The Elbert County tribune., 1902-12-04

prompt attention and action II Is OF
great importance that the relation OF
the national guard to the militia and
volunteer forces of the United States
should be defined. and that in place OF
our present obsolete laws a practical
and efficient system should be adopted.
For the first time in our history
naval maneuvers on a large scale are
being held under the Immediate com
! mand of the admiral of the navy. Con-
sfantly increasing attention is being
paid to the gunnery Of the navy, but
II is yet far from what 1t should be. l
earnestly urge that the increase asked
for by the secretary OF the navy in the
appropriation for improving the
craftsmanship be granted. In battle
the only shots that count are the shots
that hit. 1t Is necessary TO provide
ample funds for practice with the great
guns in time of peace. These funds
must provide not only for the purchase
OF projectiles. but for allowances for
prizes to encourage the gun crews, and
especially the gun pointers. and Tor
perfecting an intelligent system under
which alone It is possible to get good
practice
There should be no halt In the work
OF building up the navy. providing
every year additional fighting craft.
We are a very rich country. vast In ex-
tent of territory and great in popula-
ton; country. moreover. which has
an army diminutive indeed when com
pared with that Of any other first class
power. We have deliberately made our
own certain foreign policies which de-
mand the possession of a first class
navy. The Isthmian canal will greatly
increase the efficiency of our navy IL
the navy is of sufficient size; but II we
have an inadequate navy. then the
building of the canal would be merely
giving a hostage to any power of su-
perior strength The Monroe doctrine
should be treated as the cardinal feat
ure of American foreign policy: but 1t
would be worse than idle to assert II
unless we intend to back it up. and 1t
can be backed up only by thoroughly
good navy. A good navy is not provoc-
alive of war: It is the surest guaranty
of peace.
There is not a cloud on the horizon
at present There seems not the
slightest chance OF trouble with for
eign power. We most earnestly hope
that this state of things may continue,
and the way to Insure Its continuance
is to provide for thoroughly efficient
navy.
Free Rural Mall Delivery.
Rural free delivery service is no
longer in the experimental stage; it
has become fixed policy. The results
following its Introduction have fully
justified the Congress in the large ap-
proprations made for its establish
ment and extension. The average
yearly increase in postofiice receipts
In the rural districts of the country
Is about two per cent. We are now
able. by actual results, to show that
where rural free delivery service has
been established to such an extent as
to enable us 10 make comparisons the
yearly increase has been upward of
ten per cent.
On November l. 1902. 1850 rural
free delivery routes had been estab
lished and were in operation. covering
about one-third OF the territory OF the
United States available for rural free
delivery service There are now
awaiting the action of the department
( petitions and applications for the es-
tablishment of 1913 additional routes.
This shows conclusively the want
which the establishment of the service
has met and the need of further ex-
tending 1t as rapidly as possible.
1t is to be hoped that the Congress
will make liberal appropriations for
tut continuance Ol ltlt StENltt thus
established and for its further extern
sion.
Irrigation Law Comm ended.
Few subjects of more Importance
have been taken up by the Congress
in recent years than the Inauguration
of the system of nationally aided irri
cation for the arid regions OF the far
West A good beginning therein has
| do haf fhfc pn1ipN nf
national irrigation has been adopted.
the need of thorough and scientific
forest protection will grow more rap
idly than ever throughout the public
land states.
General accommodations.
Legislation should be provided for
the protection of the game. and the
wild creatures generally on the for
est reserves.
especially urge upon the Congress
the need of wise legislation for Alas
| ka. II Is not to our credit as nation
] that Alaska. which has been ours for
thirty-five years. should still have as
poor system of laws as is the case.
in dealing with the Indians our aim
/ should be their ultimate absorption
into the body of our people. But in
many cases this absorption must and
! should be very slow.
In no department of governmental
work in recent years has there been
greater success than In that of giving
scientific aid to the farming popula-
ton, thereby showing them how most
efficiently to help themselves. There
is no need of insisting upon its i'm
portance, for the welfare of the farmer
is fundamentally necessary to the well
| fare of the Republic as whole.
The New White House.
Through a wise provision of the