Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-12-09

mate extension of our commerce than
any other group of countries. These
countries will want our products in
greatly increased quantities, and we
shall correspondingly need theirs.
The International Bureau Of the Am
erican Republics is doing a useful
work in making these nations and
their resources better known to us,
and in acquainting them not only
with us as a people and with our
purposes towards them, but with
what we have to exchange for their
goods. 1t is an international insti-
tuition supported by all the govern
ments of the two Americas.
Panama Canal.
The work OH the Panama Canal
is being done with a speed, efficiency
and entire devotion to duty, which
make it a model for all work of the
kind. No task of such magnitude has
ever before been undertaken by any
nation; and no task of the kind has
ever been better performed. The men
on the Isthmus, from Colonel Goe-
thals and his fellow commissioners
through the entire list of employees
who are faithfully doing their duty
have won their right to the ungrudg-
ing respect and gratitude of the Am
erican people.
Ocean Mail Lines.
I again recommend the extension
Of the ocean mail act of 1891 so that
satisfactory American ocean lines to
South America, Asia, the PHILIPPINES,
and Australia may be established.
The creation of such steamship lines
shonld be the natural corollary of the
voyage of the battle fleet. 1t should
precede the opening Of the Panama
Canal. Even under favorable con-
ditions several years must elapse be-
fore such lines can be put into opera
tion. Accordingly I urge that the
Congress act promptly where fore
sight already shows that action SOON
er or later will be inevitable.
The Army.
As regards the Army I call atten-
ton to the fact that while our junior
officers and enlisted men stand very
high, the present system of promo
tion by seniority results in bringing
into the higher grades many men of
mediocre capacity who have but a
short time to serve. No man should
regard it as his vested right to rise
to the highest rank in the Army any
more than in any other profession.
1t is a curious and by no means cred
liable fact that there should be so
often O. failure on the part of the
public and its representatives to un-
derstand the great need, from the
standpoint of the service and the Ma
ton, of refusing to promote respect
able, elderly incompetents. The
higher places should be given to the
most deserving men without regard
to seniority; at least seniority should
be treated as only one consideration.
In the stress of modern industritl
competition no business firm could
succeed if those responsible for its
management were chosen simply on
the ground that they were the Oldest
people in its employment; yet this is
the course advocated as regards the
army, and required by law for all
grades except those Of general officer.
As a matter of fact, all of the best
officers in the highest ranks of the
army are those who have. attained
their present position wholly or in
part by q process of selection.
The Navy.
I approve the recommendations OF
the General Board for the increase of
the Navy, calling especial attention
to the need of additional destroyers
and golfers, and above all, of the
four battleships.. 1t is desirable to
complete as son as possible squad
ron of eight battleships of the best
existing type. The North Dakota,
Deleware, Florida and Utah will form
the first of this squadron. The four
vessels proposed will form the second
division. 1t will be an Improvement
on the first, the ships being of the
heavy, single caliber, all big gun
type. All the vessels should have the
same tactical qualities, that is, speed
and turning circle, and as near as
possible these tactical qualities
should be the same as is in the four
vessels before named now being
built.
The American people have cause
for profound qualification, both in
view of the excellent condition of the
fleet as shown by this cruise land in
view of the improvement the cruise
has worked in this already high con-
dition. / do not believe that there is
any other service in the world in
which the average Of character and
efficiency in the enlisted men is as
high as is now the case in our own.
believe that the same statement can
be made as to our officers, taken as
whole; but there must be reserva-
ton made in regard to those III the
highest ranks-as to which 1 have al
ready spoken-and in regard to these
who have just entered the service;
because we do not now get full bene-
fit from our excellent naval school
at Annapolis. 1t is absurd not to