The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-28
PATRIOTISM OUT OF DATE.

After all, is there any real occasion for
making sucl " fuss, just because the In
diana Is to be sent to Halifax to be put
into dry dock? She must be sent thther.
OF course, or to some other foreign port,
because we have in this country no dock
suitable for the purpose. OF that there is
no question. Nor Is there any question
that the present administration is respon-
sible for that fact. But is there good
ground for banning the administration, or
for regarding II as a national humiliation
that we have no deck for our own shipsY
On the contrary, II is not much to the
administration credit that 1t has
brought about such state OF affairs and
established so eminentiy sound govern
mental policy.
Some one once said of John Bright that
II an invading army had landed in Eng
I land he would have entered into calcu-
lation whether 1t would be cheaper to
drive 1t out or let 1t stay The story
was a stupid calrmny. but 1t well ex-
presses the spirit of the new light states
manship of the present day. 1t is cheaper
TO hire docks abroad than to build them
at home; wherefore let us depend upon
foreign docks for our navy. We might
make a regular contract with England for
the use Of her docks at Halifax, South
ampton and elsewhere; with special
clause providing that. in case of war
between this country and England, we
were still TO have the use of them in pay
ment CT a slightly larger fee. A similar
arrangement might be made for coaling
stations, WITH the stipulation that in the
interest of economy. that English ships
/ we're to have the first pick of the coal
and ours to take the leavlngs indeed, we
might extend the principle little further,
and do away with our navy altogether
| Why should We be bothered with shipsY
| England would doubtless be glad to take
contract to patrol our coasts for us
and do al needed naval work for us,
with her own ships, at so much a year.
and we could pay her by means OF an
other syndicate bond issue. II could be
agreed of course. that in case OF war
England should defend our ports for us
with some of her own ships while she
attacked them with others. And il ever
the Consecnted One srows weary CT hav-
ing the government OF the nation upon
his hands, why not turn over the whole
job to commissioner OF her maiesty's
government? The consecated One could
have no more appropriate successor The
change would be in name and nothing
more.
That is the true philosophy. Anything
else Is wretched Jlngoism. We ought not
TO have any docks for our ships, nor any
sAips for our docks. We ought not to
nave any flag OF our own. 1t is all
mawkish senttmentaiity. or hysterlcs
this attachment to the Stars and Strlpes
The meteor flag OF England" Is so much
better form, you know. eW could make
just as much money under It, and wor-
ship our pompous fetlch Just as devoutly.
Why not try the experiment? Randolph.
OF Roanoke. was right. According to
Whittier, Beyond Virginla's border line
his patriotism perishsd." Why should our
patriotism extend beyond the rim Of the
almighty doAar," or at most beyond the
shadow OF the Sage of Buzzard's BayY
Let US try hte experiment 1t will save
us henceforth the bother and the worry
q sef-government. and at the same time
wiz put these pestlferous patriots In a
very tight place.