The evening times., 1899-03-03
FRIDAY. MARCH 8, 1899.
crippIing Navy and Army.

CrippIing Navy and Army.
The chief excuse offered for the army
scandals is the parsimony of successive
Congresses that prevented the placing of
the military establishment on a modern
basis. While this is an inadequate de-
fence. the fact is impressed on the public
mind by the action of the passing Con-
gress.
Their, is a natural jealousy and fear OF
the American Republic among the Euro
pean powers because Of its wealth, indus
trial rivalry, population. and general
strength The demonstration of its eX-
traordinary naval efficiency in the Spanish
war and the high character of its soldiery
made deep impression on European OBJ
servers and did more 10 place This among
the nations of the first rank than any
thing in our history.
1t was expected that Congress would re-
fect popular sentiment and insure the fu-
ture peace and honor of the country by the
most liberal treatment of the navy end
the army. This seemed the more reason
able because of the awful example of
Spanish folly. The navy of that country
was fraudulent, and its army was in a
the government to provide for their most
pressing needs. There was the excuse that
the Spanish treasury was empty and the
revenues of the colonies already pledged
for years ahead.
Without any such poverty, but with re-
sources beyond those Of any other country.
the policy of Congress is hardly more lib
eraL There is no question of popular SEN
jiment. When it was found that through
the official incompetency that is the prod
uct Of politics in the army our soldiers had
been subjected TO needless hardships ard
dignation. which forced the appointment
of investigating commissions, one of which
has attempted to lay the chief responsible,
ity on the stupid parsimony of Congress.
In the face of this, the dying Congress
outrages common sense and popular senti-
ment by a deliberate crippling of the navy
at a time when foreign attention is direct
ed to our experiment in colonial govern
ment. The projected new warships are
delayed and the estimates for current ex-
penses of the navy are reduced so that it
is necessary to weaken our squadrons and
discharge some three thousand sailors who
are at this moment perfectly trained and
who cannot be easily replaced should an
Spanish policy as Congress dare go.
AS to the army the majority in this Con-
gress permitted the Secretary of War to
project a reorganization scheme that per-
petuates the worst features of the presen,
vicious system, especially in opening the
army TO the political spoilsmen. 1t is on
ly through the opposition of the minority
politicians who could not profit by the
system that the bill has gone over for a
temporary compromise measure.
The richest country on earth, become
responsible fo- the introduction of civili-
zation in the Philippines. for the establish
ment Of a stable government in Cuba, and
the Americanization of Porto Rico, we need
a navy second only to that of Great Brit
ain, for which we have a superb founda-
tion. At this time other countries are add
ing TO their naval strength with a Hberali-
IL that should be an example to Congress
They have placed their armies under the
newest and best system, from which poll
ties is excluded. Yet We, who are better
able than any other to make ourselves Sc.
cure against assault by making army and
navy powerful, can find no better example
than that Of Spain.
The Administration is not free from
blame in this business. 1t has, at the
least, provided a ground of opposition tc
army reorganization by retaining in office
the incompetent head Of the War Depart
ment, and an apparent excuse for niggard-
illness toward the navy by allowing the
conspirators in the Navy Office to promote
the fortunes of favorite at the expense
of one of the chief heroes of the war. Oi
both the legislative and executive branches