New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-01
THE ARMY AND NAVY.

Having knocked much of the life ont or tne
Army hill some Senators are now engaged IN
trying 70 do more mischief with the Navy bHi.
The provision that after two years, no matter
,vhat thc condition Of the country and It's de-
tendencies NAV then be- the Army shall he re-
duced 10 the insignificant force which existed
before the war with Spain began was surely
one Of the most preposterous ever conceived.
Y, ono can Drofess 10 believe that II Will re-
ouire no greater force to maintain NatlohM
authority in the United States and in what may
then he held of Porto Rico Cuba, the Hawaiian
Islands and the Philippine Islands than it re-
o1ired q year ago for the United States alone
II nothing except coaling and reftting stations
were 10 be held. these would require garrlsons'
hut no sensible man imaglnes that the United
States can divcst Itself Of responsibility for all
These islands within two years and four months.
II Is an inexplcablc provision, unless deliber-
atelv intended TO avOW n want OF confidence III
the present Army organization.
But there IS no pretencc that the Navy Is not
finely organized and well directed Nobody
claims that the ships built by American workers
are not highly credtable and efficient. nor Is
there single Senator who honestly believes
that under the new conditions this country IS
liable
much larger Navy. Yet the old fashion Of
pairing down and reducing every expenditure
no matter how vitaly necessary It may be to
the Nation. seems likely to prevail IN the senate
ocain. One cannot suppose that Senators actu-
ally believe the proposed appropriation for new
vessels less needfUl for the public safety thah
many others they have voted or viii vote
1t Is sure 10 be said by those VINO WISH 10
crIticse harshly the conduct OF AFFAIRS uh1er
Republican leadership that the desire 10 secure
Jobs for States and districts and places fer
friends is so great that the appropriations most
needful for public safety are cut down 50 that
it may not be necessary TO reduce other appro-
rr.ations That kind Of censure IS common,
and can be treated with Indifference when the
objects for which the millions care most are
amply met But It may be feared that Senator's
do not realize how much the people now care 10
have the Navy and the Army placed IN such
position that under no circumstances VIII me
Nations defence or honor be sacrificed Are
they ut all aware how strong desire for
effective National defence has taken place Of
the old. wastefu, short sighted penurlousness
which so long left the Nation without Navy.
has hindercd its creation, and has left the Army
almost powerlcss IN tho presence Of any great
emergency?
1t IS not at all strange that the last year has
greatly changed the feelings Of tnc people.
There are millions Of them now who know by
the anxious experiences Of last year, when
Thousands Of ports and towns along the sea
coast were Liable 10 be assailed by swift hostile
vessels. how much Notifications and guns and
trained artloriss may mean to them, and how
much a sufficient and thoroughly effective Navy.
capable Of matching in swifnesS or in power
that which may be sent 10 attack our coast.
Millions more considered angrly. when their
sons or brothers were ut the front and in danger
and hardship, what n shame il was that the
Army had not been better prepared In every
department to meet any emergency. The whole
Nation as il watched the achievements Of forces
hy sea and land and realized how the honor of
the people was NJ stake, era sped once for all
the truth that honor and safety are worth pay
ING for and that there IS no other object for
which money Is appropriated concerning which
stingiuess Is as foolish and rs wasteful as it is
concerning preparations for National defence.
When the members of Congress chosen last No
vember. and the Senators chosen by Legislat-
ures since. have opportunity to be heard, they
are likely TO manifest spirit quite unlike that
which has been fashionable in Congress- for
many years.
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THE APTFTT DODGER ar MANILA