The times., 1898-07-10
SUNDAY, JULY. 10, 1888.
The Naval Glory of America.

At the beginning of the war with
Spain, the American navy ranked fifth
among the sea powers of the world
England. France, Russia. and Italy
only surpassed 1.-THE last three on
paper: the first Of course. Il is not re-
corded just what number in the list
Spain should have been given. That
is immaterial. however, at the present,
since, as the result of two easy lessons,
1t is now zero.
The war is less than three months
old and yet it is generally admitted in
the English press that our navy, as now
constituted, could probably cope on
more than equal terms with either
France or Russia, while any attempt on
the part Of Germany or Italy to con-
tend against il would result in igno-
minious defeat
The startling eye-opener Of this war
as regards European opinion has been
the astonishing demonstration that our
naval service. in its equipment arma-
ment, gunnery, spirit, and the sener eral-
ship of those in command of the fleets.
not only stands out in striking contrast
with our military arm, but is intrinsic
ally the best for its ships. tonnage,
battery power, and so on, in the whole
world
The only country with which we are
compelled to confess inequality is Great
Britain. and under existing circum-
stances, that consideration. is not likely
TO give US any anxiety Unless Russia
should put veto upon ambitious and
possible movements in Central Europe
il is more likely that England and
America would hunt together rather
than try conclusions with each other.
The surprise OF Europe at the organ
ization. armor, fighting power, long
lived guns, and craftsmanship Of cur
navy is not greater than the astonish-
ment which should be felt in the United
States. that the men who have mad
the establishment what il is should
have succeeded in doing SO in spite Of
the vicious opposition to its sxpans on.
which We have noted in Congress for
twenty years.
Ever since the Civil War, there has
never been a proposition in Congress
for an increase in the navy that has
not been opposed by senators ard mem
bers. who denounced the very idea of a
great naval establishment as a tempta-
tion to the country, to depart from its
ancient landmarks Of backwoods Chi
nese provincialism, and embark upon a
course which, in time, might make it
respected abroad.
Il. -, 4.
made has denounced the construction
or possession of vessel too large To
climb the Miami River or navigate the
Mississippi to its source, while the idea
OF battleships or cruisers which might
do very well to defend the harbor cf
New York or attack that of Cadiz, but
could not traverse the Erie Canal. has
been obnoxious to the sense of fitness
possessed by legislators whose hair has
not been freed from hayseed after sew
eral terms Of Congress in the company
OF fairly civilized human beings Yet
In spite OF the determination Of a great
mossback contingent TO defeat the con
struction Of respectable navy, there
has been enough patriotism of a non
partisan character 10 give the country
the nucleus of a fine sea power. and The
American citizen who does not glory II
the outcome is unfit to draw breath.
Ii should be understood that we hay,
only made beginning. The victories
Of Dewey and Schley have settlsd tbs
naval policy of the future, and the an.
nexation Of the Hawaiian Islands ha.
made that policy imperative and unes
capable. II will be not less so, in view
of our colonial extension. including pos
session of the Philippines. Ladrones
Porto Rico, and perhaps the Canariei
and Carolines. HencefOrth, our futur
commercial growth and its protection
the providing of ways and means 10 dis
pose of the enormous surplus of ou
productions, and our control over ihi
Nicaragua Canal. will demand that w
have a navy second to none on th'
globe The American people fully ap
preciate this, and will have it so. TIL
masses, including those Of the remot
interior, are better informed and ar.
imbued with a more patriotic spirit IL
connection with the subject than ar