The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-08-23
BUILD UP THE NAVY.

not only to insure national security
but to advance commercial interests.
The days of snarling opposition to
increasing the navy are over. The
one and only question now regarding
our naval affairs is, To what ex-
tent shall we enlarge the fleets !?
Dewey and Sampson and Schley have
settled forever the cry of log-rolling
congressman who have shouted, "No
more battle. ships while they have
clamored for appropriations to
deepen insignificant creeks and to
erect palatial public buildings in OBJ
scure towns, leaving the navy to take
any fag ends it could get.
How shall the navy be built up?
What kind of consort shall be given
the spirit of national destiny that has
awakened from its slumber and has
reached out to the Orient with our
flag? First of all, the government will
call for more battles ships. Let them
be fast battle. ships also-ships that
can overtake and destroy the fleets of
an enemy, no matter what flag that
enemy flies. Let congress make ap-
pre- priatlons for five of these every
year for the next five years. The
governmen: will request also more
fleet armored cruisers, improved
New Yorks and Brooklyns. At the
same time let it continue to en-
courage inventions in naval con-
struction. Let it secure more earth
quake-matters like the Vesuvius, a
vessel too long blacklisted by Ger
tain set of naval officials. Let it
build more Hollands, despite the fact
that these perfected submarine craft
have no quarter-decks and are pro
nounced dangerous" by two or
three naval officers who love uni
forms more than the glories of war.
In short, let it take advantage of
every Improvement TO build up a
powerful navy in the interests of
national security and the protection
and advancement of trade.
Five battle-ships of the highest
grade a year would mean an annual
appropriation of $25,OOO,OOO out of
a total appropriation of about $3.50.
100000 the sum that will probably
be required for the expenses of the
government, or about Il per cent
of our yearly expenditures. Less
than per cent of our national out
lay for the next five years would,
therefore, put this country in a posi-
tion where it could command peace
in defiance of any nation in the
world. At the end of that time we
should have fully forty line of battle
ships and total force that no coun-
try but England could match. The
cost would be small; the benefit in
national security would be incalcul-
able. Our additional armored cruis-
ers and small craft could be built for
about $25, 100000 more, on the as
sumption that four armored cruisers
would be all that would be required.
For total cost of 5O,OOO,OOO
or $30,OO0,OOO year for the next
five years, then, this country could
attain a position Of absolute naval
independence. What a gam to us,
what a gain to the cause of peace,
what gam to civilization that would
mean! The people want the ships,
our future demands them, and the
wealth of this country is ample 10 pay
for maintaining them.
Happily there is little reason to be-
lieve that many men in our national
legislature will venture to oppose the
country's demand for such a navy.
The prospect is bright for the return
of the flag of the United States to
the high seas. The people have
a wakened to the necessities of the
hour, and those of our public men