opinion that We
ach r. not fit TO be considered a. a cru
NOWADAYS that has not = specs
on Il least eighteen and half KIN
n q For the new vessels the best
,kel armament Is needed. q they arr
um tended to be the peers OF any all
its Very satisfactory progress has
OF made in this direction during the
tied wear. as the report Of the Chic
Ordnance shows. Ii is no easy tas
han construct and finish the high PC
Their steel runsnccessary for modern shi]
awl war. especially as we have had 50
are real or efficient work done in the
The nance line until the building OF
fam new navy commenced. With
the ships and new guns Of the best pate
the United States will once NOR
not gain the prestige it held in the W
in isi2. when the pride Of England
ave. humbled, and during the rebel
with when the achievements Of the No
ntle- caused revolution in naval bull
Thitc ali over the world. We have the
'an's material in the world in our 81
onld and marines and the training Q
lion naval officers Is second 10 none.
I. the 4 capable. efficient. honest head :
and department and liberal appropria
much by Congress. all the elements =
just sary to make our navy . soul
opcd pride instead Of shame are cont
xned and the result can not but Dc
scarf uently satisfactory. Albany Arg'
moss Secretary Endicott makes
gath very sensible suggestion that q
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