Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-17
onr Naval auosts from Abroad

Editor GIExSAS, in the Norfolk pr-
q'nian, very forcibly argues that the
United States Government having invited
the nations Of the world to send repre-
sentative vessels of their fleets to the
naval rendezvous In Hampton Roads ana
10 the review in New York harbor, has now
no choice but 20 appropriate the necessary
money 10 properly entertain the VISITORS
This is the true view. We cannot honor
ably get out" Of 1t. aud. what is more
should not wish to get out " of it.
To say now that we can't afford to spend
the money needed for this purpose will be
10 advertise TO the world the false impress
Sou that this country is on the eve OF
bankruptcy.
We can command the money; we are IN
honor bound TODD so, aud. what Is more, IL
will pay US TO do so.
The people Of the United States are con-
coded to be very clever indeed. but we do
not know everything. There Is much
which we can learn from foreigners 1t we
are not too proud. The naval rendezvous
and review will give US great opportunl-
ties IN this direction; it will show us what
other countries are doing IN ship-build-
Ing. in armor-plating, in constructing
great guns, in drilling crews. and IN the
general management Of The most approved
vessels OF war.
Our naval officers will have great object
lessons in Hampton Roads and New YORK
harbor; out they will not be the only per-
sons who will be benefited. Our artisans
who never have either the time or the
money to 60 abroad will be able to CLEAN
vast deal Of information by seeing the
workmanship Of the foreign ships, and The
new ideas that they will get may be worth
millions 10 US.
Yes, the United States Government has
deliberately invited our foreign friends to
come over in their big ships to see US.
MANY of them have accepted and are
coming What we now have to DO Is 10
set about preparing for their entertain
ment. The bulk of this expense will have
10 be borne-and rightly should be borne
bv tho General Government. The officers
OF our feet aud tho forty-odd army officers
at Fort Monroe will be necessarily SUD-
iected 10 much expense OF best, but II
would be almost criminal for Congress TO
attempt directly or indirectly TO impose
upon them any part of that burden which
the General Government assumed when II
extended the invitations in question.
Congress, it seems TO us, is bound tomake
an ample appropriation to enable our fleets
to appear TO the best possible advantage
in the Virginia and New York waters, and
it is bound TO furnish the money to pay for
the entertainments which are usual ana
proper in cases where the representatives
of great powers appear in country at
that country's invitation. This is matter
Of high courtesy, and we believe the peo-
ple of the United States who pay the bulk
of the taxes will approve of hberaiity on
the part of Congress
The New York Sun in its leader of yes
terday strongly urges liberal spproprla-
ton and says:
Our navy'5 contribution 10 the review Will DC
one that the country need not be ashamed o.
II will include the fine s, I5O-ton armored cruiser
New York. perhaps the best OF her class In the
world: the Miantonomoh, interesting as mar
hor defender Of the monitor type; the swift
protected cruisers san Francisco, Phila-
delphia, Baltimore, Charleston, and New
ark, Of from eighteen to twenty Knots
speed; tho heaviiy-armed Chicago and At
lauta; the gun-boats yorktown. Concord
ana bennington; the 2, 000-tonners Detroit and
Montgomery; tho Bath-bullt gun-boats Machias
and C6stine tso Dolphin and Bancroft the
novel vesuvius tho torpedo-boat Cushing, the
Essex, and. finally craft that will wear more
laurels Of victorious sea lighting than any other
In the review, home or foreign-Winsiow's re-
nowncd Kesrsarge.
The S,a then adds: Nothing should be
neglected to make this a splendid ana glo-
iious show, worthy of the American
people"