The morning call., 1891-04-17
EDITORIAL NOTES.

Secretary TIacy's recent address before the
Republican Club OF Massachusetts was a notable
public utlerance. He devoted considerable atten-
ton to tile record OF the administration, and then,
aliuding 10 his own department. explained that
at tie present time ii was engaged IN line con-
struction OF twenty-five vessels, all but five of
which we've begun during this adRiinlstr alton,
although seven others had been practically de-
signed. Two others VIII shortly be begun.
Eleven new vessels have teen completed and
placed IN commission since The beginuingof the
administration and Two more nearly ready.
Iu his FIRST annual report he had urged a radical
departure from the plan Of construction, and tile
result was The declaration Of Congress in favor
of thiey line Of-ballle ships. They VIII be avail.
able for defense at any point along the North
American coast, on the lsthmus and in the West
Indies. In them tie most powerful guns and the
heaviest amor VIII be placed on hullS of mOder-
ale draft suitable for the depth OF our naI boTs.
The New York, an aTmored cruiser, possessed
the tour elements OF speed. coal capacity,
ment ana protection. Her speed Of twenty knots
is sufficient Overiake 95 per cent OF all the ships
OF the world, naval or mercantile. Cruiser No. II
would have speed of twenty-five knots and
coal endurance that would enable her to sail
around The world without repenishing her sup
ply. Congress had authorized the construction
of another vessel OF the same character. Should
crisis arrive lie yentured to assert that tile Iro
lection OF the United States would depend more
upon these three baltIe-ships and three cruisers
than upon any other part Of our naval force. In
ordnance as well as amor the department had
steadily gained ground. The eight-nch guns for
which The Government formerly paid $500
each have been reduced in cost to S2270 each
Olher improvements inauguraled included the
manufacture Of tie Whitehead torpedo, The best
of its kind in the world, and the most satisfactory
armor-pieIclng proiectes.
new tariff law has had chance to manifest its
benefits to the country much more gratifying re-
suits than have yet been attained will be shown.
The free traders had raised hue and cry against
1t. but their theories ave steadily and rapidly
proving false. Indeed the quiet example OF the
country has had a remarkable Influence In shap-
Ing the policy VI nations. Nearly all the powers
that control their own destnes," says the Cleve-
land Lender, have gone over to protection.
Great Britain finds herself as impotent in the
premises as a shorn Samson. She can only
gatberher colonial ehildreniaronnd her knees and
beg them 10 continue 10 be her customers and not
run off after Uncle Sam and set up a lot OF pro-
Iected Industries as all The other nations are do
ing"
Senator Dawes spoke In no uncertain terms on
the issue of protection at Boston. After aud-
Ing TO the beneficial effects OF this policy, which
had produced phenomenal prosperity, swept
the land, added 10 our markets, built up our
towns, our cities and our sebooI-houses, carried
comfort into every home where industry brings
food TO The table and comfort to The laborer he
pointed out That the lines are being drawn as
clearly ana distinctly as they can be, and 1t is to
be no ehd's play. There was time when the
efforts of foreign capital and foreign producers
TO keep these markets open and free were con-
cealed or denied IN this county. 1t is no longer
so. They are" said he, "Ihe open aVowed
allies OF our opponents In an effort to surrender
our markets to the foreigner"
Socialists In the German army aud navy are
having very rough time just now. While In
Kiel the Kaiser was present at the cOurt-mariial
of three marines accused Of utterIng sociallstie
sentiments. Two were convicted and the other,
who was shown 10 have only listened in a thought
less way TO the sentiments uttered by the Others
was acquitted with a warning. 1t is also ru-
mOred that several culprits recently detected 10