The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-07
Congress and the Navy.

Upon Q Democratic House now devolves
The duty Of taking up and carrying forward
~ work Of rebuilding our navy. We may
1airly expect OF 1t tho same far-seeing and
1beral spirit In performing this task that
Distinguished its immediate Democratic
predecessors. They. too. had come honestly
by their patriotic support Of the navy
- . source Of public defence. They
had inherited 1t from JEFFERsoN's Ad-
ministration. which had curbed the AFRO
6ance OF Trpol: from MAD1soN's. under
which the naval glories OF 1912 were won.
and the Barbary powers afterward pun
lShsd: from MoNRoE's. which proclaimed
/, memorable doctrine for the New World:
from JAoKsoS's. whose policy at the Court
oil t. Jamess was to ask nothing but what
was right and to submit to nothing that
was wrong; from Folks. which carried
our domain to tho Rio Grande and across
the Colorado TO the Pacific.
Whs1 SECRETARY WHITNEY came into office,
be sscaived from Congress the heartiest
support. Il u simple justice to say that the
building Of our modern navy had been not
soly begun. but vigorously pushed. under
hia predecessor. Secretary CHANDLER. Still.
willis only about $l.6O0,OO0 was appropri-
atsd for this purpose in the winter OF
lSa2 and 1883. the Democrats. on obtaining
control OF the next House. Immediately set
. high standard by voting s2,22l 900 to new
construction. following this up at the
eaeopd session by 81 1906 900 more. This was
the beginning OF creditable series of ap-
separations. after that time" MS Mr..
BourELrE a Republican Congressman, once
Asst NUM- a Vt,lt q
reconstruction OF the navy. all of which
WAS handled under Democratic Admins
tration." or course. guns as well as huls
aud engines had to DO supplied.
The ships built with that money consti-
cute the greater part OF our best available
vessels In comm' ssion today or to be COM
p!eted within the present year. When MI
WHITNEY. soon after taking Office. addressed
the graduates at Annapolis. no gave them
this assurance: 1.-THE whole country has
awakened to the Importance OF having a
navy. You will not have long to wait be-
fore you can walk the decks of a
ship fit to carry the American flag"
That his words have been made good
the recent mobilization OF our navy for
tho affair with Chill has shown. His first
task was to build the vessels authorized at
The preceding session Of Congress. and the
CHARLESTON. the Baltimore. the Yorktown,
end tho Petrol were the result At the
oyst session under the new Admins
tnti0n two larger vessels than had
ever been undertaken In this country. the
axnored cruiser Maine and the battle ship
Ehxas. we're authorized. at an estimated az
sxsgate cost for both OF o.. 100000. Then fol-
LEVIED. In session after session. appropris'
lions Tor now vessels Of almost every type
1is Newark. for which an insufficient allow
aase lad iens bseOrs bean made. received an
aAdiaso esd was built The swift cruisers
HAIla1slDhis aad San Frsndsco were con-
shvsGsl. - slse he gunbosts Concord and
D6asiAStou. Additional appropriations went
- - avs doah's-tarrst monitors. headed
/, ~ - Puritan. The foundation Of our tor
!. 0enp oest wss laid With the Gushing. and Q
IT, 6D9tsss IN construction eassyed
- - eNnpattoa thFowsr vesuvius.
MI 4e DodaA hasbsg.1sfsnee elAss ives