The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-27
SPEECH BY SECRETARY LONG.
He Thinks Cabinet Officers should
Have seats fn Congress.

BOSTON, Oct. 26-Secretary of the Navy
Long received genuine New England well
come at Music Hall tonight on the occa-
sion of the annual dinner of the Republican
Club Of Massachusetts, There were more
than 800 representative Republicans of New
England at the tables. TIE galleries were
crowded with men and women The other
guests Of honor were Governor Wolcott,
Senator Lodge and Congressman Dingley.
The guests and many of the leading Re-
pubIicans of the State were seated on the
platform. Secretary Long was the principal
speaker. When he rose he received a ire
1nendous ovation, 1t being several minutes
before he could proceed on account of the
enthusiastic reception accorded him. He
said in part:
Ny experience in the Cabinet has con-
frmed the impression that 1 have long
cherished that Cabinet officer with or
without a vote should have place upon
the floor of Congress, where he could at
once be subject to question in all matters
or his administration ana have the oppor-
tunity 10 present in person the needs and
demands OF his branch OF the public service.
SO might he best get larger growth.
The almost entire freedom of the navy
during the war from loss of life, from sick
ness and disease and from even ordinary
casualties is the best evidence of the
thoroughness of its preparation the intelli-
gence of Its direction and the skill, eff
and men. Let me bear my testimony that
all this has been the work of the navy
itself and of not any man at its head; of
the completeness of its system and the COM
potency of its personnel. OF its professional
spirit cannot speak too highly. That
spirit animated the officer on the deck, the
commandment at the yard. the chief in the
bureau and no less the grades, every one
Of them, below these. Line and staff, SUI
perior and subordinate, have all worked
with matchless fidelity and ability and in
harmonious cooperation and deserve equal
honor.
THE glory of the navy and the glory of
the war, which 1t shares with the army
IS not, however. in battle alone, or, rather.
4 is not in the brutal elements of battle.
1t Is rather i'll the fine instinct, the heroic
courage, the splendid devotion, the intense
patriotism which nerve men TO endure what
otherwise were the objectionable horrors Of
armed conflict for the sake of the great
ends and cause for which battles are fought.
The war through which we have just passed
was not waged for the exultatiOn of victory.
IL was for the unlOosing of the yoke Of
bondage the elevation of an oppressed peo-
pie, the diviner civilization of the coming
erous humanity 1t aroused rather than In
the splendid courage 1t evoked. Not a trace
OF personal animoSity towards the foe was
visible from beginning to end. Few words
will last longer than those which Captain
Evans uttered when he said of his men dur
ing the battle of Santiago that so long as
the enemy flew its flag they fought like
American seamen. but when the flag was
hauled down they were as gentle and ten
der American women
1T was a revelation to the Spanish pris-
oners when they found themselves received
in their encampment, rather than prison, at
Portsmouth, with Christian kindness, their
wounds bound up and every want provided
civilization of the times when Cervera, re-
turning to his seat in the Spanish Senate,
proclaims the humanity of America and
suggests to Spain that she benefit by our
example. waken from her bondage of old
limitations and follow the lead of American
enterprise and American institutions.
ma " CAV n0a ord ff0nr
the navy, agree with the evident PROPOSE
tion that WIZ the recent extension of our
territory the new duties that are upon us
and the now enlarged importance of our sea
power, the increase in our naval force
should go on. But l am not one of those
who would have il exIravagantly expanded,
and / would prefer a reasonable increase
commensurate with the increased need. Too
Aapid development will surely lead to a
REACTION in the popular mind and tendency
TO the extreme, as happened after the war
OF the Union. Nor must we forget that the
increase of the army and navy Is necessarily
attended with a very great increase In ex-
pendtture and therefore In taxation, and
that in the zeal of the present moment we
must stand upon the old fundamental prin-
this become country where the military
arm is a burden instead of defense and
that the military establishment must be
subordinate by long interval to the edu-
cational and the industrial
IF ever there was a man who loved his
country q servant of the public whose sole
purpose was to do his duty and who was
guided by prayerful sense Of accoun t,
MCKINLEY. For two years have sat at the
Cabinet table and I recall not one occasion
when in the discussion there was any ques-
ton: one. word has been uttered with regard
to- its effect or its bearing on the personal
or political fortunes of the President or any
member of his Cabinet or of the party of
which he was the choice two years ago, as
to day he is the choice of all the people.
Governor Wolcott and General Lodge also
spoke.