Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-31
TILDEN'S WISE ADVICE.

trymen laid great stress on his cOunsels.
He believed in rigid economy and re-
sponsibilitv on the part OF those who
administer public trusts. 1t was his
acumen and determination that arrest
ed the Tweed extravaganza in mid ca
reer. 1t was he, also, who engaged and
defeated the corrupt canal ring in the
state of New York. He was positively
the last man in the United States who
would have countenanced the reckless
spending OF the money of the people.
Few persons of any party would now
care to dispute Mr.. Tilden's claims upon
the respectful attention of his country
men. The last years of his life were
spent in studious retirement. He only
emerged once from his retreat, and that
was in order to write a letter earnestly
impressing upon Americans the abso-
lutte necessity of having adequate FORTH
fcations for our principal cities
and to urge the building OF navy
commensurate with the dignity and
safety of the United States. That letter
was, in sense, his political testament
ary beouest to his fellow citizens. There
is little doubt that it had much infu-
ence in creating the sentiment that was
at the bottom of our new navy.
Mr.. Tilden was Democrat OF the
Democrats-quite as good Democrat
as that sterling old watch dog OF the
treasury, William S. Holman. He was
quite as careful of the money of the
people as the Indiana congressman.
But he did not think that money ex-
pended on navy and in Notifications
was wasted. On the contrary, he looked
upon such distribution of portion OF
the nations wealth as patriotic and
provident investment in the interest of
peace and for the furtherance OF repub-
lican influence in the affairs OF the
world.
OF all the members of Mr.. Cleve-
lands cabinet Mr.. Whitney, the secre-
tary OF the navy, was the most popular.
He showed praiseworthy energy in
the upbuildipg of the new navy. In
four years from now, if the plan ma
tured by Mr.. Clevelands administra-
ton, to which Mr.. Whitney gave con-
crete shape, were carried out we should
have a navy fit to cope with that of any
country in the world. BY that time we
should have sixty-four fast and formid-
able modern vessels which could ami
hilate the commerce of any country in
the world.
There has been manifested in congress
a disposition to cut down the appropria-
tions for the construction of these ships.
The movement has behind it the lauda
BILE motive of economy. But is it real
economy? Is it Democracy. in view OF
the splendid progress made under Mr..
Cleveland's administration in building
the new navy, and of Mr.. Tilden's last
advice to his countrymen?
We think that both questions ought to
be answered in the negative.
No right feeling American can fail to
blush when he thinks that even such a
country as Chile thought herself, for
time, able to fight the United States.
The sight OF an American man-of-war in
q
very rare thing. A provincial might
naturally jump to the conclusion that
that must be weak power that could
only show an occasional wooden
tub flying the stars and stripes.
The same feeling, precisely. was
experienced by the Asiatic races, who
were accustomed to seeing many splen-
didly equipped English men-of-war in
Asian waters, but who rarely beheld
anything that suggested that the United
States held in reserve any enginery that
could make itself felt. This is no fancy
sketch. 1t is painful reality, which
any American who visits either the
southern portion of the American CONT
nent or China is made to realize. to his
intense chagrin.
According to the San Francisco Exam
iner, during the stay of the English ves-
sel, the Warspite, in Santa Barbara
waters the other day, her officers and
crew INDUCED in very boastful and
vainglorious style of talk. They ex-
pressed contemptuous opinions of the
American navy. and plainly conveyed
the impression that they could knock it
out of the water in short order. This
might or might not be true, but it is
hard to evade the fact that the naval
superiority of England is overwhelming,
judged by all ordinary standards.
That we are liable at any time to be
drawn into war can scarcely be. disputed.
During the past twenty y-seven years we
have had extraordinary good luck.
But what guarantee have we that
there may not soon be turn
in the tide2 We have just
escaped serious complication with
England in the Bering sea matter. Does
anyone seriously think the: United States
would have consented to submit the
rights she acquired from Russia IN the
Bering sea to arbitration if we had those
sixty-four vessels of war which have
been planned now at our command?
We think not. Another grave question
is liable to arise in Venezuela, involving
the continued assertion of the Monroe
doctrine. Great Britain is crowding
this little South American republic, and
the Venezuelans will probably appeal