New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-18
Noy.p4RTISANSHIP IN EARNEST.

An impressive object Lesson III non-pii''S"'
hi, WAS offered at the Hamilton CLUB dinner
:, H,ooklyn. General Tracy. after reviewing
tho procress of the Navy under his adhih's,
tration. paid warm tribute to inc ap''''' anu
,,trioti.m of his successor. ana bespoke iof
him generous public support without e'S''"c-
lion Of party. Secretary Herbert in his TURN
,ra;sed every one OF his predecessors, VINO hdo
takcn rart in the construction of the new Navy
IN ex.Scc,etary Chandler he accorded inc
homer Of having begun the work in most
c,cdi,able way. TO Mr. Whitncys power OF
.noo,i,,,;or and genius for business he a~'iibed
tho successful development OF navai poi'!'
la credited General Tracy not only with hav-
mo theoretically continued the work 80 wen
bcgun. but also with having MADE uiS''..'
and distinguished reputation for himself -No
foreign visitor if he had been present "ouio
have known either from the outgoing score
,,rr's culogium of his successor, or from 'he
incoming Sccrciarys tributes to TWO hcpuo
li,an predecessors that any changes III pol''c''
administration had occurred since the adop'loh
of the new policy in ISL.
These graceful compliments betokcned some
thing moro than tho amenities OF pnplic ,i".
Neither General Tracy nor Secretary llcrpcr'
vould have given such emphatic testimony To
tho CAPACITY and patriotism of political opp
rcnts if there had not been dulins recent years
concral recognition Of the cXpcdioncy ana
ucccssitv of conducting the Navy Department
on non partisan lines. General 1rac! curing
bis ,o,m of oilicc was heartily supported D.
MIR Herbert a. the chairman OF the HouSe 'oh-
mitteo on Naval Affairs, by nearly all inc
I1,, xtaa
broad minded Democratic leaders IN congress
and bv tho press of that party, with lew
cycop,i,ns. Secretary Herbert can depend III
ll,o manner during the next four years upon
equally generous cooperation on The par' oi
Republican leader, and journals. THIS Is ne
| cause tho Navy is now regarded as high Ma
| tioual interest. concerning which there ohgh'
| "a be no divisions OF opinion between paf'ieS'
| The time has passed when the Department can
| be conducted in any narrow spirit OF paf7lSdH-
| .bip for the sake of political capital to be made
| for 4 pnrty or for an Administrator. Inc
| dcyclo,mcnt Of the Nations naval resources Is
now exclusively an American policy.
| Evidences If this non parti-anship have been
| constantly discl, sd during recent years. 6'n
! oral Tracy succeeded during his term in taking
tbc navy wards entirely out Of politics ana II
| managing Them rs Noi h>npDN VII '"''h~'' P''''
cjplos. Cld-timc methods Of patronage ait
cleo. ION scandals were avoided and skilled laDo
was secured for the complex processes OF mod
orn shpbulling This reform ha, been warm
" commended by the press of both parties an'
| il is not probable that Secretary Herbert VII
di.c,ntinuc the policy. Nor is there any llkcli
hood that he will do anything to rctard tn
dcvclol mont Of tie shipbuding resources
the Nation In his last report on naval aiiaii
submitted to the House he bore testimony T.
thc remarkable progress Of the protected nava
industries recently introduced and also - tn
extraordinary chcapcnin. of the cost of build
ING vessels of war. These arc National IN
tcrcs:, which he has frankly recognized. and
tho support If which he i unrcscrvedly com
mittcd whatever may be their effect upon tn
economic theories of his party. The Depart
| mcnt under his direction will be in good hands
TIE TRIBrNE wishes him well. and in In
interest Ct the American people sincerely hope
that he will improve upon his predecessor
record if he can do so but that will not b
an cay matter.