The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-25
CRITICIsES HIS PARTY.
Mr.. Wheeler Says the Democrats
Lack Constructive Abfittx.


One of the striking features Of the de-
bate on the Naval Appropriation hill IN
the House yesterday was a criticism OF
the Democratic party by Representative
Wheeler, member OF the Committee on
| Naval Affairs and one OF the best known
| Democrats in the House Mr. Rixey's
amendment providing for the elimination
1 OF that section OF the bill making appro-
priation for two battleships and two first-
class cruisers was pending Mr.. Wheeler
| eombated this amendment and declared
amid Republican and Democratic applause,
that obstruction is one OF the infirmities
Of the Democratic party He was inter-
| rupted by Mr.. Dayton, who said that VIII
| liam ]. Bryan, while a member OF the
House. had said that he was opposed to
the appropriation of money for the con-
! struction OF warships. Mr. Wheeler re-
piled that Mr.. Bryan is not the Demo-
cratic party. He said that Mr. Bryan is
an honest. pure. lofty minded man, who.
like all other meE, is liable to err in
certain things. Mr.. Wheeler said In part:
Il have said that the Judgment Of the
| heads of the departments of the ravy
should be persuasive with this House.
did not mean to imply that IL should be
conclusive. but the construction of goat
vessels of war. their mode OF construction.
how many we need, what we should do
extent & sealed book to the laymsn. I
have confidence in the Secretary Of the
! Navy, / have confidence in the heads of
the departments. They have recommeni-
ed this increase of the navy. Tae country,
l believe. endorses the committee in try
ing to build up great navy, and I sug-
gest that so long as the Secretary OF the
Navy and his department chiefs command
the respect Of the country their judg-
ment should. indeed. be potential with the
Representatives of the American people,
who are not supposed to pass finally -non
this question. but who are supposed to
take the recommendation OF these depart
ment chiefs. and give them the money as
they need il.
the country. the rapid increase of popu-
lation, the friction generated by the po-
sition recently taken by this country, are
things which make 1t impossible for any
citizen of the Republic at this time to
attempt to pass intelligently upon that
question. IApplause.1 II we could stop
the corroding fingers OF time, IL we could
check the ravages of rust. IL iron would
always be as strong and steel as durable
as now, II these ships would be as good
fifteen years from now as they are to-
day, perchance we might consider that
question; but when you know that as we
are constructing. the navy is also decay
ing. and that some Of these ships that are
now effective will soon be regarded as
useless, l am unwilling to say that the
navy is now strong enough for the needs
CT the country. Ny personal Judgment is
that the American Navy should be SO
strong that when we declare what thing
shall be upon the high seas, all nations
will recognize that it must be So" Zap
plause-j
Mr. Mann-Thon l take it that the gen
tlenan believes, in conformity with Sc me
opinions which seem to exist on this
floor. that the United States Navy ought
to be large enough to whip all the other
nations of the earth.
Mr. wheeler-well. think man for
man and ship for ship, we can do that
with the navy that We now have. Zap
plause.l
Mr.. Wheeler continued:
THE gentleman (Mr. RixeyJ says | de-
elared | was in favor of our country hay
peat that statement And again I cite
him to the language of 1fr. Calhoun. who
said that our construction OF ships should
be limited only by our capacity to pay for
them and to man them. 1t was the Re-
publican party which allowed our navy to
go into decadence; and all the glory OF
the present american Navy belongs co the
Democratic party. l regret to say
Though am not ashamed to say it, that
one of the inflrmities of my party's policy
is that in these latter days il has been
comforting itself with criticism and OBJ
struction. and has not had the construc-
tive genius to sail on the seas of origi-
nality and suggest ideas for itself"