The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-17

we now have on hand with Spain. Great
Britain and Italy show how entirely pos
sible 1t Is that we may at any time be-
come embroiled with some foreign power.
In which case we would be at most
terrible disadvantage with navy UNI
equal 10 coping with the navy OF our
advisory.
The Washington Post has unearthed
and reprinted a letter written some
years ago by Rear Admiral John j. Almy
TO the National Republican. from which
we make the following interesting ex-
tracts:
"1he question Is sometimes asked, both
by word of mouth and by the news
papers: What 1oes the navy do? What
is the use Of the navy in times OF peace?
The navy is the police of the seas as
much so as policemen are the guardians
OF safety and order in the cities. Wher-
ever there are American interests and
American residents abroad there should
be American rflen-of-war to show them
selves occasionally, and American mer-
chants. ministers, and consuis shouiu
know at all times where an American
man-of-war could be found"
He then tells us something about the
vigorous action taken by old Hickory TO
make the Neapoltan Government do JUS
tice by American citizens who had been
despoiled by that Government when Ma
poleon Bonaparte's brother-in-law, Mu-
rat, was the King of Naples. He says:
After a lapse of time a thorough in
vest.gation and an estimate of losses were
made A demand for indemnity was
made and positively refused. Several
years elapsed when General Jackson be-
came President of the United States,
and he. with his accustomed emphasis,
repeated the demand. which was again
refused. In the year 1892 General Jackson
appointed a special minister, Hon. John
Nelson, Of Maryland, TO Naples to press
this demand. Commodore Daniel #.
Patterson, who commanded the naval
forces and co-operated with General
Jackson at New Orleans, was at this time
commander-n-chief of the United States
Mediterranean squadron, consisting OF
three fifty-gun frigates and three twenty
two-gun corvettes. The writer OF this
was midshipman i'm the squadron.
ut was arranged that one ship at n
time should make her appearance at
Naples. The commodore went in first,
and week after another ship arrived.
Mr.. Nelson then made the demand as di-
rected by bis Government. 1t was refus-
ed. At the end of a week a third ship
and so continued. The Nea-
poEtan Government became alarmed. be-
gan TO took at the condition of the forts:
mounted additional guns. built sand bag
batteries. and kept up a constant drilling
of their troops. When the fifth ship ar
rived the government gave in, acknowl-
edged the claim, and ordered II TO be
paid just as the sixth ship entered the
harbor.
"rhe amount wasn't so large-about
$3.50, 000-but there was great principle
involved. This money was owing TO
owners. captains. and crews OF American
merchant vessels. whose property had
been illegally and unjustly taken from
them"
Well did the Admiral close his letter
with this compact paragraph
And it may he asked when and
whether they would ever have received
1t had IL not been for the United States
nav This fuIIv illustrates one NJ Mel
sons maxims: TO negotiate with effect
a naval force should always be at
hand"
The expense of keeping up an adequate
navy would be but small part of what
we actually throw away in pensions TO
camp followers. bounty jumpers and de-
Let us have navy equal to
asserting the rights and disputes of this
whenever they are called in
question.