New-York tribune., 1890-01-28

has steel armor been devised and fabricated which will
supersede compound armOr "a most difficult. doubtful
and expensive question, yet 10 be solved.
3. Are triple expansion engines. worked by steam,
the limit of Improvement in naval propulsohl All
Mas the faculty of our engineers for Improvement
motive power been worked out
A.. Is the builtup steel gun nov being made per
feet instrument Of destruction that it is not to be
superseded within five, ten or fifteen years r..
No evidence whatever on these important and iar
reaching questions has been submitted TO the com
mtee or sought by it, as prudent preliminary s TO a
of which will cost millions Of dollars and all oi wIcn
may prove TO be obsolete before they completcd II
they by some of the Administrations ~ tne
The proposed battle ships not suitable coan us
fence vessels. Monitors are preferable II Is III
that by building these battle ships We moi only GDt
feet which can go out upon the ocean au % 40 r in
effect also suitable for harbordefence ve,@se' @ foi ~
is mistake They are to draw twenty yt mT9 All the
water, and Will, therefore, be excluded Vn t ~ our
shallow waters of our coast, and can e"'0' i "
Forty-six millions row for battle ships VIII n.oncn ago
money away from fortifcations and haiDor uo 80 Tc
The expense. under the head OF d te hsttie shps f.
Navy Of S4G 900 coo for eight armoreu pa' P o
be authorized by the present COhsiIi far cerian
portion to any sums likely TO be "a Jered in con-
neotion with Naval appropra'l nforrc ,,rsseIs
battle ships viii be in no for coast defence
sels and how much for fortihcstIonN any S oncfiop M
snrb a NaVv as seems to be contemplated by ma
jortv Of the committee w9nn MN t th Fu,one,n Vsval
po,rer 1T II wonM require the enlargement Of onr
torca N, soampn from 800 10 S1oON OF 3uNOV' anu
vnenditures for new constructions. Tor repairs
Of the fleet and for the maintenance oi te Navy Ia
bevond any sum hitherto adVocaten'
Are we prepared thus to place and maintain our
oxa1 force nnon Such footing that may at any
,'oncnt he ready 10 engage. on our coast. and ont
,nnn The open ocean and in European waters. with
,j,o most formidable Powers Of the Eastern ll"lai
enherep II VIC are. here l. indeed a new departure,
pd one that should be entered upon deliberately. and
,,th our ewes open to all tn" present and futur"
bnricns which il will entail The undersigned IS not
in favor Of such a naval policy. Coast defence should
he first provided for All the arts OF naval defence
shouh be kept alive among Our people. industries
necessary 70 the construction Of warveSS"lS or guns
should he domesticated. We should restore the nag
Of our merchant ships AID revive the carving trade
.orirpercal ports Of the globe and protect our mer
.ane marine: and. when thus re established we
;hould construct and maintain Il Navy superior -
mat of anv nation of the Western Hemisphere and 70
hat of the nation owning the Island Of Cnha; ana
there we can stop il Is to he hoped fer many year
at NAV he gratifying 10 our National pride to tax
~ bnildinc a feet ~ enormous armOrcd battleShlpS
with which diSdainng fortifcatiOIS and coast dc
fence we NAV. in Of war. ont 10 sea ana
destroy onr enemies upon the ocean. or carry .N'
war into their country. But when tho proposition
takes the concrete form OF an authorization at thl~
time Of eight such ships. to cost @jGfo0oO each, or
r431oO 600 for the eight. the inception OF "a
scheme to build thirty eight line of battle supS. 4"
SI5 900 il wonld seem be wise for Congress az ONCE
10 consider. with great seriousness. what shall br
thc definite National policy concerning ~" Nav ana
fortifCatlons and coast defence" and To settle that
nocv upon a more reasonable and conservative
taSiS.T