The San Francisco call., 1898-10-27
PATRIOTISM IN THE NAVY
THE SECRETARY PAYS HIGH
 TRIBUTE TO THE MEN.
He Says That All Cabinet Officers Should Have a Place on the Floor of Con-
 gross.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

BOSTON, Oct. 26.-Secretary of the Navy Long received a genuine New England welcome at Music Hall to- night on the occasion of the annual dinner of the Republican Club of Mas sachusetts. There were more than 800 Republicans of New England at the tables The galleries were crowded with ladies and gentlemen.
 The other guests of honor were Gov ernor Wolcott, Senator Lodge and Con- gressman Dingley. The guests and many of the leading Republicans of the State were seated on the platform. Secretary Long was the principal speaker. When he rose he received a tremendous ovation
 My experience in the Cabinet has con frmed the impression that I have long cherished that Cabinet officer, with or without vote, should have place on the f1oor or congress, where he shall be sub- Ject to questioning in all matters of his administration and have the opportunity to present in person the needs and de- mands of his branch of the public service. during the war from loss of life or sick ness or disease and from even ordinary casualties is the best evidence of the thoroughness of it's preparation, the in- telltgence of its direction and the skill, efficiency and thorough training of its officers and men. Let me bear my testi- ulO1ly that all this haS been the WOrk or the navy itself, and not of any man at its head; of the completeness of it's system and the competency of it's personnel. Of Its professional spirit l cannot speak too highly. The commandant at the yard, the chief in the bureau and no less the grades, every one of them below these, have all worked with matchless fidelity and ability and in harmonious co-opera- uon and deserve equal honor,
 The glory of the navy and the glory of the war, which it shares with the army, is not, however, in battle alone; or rather, 1t is not in the brutal elements of battle. courage, the splendid devotion, the in- tense patriotism. which nerve men to en- dure what otherwise were unpardonable horrors of armed conflict for the sake of the cause for which battles are fought.
 The lesson has not been lost on civiliza- uon, when Cervera, returning to his seat in the Spanish Senate, proclaimS the hu- manity of America, and suggests to Spain that she benefit by our example, awaken from her bondage to old limitations, and and American institutions.
 If l may say one word more concerning the navy, agree with the evident propo- sition that with the extension of our ter ritory, the new duties that are on us and the now enlarged importance of our sea should follow. But am not one of those who would have it extravagantly expand ed, and l would prefer reasonable in crease commensurate with the increased need. Too rapid a development will stIreIy lead to a reaction in the popular mind and a 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 great increase in expenditure; therefore in taxation; and in the zeal of the present moment we may stand on the old funda- mental principle that under no circum- stances should this be a country where the military arm is a burden instead of Q defense, and the military arm must be subservient by long interval to the edu- cational and industrial.
 If ever there was man who loved his country, a servant of the public whose purpose was to do his duty and was guid- ed by a prayerful sense of accountability to God and his fellow-men 1t is President Mckinley. For two years I have stood at the Cabinet table, and recall not one fn- stance when one word has been uttered with regard to it's effect or bearing on the personal or political future of the Presi- dent 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.