The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-26

and internal affairs is at all times In our
own keeping and depends simply upon
the national possession of an awakened
public conscience.
In three great crises in our history dur
ing the 18th century-in the war of
1872, in the civil war, and again in the
Spanish war, the navy rendered to the
nation services of literally incalcula-
Bile worth. In the civil war we had to
meet antagonists even more prepared
at sea than we We're. On both the other
and the fighting was done entirely by
ships built long in advance and by off,
GERS and crews who had been trained
during years of sea service for the SUI
preme day when their qualities were
put to the final test.
1t was this preparedness which was
the true secret of the enormous differ
ence in efficiency between our navy and
that of the Spanish nation. There was
no lack of courage and devotion among
the Spaniards, but on our side, in addi-
tion to the courage and devotion. there
was also that training which comes only
as the result of years Of thorough and
painstaking practice. Annapolis is, with
the sole exception of its sister academy
at West Point the most typically demo-
cratic and American school of learning
and preparation that there is in the en-
tire country.
There each man enters on his merits,
stands on his merits and graduates into
service where only his merit will enable
him to be of value.
1.-The enlisted men are OF fine type as
they needs must be to do their work
we'll and out of the fine material thus
provided, the finished man of war man
is evolved by years of sea service. 1t
is impossible after the outbreak of war
to improvise either the ships or the men
of navy. The ship builders and gum
makers must keep ever on the alert.
that rivals pass them by and the
officers and enlisted men on board the
ships must in their turn. by the exer-
else of unf1agging and intelligent zeal,
keep themselves fit to get the best use
out of the weapons of war jntrusted to
their care. The instrument is always
important, but the man who uses it is
more important still.
I'VE must constantly .endeavor to per-
feet our navy in all it's duties in time of
peace, and above all in maneuvering in
sea way and craftsmanship with the
great guns. In battle the only shots
that count are those that hit and
craftsmanship is a matter of long prac-
tice and of intelligent reasoning. A
navys efficiency in war depends
mainly upon its preparedness at the
excused a nation If there is not such
preparedness of our navy. No nation
has right to undertake big task un-
less it is prepared to. do it in master
full and effective style. 1t would be an
intolerable humiliation for US to en-
bark on such a course of action as fol-
lowed from our declaration of war with
Spain and not make good our words by
deeds-not be ready to prove our truth
by our endeavor whenever the need
called
1.-The good work of building up the
navy must go on without ceasing. The
modern warship cannot with advantage
be allowed to rust in disuse. It must be
used in active service even In time of
peace. This means that there must be
a constant replacement of the inefficient
by the effective. The work of building
up and keeping UP our navy is therefore
one which needs our constant and un-
tagging vigilance.
Our navy is now Efficient: but we
must be content with no ordinary de-
gree of efficiency. Every effort must be
made to bring it nearer to perfection.
In making such effort the prime factor
is to have at the head of the navy such
an official as your fellow-townsman
Mr. Moody: and the next is to bring
home to cur people as a whole the need
of thorough and ample preparation in
| advance; this preparation to take the
/ form, not only of continually building
/, ships, but of keeping those ships i'll
| commission under conditions which wih
| develop the highest degree of efficiency
| in the officers and enlisted men aboard
Them