The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-01

lean viii be all taken up in small
amounts
1t is true that soldiers in Florida
should not be fed on pork and beans.
and that campaigners in cuba should
not wear thick cloth uniforms. But
while these truths may be remembered,
another should not be forgotten-that
the American people have responded
to their country's call with instant and
hawIess patriotism.
The lesson they have learned is that
patriotism alone viii not fight battles.
How far will that lesson carry them?
The question requires twofold answer.
VIII it build up a great army and
navy? n the United States there is a
curious antipathy to a large standing
army. The masses Of the people dread
such Capitalization power Moth
ing excites more hostility than the en-
pioyment of federal troops to settle
state NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the cutlery
when President Cleveland sent regu-
lars to quell labor disturbances in Chi
cage. 1t is feared that large stand
ing army might lead to aggressive
campaigns abroad, but a hundredfold
greater is the fear that it might be
come an instrument of oppression at
home. So strong is this sentiment that
the army will assuredly not be increas-
ed to any great extent. Hitherto its
strength has been nominally 10000 men
actually, perhaps, $4,000. Congress
has recently authorized q total of 10000
"a tiny force for 7O,cO0,0OO people, ac-
cording to European standards. But
as a result of the war the local regi-
ments viii gain vastly in popularity,
and they viii probably be kept up to
full strength with capable men and
complete equipment. Moreover, there
are signs that the famous Seventh reg
iment of New York will not have in
CURED it's terrible unpopufarity in vain.
In future, every local regiment will
probably be allowed to go to the front
as a unit and will not be dependant for
its separate existence upon the whim
of the governor of its state. Therefore,
the American land forces will be large
~ increased in reality, though not nom
inally.
With the navy, however, the case is
different It cannot be used by the
executive for oppression at home; the
need of it for defense is universally
recognized; it has always been the
popular arm; it has covered itself with
glory during the war. The fear of an
aggressive policy, it is true, has infiu-
enced past naval estimates also. 1t
has always been easy to get money
for coast defense ships, and difficult
TO get it for seagoing battleships and
cruisers. But this will be less the case
now that America has possessions over
the sea. Already one significant fact
has shown what may be expected. Not
only was the last naval vote by far
the largest since the rebellion, but
congress positively made great addi-
lions to the shipbuilding recommended
by the naval construction committee
a course without parallel in American
history. The official recommendation
was for one battleship and four tor
pedo boats; what congress authorized
on May was three battleships, of
il 800 tons; four monitors, of 200 tons,
for harbor defense; 16 torpedo boat de-
stroyers, of 400 tons; Il torpedo boats,
of $50 tons, and one gunboat to replace
the Michigan upon the lakes, if an ar
rangement with Great Britain permit
ting this is reached. The bids for all
these ships are to be opened in August
and September. 1 have compiled the
following table, comprising ships afloat, !
building and authorized, including
-, 8
these not yet launched art Armstrong;, |
10 show that a powerful American |
navy is already an accomplished fact:
Author To- |
Ahoat. Bldg. lied. tai. /