The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-07-28
CHAPTER XIX.
BARERE'S GREAT MANUVER-PAUI
JONES TO THE FORE-FOlLING A
POLITICAL PLOT-A GREAT EPISODE


POLITICAL PLOT-A GREAT EPISODE.
The order of the day in Committee for
Aug. 20. 1892, was the Condition and
Needs of the Navy" Barere had reason
10 believe that St. Andre would spring his
scheme then. So he arranged with his
friend Cambon 10 make motion of
expediency," as il was called. The effect
of such a motion was that OF instructions
TO inquire into the expediency of any
given act or policy. Ii was a convenient
mode of bringing a subject up for debate
on all its merits without Subjectlng IL TO a
necessarily decisive vote; though an
affirmative vote on such motion was
usually tantamount TO the adoption OF
the policy involved.
As soon as the Committee met Barere
rose and moved the order of the day,
which gave him the floor In tbs he
neatly outwitted ST. Andrew, who was in
the act of rising for the same purpose,
but was not quick enough Having the
floor, Barere spoke for more than an hour.
In his work entitled The Liberty of the
Sea- published in 1895, and which is by
far the ableSt and most valuable of his
works, Barere reproduceS most of the de-
bate on this occasion, in the form of an
appendix.
Barere began with a glowing description
OF the condition of the Navy as il then
stood. He called attention with mastery
eloquence TO the assistance the French
Navy had rendered To the cause of liberty
in America. Proceeding To discuss the
peculiar requirements of naval service, he
said that political conditions which might
be salutaTy when applied To a land force
were wholly inadmissible and might be
fatal II applied at sea He reminded the
Committee that no fervor of zeal for re-
publican principles, not even the Hottest
devotion 10 the doctrines of liberty,
equality and fraternity could in actual
service at sea compensate for want of the
special training absolutely requisite to
efficient SeamanShip. This great and un-
avoidable fact could not, he said in the
present composition and organization of
the French Navy relatively To the existing
institutions and aspirations OF the French
people be viewed otherwise than as a
misfortune
This misfortune grew out of the fact
that, as then organized and differed, the
Navy was purely aristocratic institu-
ton and as such incompatible with the
structure OF the Government whose in
terests il was intended To serve No one
could argue, he said, that popular Gov
eminent ought 10 maintain an ariSto-
cratic navy No one could gainsay the
fact that IL was the duty OF the Committee
60 provide means by which such an
anomalous state of things might be termi-
mated and the organization of the Navy
tons OF France.
The first great requisite, he said. was to
find someone OF such training. skill and
experience as would fully qualify him
and at the same time possessing such
professional reputation in France and in
the world at large, gained by great deeds,
as would instantly commend him to all.
for the post OF Chief Admiral, the head of
the French feet
The aristocratic Admirals being out OF
the question, he said-'though some of
them, like kerSaint and Grimouard. fulfill
all the requirements 1 have laid down
where are we To look for one who does
inihil those requirements and at the same
time does not bear the sinister and for
bidding brand Of caster" With this cues
ton lac hesItated as If for a suggestion
from someone.
ST. Andre now rose and admitting the
truth OF much that Barere had said. re-
marked mat France should look for sea-
n1ahShlp To the same source To which she
now looked for her statesmanship-the
people. That the genius Of liberty would
ind Admlrals as it had discovered states
men.
ferhaps, said he, something may be
found better and more effective in the
hour OF combat than even the vaunted
experience and professional requirements
ol the highiy-traI.'cd princes and mobiles
who have always commanded our fleets.
My reading OF the naval history of France
teaches me that these royal or noble
commanders have employed their skill in
avoiding battles more than in gaining
them; that many times French Admiral
has sacrificed a chance of victory to a
beautiful evolution.
Now 1t is likely to happen that in
taking our Admirals from the people.
some may be found whose love of country
VIII exceed their Learning of books Some
may be found who will disdain the nicely
oi fixed evolutions in which calculation
takes the place of courage and reflection
supersedes yalor. Some may be found
VINO VIII precipitate themselves upon the
ships oil the enemy To- take them by
storm-a mode Of warfare i'm which French
men always conquer.
Hence say that on the sea as on the