The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-23

called finding the centre of political gravity.
For example, If a dock is wanted on the New
ENGLAND coast, the. Main Senators and Repre-
sentatives would all pull strongly in their owns d.
wise; while the coas. end OF Massachusetts would
The result would probably be that the centre of
political gravity would fall at ~rtsmou
be, instead OF at Boston, where il should be es-
tablished on account OF the need OF. deep water
at all times, and the great mechanical labOring
population upon which to draw at n moments
notice. 1t was this method Of selection by
Political POL tand, centre , Of gravity = Sot thu. gave The he. navy
dock at the South will probably be somewhere
on the Gulf of Mexico, and IT is not likely that
S %ood VIII vi ,b be 5ag n. selected ted for the %a lis; +, The he
m2dern nayies except our own.
The political plan Of selection seems to have
governed in the matter of a dock on the Pacific
coast. San Francisco had the navy yard. What
was fairer than to locate the dock on Puget
Sound ! But, now that political conditions are
satisfied and the dock Is all right on the sound,
the tools and the machinery for work on such
ships as may be locked are at the navy yard in
San Francisco harbor. There arc some curious
ideas about this sort Of thing on the floors OF
Congress For instance. one gentleman is a tre-
the, same time a never.failing supporter of
docks. What he wants OF them without ships
things go without explanation. There is no dock
in his district, and doubtless he regards himself
and his constituents AS entitled to their quota.
The development Of our torpedo fleet Is more
rapid and satisfactory than even the, en-
tcrtaining accounts which have reached the
public indicate. Herein. again, lies ample cause
Of content on the part OF our chief coast cities.
At present our whole navy is being tested with
vigor-cruisers. battleships. torpedo boats and
all-with a view to asccrtaining the strength and
efficiency. developing any hidden weakness. and
making officers and crews thoroughly familiar
with every part OF the vast machine, and its
proper operation Under all conditions of weather.
Seamen are wanted. and as fast as increase in
to fill the list from American born, or the
most desirable ranks Of naturalized citizens. A
been accomplished Ia recent years both in the
army and the navy.
earnestly engaged in a work the Importance Of
which cannot be overestimated. While the for.
mer is seeking to bring the National Guard into
close relations with the regular army, the latter
is devising means for developing and securing
active cooperation, with. the naval reserves,
navy. The War Department. through the Ord
Nance ot nae. y sor w1 9Ss actively to supply y
everything is being done that is possible With
the means in hand to organize this force into a
skeleton army that shall be thoroughly pre-.
pared for the field in case such service should
suddenly become necessary. One Of the import
ant clements is the manufacture on a large scale
ingly important line OF work ia the training Of
the State heavy artillerists for effective service
tees of Congress are in full accord with ali this
line OF effort, and bills which have been prepared
looking to encouraging and expcditing it are
likely TO become laws at the next session. The
country has been recently informed. through
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, OF the intentions
OF the department with regard to the Naval
Reserves. All Of these matters, and kindred
ones TO which ~allusion has been made. lie at the
very foundation OF such national development,
as it is confidently expected the new Admins.
tration will seek to promote by all means which
nay be placed at its disposal.
There Is strong confidence here that the coun-
try Is entering upon a period of uneXaInpled
prosperity. 1t is as clearly seen that foreign
complications must arise in the paths which
the nation is treading, and which it will pursue
with courageous self.assortion. Every effort
will be made by the Executive branch to make
Congress see that this time of prosperity should
be actively improved to prepare thoroughly for
anything which may thrust itself across the
path OF national progress. The monarchical
nations, which have about completed the cary
ing up Of tho world, with the exception of tho
South American continent, are not likely to
withhold their hands in that quarter unless
they become convinced that this republic has
the means Of enforcing its present interpreta-
tiun of the Monroe doctrine.
With this present and prospective attention to
battleships, dry docks OF our own. coast and
harbor defences. gun plants, tho Naval Reserve,
and the National Guard Is our administration
the herald OF iingoism I Very far from that.
But In tho conditions which now govern among
nations all these guards are looked upon as the
only certain means of insuring peace. With
these an Administration can say to foreign
nations, singly or in combination: Hands off,
while tho great republic marches on in peaceful
ways. developing its vast resources and accom-
plishing its manifest destiny. H.. V, BoYNTOS,