The Yale expositor., 1903-12-11


necessary positions and by increasing the
efficiency OF the employees remaining.
The Army.
The effect Of the laws providing a gen
eral stan for the army and for the more
effective use OF the national guard has
been excellent. Great Improvement has
been made In the efficiency OF our army
Ia recent years. such schools as those
erected az Fort LeaVenworth and Fort
Riley and the institution OF fall man
euver work accomplish satisfactory re-
suits. The good effect OF these man
euVers upon the national guard is
marked. and ample appropriation should
be made TO enable the guardsmen Of the
several states TO share In the bcncnt.
The Government should as soon az pos
sible secure suitable permanent camp
sites for military mancuverr In the vari-
Gus sections Of the country. The service
thereby rendered not only 90 the regular
army. but TO the national guard OF the
several States Will be 80 great az Co
repay many times over the relatively
small expense. We should not rest salts
fed with what has been done. however.
The only people who are contcnted with
a system OF promotion by mere seniority
are those who are contonted with the
triumph Of mediocrity over excellence.
on the other hand "A system which en-
couraged the exercise OF social or pollti-
cal favoritism In promotions would be
even worse. But II would surely be easy
10 devise method % promotion from
grade 90 grade In which the opinion OF
the higher officers OF the service upon
the candidates should be decisive upon
the standing and promotion OF the latter.
Just such system now obtains at West
Point. The quality OF each years work
determines the standing OF that years
class. the man being dropped or grad
uated into the next class In the relative
position which his military superiorE de-
eide TO be warranted by his merit In
other words. ability. energy. fidelity. and
all other similar qualities determine the
rank OF "A man year after year In West
Point, and his standing In the army when
he graduates from West Point; but from
that time on, all effort 10 ind which
man In best or worst. and reward or
punish him accordingly. ~ abandoned.
no brilliancy. no amount Of hard work.
no eagerness In the performance OF duty,
can advance him and no slackness or
Indifference that falls short Of a court
martial onense can retard him. Until
this system II changed We cannot hope
that our officers will be OF as high grade
as We have n right to expect, consider
ing the material upon which We draw.
Moreover. when man renders such
service as Captain Pershing rendered last
spring In the Moro campaign. ought
to be possible to reward him without at
once jumping him 10 the grade OF bTigs-
der general.
The Navy. !
Shortly after the enunciation Of that
famous principle OF American foreign
policy now known as the Monroe Doc
,rine,'" President Monroe. IN special
message TO Congress on Jan. %, ls2t
spoke as follows: THE navy Is the arm
from while. our Government viii always
| derive most aid In support q! our
rights Every power engaged Ia war will
| know the strength OF our naval power
the number OF our ships OF each class,
their condition. and the promptitudc with
which We may bring thCm into service
| and will pay due consideration To that
argument"
heartily congratulate the Congress
upon the steady progress IN building up
| the American navy. We can not AFFORD
| a lct-up In this great work. To stand
still means 10 go back. There should be
no cessation la adding TO toe effective
units OF the lighting strength 81 the fleet
| Meanwhile the Navy department and tho
officers Of the navy are doing well their
\ para by providing constant service at
/ sea under conditions akin 10 those OF
| actual warfare our officers and enlisted
men are learning To handle thu battle
/ ships, cruisers. and torpedo boats with
/ high efficiency In feet and squadron for
| nations and the standard 81 markham
\ ship Is being steadily raised. The best
work ASHORE IL Indispensable hut the
1 highest duty Of naval officer II TO cx-
| crclsc command al sea.
! The establishment of a naval base in
! the Philippines ought not 10 be longer
/ postponed. Such base f. desirable Ia
/ time of peace: In time OF war u would
be- Indispensable and its lack would be-
rulnouS. Without 10 oar fleet would be
! hclplesa our naval experts are agreed
/ 2fHN.N HHa - ~
4 the purpose The national interests re-
| quire that the work Of fertilization and
| development OF a naval station at Suhig
! bay be begun at an early date; for UNI
! der the test conditions u Is work
which will consume much time.
IL Ia emlnenuy desirable however. that
| there should be provided a naval general
stan on lines similar 10 those 90 the Gen
! cral STAN lately created for the army.
! Within the Navy department itself tho
, needs o. the service have brought about
n system under which the duties Of a
| gcncral stan are partially performed: Tor
! the Bureau 81 Navigation has under its
direction the War College. the once Of
| Naval Intelligence. and the Board 81 In
| spcction. and has been In close touch
with the General Board Of the Navy. But
! though under the excellent officers az
thcy head. these boards and bureaus do
| good work they have not tho authority
scope To insure proper readiness FOR
/ emergencies. We need the establishment
| by Jaw 81 body Of trained officers. who
shall exercise systemltic control % the
| military affairs OF the navy. and be uu-
| 'horizrd advisers Of the Secretary con-
| -crning u.
lsthmian Canal.
by the act OF June q 1909. the Con-
| srcss authorized the President 90 enter
INTO treaty with Colombia for the build
| .ng OF the canal across the Isthmus 81
! Panama: u being provided that In the
| event OF failure to secure such treaty
iftcr the lapse 81 reasonable time. re-
curse should De had 20 building "a canal
through Nicaragua. u has not been
| necessary 20 consider this alternative. az
| am enabled 20 lay before the Senate
d treaty providing for the building 81 the
anal across the isthmus OF Panama.
rhis was the route which commended
tsclf TO the deliberate judgment OF the
| ongrcss. and We can now acquire by
realty the right to construct the canal
lver this route. The question now there
ore. is not by which route the isfhmlan
anal shall be built. FOR that question
ias been definitely aud irrevocably de-
-idcd. The question H. simply whether OF
sot We shall have an isthmian canal.
| When the Congress directed that We