The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-06

! FAuLHS3 4SE al aSScSSHSAG Ol any uaui'
ages to which the government may
be entitled on account Of a partial
failure to perform such contract on
the payment of the sum still remain
ing unpaid upon her price in case a.
full performance is adjudged. The
contractor, by reason Of his failure
in business, being unable to cont
plete the other three vessels, they{
were taken possession of by the gov
ernment in their unfinished state
under a clause in the contract per-
mitting such a course, and are now
in process of completion in the yard
Of the contractor, but under the su-
peryision of the navy department.
Congress at It's last session author
lied the construction of two addi-
tional new cruisers and two gunboats,
at a cost not exceeding in the aggre-
gate $2,995, 900. The appropriation
for this purpose having become
available on the first day of July
last, steps were at once taken for the
| procurement of such plans for the
construction of these vessels as would
be likely to insure their usefulness
when completed. These are of the
utmost Importance, considering the
constant advance in the art of build
ing vessels Of this character, and the
time is not lost which is spent in
their careful consideration and sclec-
ton. All must admit
TEE IMPORTANCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
NAVY
to q nation like ours, having such an
extended sea coast to protect, and
yet We have not single vessel OF
war that could keep the seas against
a first class vessel of any important
power; such condition ought not
longer to continue. The nation that
cannot resist aggression is constantly
exposed to it. Its foreign policy is
of necessity weak, and its ncgotia-
tions are conducted with disadvant-
age because it is not in a condition
to enforce the terms dictated by its
sinew fright and justice Inspired
as am by the hope showed by all
patriotic citizens that the day is not
very far distant when our navy will
be such as belts our standing among
the nations of the earth and rejoiced
at every step that leads in the direc-
ton of such a consummation.
deem it my duty to especially
direct attention of Congress to the
close of the report of the Secretary
of the Navy IN which the humiliating
weakness of the present organization
of his department is exhibited and
the startling abuses and waste of its
present methods are expressed. The
conviction is forced upon US with the
certainty of mathematical demonstra-
ton that before we proceed further
in the restoration Of navy we need
thoroughly reorganized Navy De-
partment. The fact that within sew
entecn years more than seventy-fYe
millions Of dollars have been spent
in construction, repairs, equipments,
and armament of vessels, and the
further fact that instead of an effective
and creditable fleet, We have only the
discomfort and apprehension of a
nation undefended by war vessels,
which added to the disclosures now
made, do not permit us to doubt that
every attempt to revive our navy has
this far, for the most part, been mis-
directed, and all our efforts in that
direction have been little better than
blind cropping and expensive aimless
follies.
PROFESSIONALLY, if we are content
with the maintenance Of a navy de-
partment simply as shabby orna-
ment to the government, q constant
watchfulness may prevent some of
the scandal ard abuse which have
found their way into our present or
ganization and lis incurable wastes
may be reduced to the minimum, but
if we desire to build ships for present
usefulness instead of naval reminders
of the days that are passed, we must
have a department organized for the
work, supplied with all the talant and
ingenuity our country affords, pre-
pared to take advantage of the expe-
rience Of other nations, systematized
so that all effort shall unite and lead
in one direction and fully imbued
with the conviction, that war vessels,
though new are useless, unless they
combine all that the ingenuity of man
has up to this day brought forth re-
lating to their construction. i earn
estly commend this portion Of the
Secretary's report devoted to this
subject to the attention of Congress
:, Az i,n,>o GLoE H. o,,,,...o -.