Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-09
CUB NAVAL SECRETARY.
In view of recent occurrences in diff

In view of recent occurrences in differ
emit quarters calling for the Offices of the
navy department the head of that branch
of the public service has within the past
year grown in importance and increased
in prominence until now it ranks. in the
estimation of the public, second only to
the department of state, and under the
present regime it is placed above that.
| This is the estimate placed upon the po-
sition by the Globe-Democrat: '.The
member of lhe cabinet who stands high
est in the popular estimation at this mo-
ment is William G. Whitney, secretary
of the navy. MIR. Whitney, in his first
half year Office, won the condemnation
of three out of every four sensible peo-
pie in the country by his persecution of
John Roach. Since then, however, he
has partially atoned for this and other
blunders in his earlier career by his
vigorous and intelligent performance of
the duties of his office and his robust
and Enthusiastically American views
on the Samoan question. If Mr.. Whit
ney had been free to act as his judgment
prompted in this matter, unhampered by
the vacillation and timidity of the presi-
dent and secretary of state, the question
would long since have been settled to
the satisfaction Of the United States and
residents of the islands,"
The Globe continues discussion of the
subject of our navy and the chief of
fhpt Iar1a M in TO tn e.,
ture, and says:
AS there has been no foreign policy to
uphold, ond but little foreign commerce
to defend, our lawmakers and authori-
ties have permitted the navy to deter
iorate, relatively to that of other ma
tons, until six or seven years ago it was
feebler and less modern than that pos
sessed by any thirdclass power on the
European continent.
A change is now taking place in the
relations of the United States to the DO
lltical movements and tendencies in the
remainder of the world, and this change
will manifest itself in the relative weight
and significance of the different posts in
the Cabinet Hereafter, while the sec
tary of state will in that body, rank first
practically, as well as theoretically, the
secretary of the navy will stand second
or third in Importance. The only one
among the presidents official advisers
who will be able to dispute his title to
the second place is the secretary OF the
treasury.
The naval portfolio will be of especial
consequence III the administration of
President Harrison. Many new war
ships are being built. several others
which have been ordered by congress
are to be contracted for soon, and larger
sums Of money than have been appro-
prlated for the navy in any four years
since the close of the war will be set
apart for that purpose between this time
and March 4. 1898. Complications with
foreign nations threaten the country on
the Panama canal and Samoan matters,
and IN any foreign war the fight |
ing would, of course. be |
almost altogether on the water. tits to /
the navy far more than to the army |
that the work must be intrusted of main
tanning the nations honor and defending
the nations interests against foreign |
foes. These considerations must give |
hereafter much higher relative impor-
lance to the office of head of the navy
department than it has thus far possessed
at any time in the history of the nation
greater even than during 1912 and
1879, for in both those periods, especi-
ally the last mentioned, most OF the
lighting was done by the army. We
trust that General Harrison will exercise
particular care and discrimination in
his selection of secretary of the navy.