Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-05-19
OUR EXPENSIVE NAVY.


and Means Committee, stated, among |
other SUI prising things, that our navy
was the most popular thing in the
country today, and that large naval
appropriations we're necessary. With
in the limits of naval officers, the
teel trust and ship building compan-
les, Mr.. Payne's statement is doubt
less true. But the vast majority of
the people, removed from the seduc-
tive glamour of the navy, would pre-
fer to see the naval appropriations
greatly reduced aud the amounts thus
saved applied co the internal improve
ment of the country.
great navy is at best compare
tive term, and naval supremacy a
shifting distinction. Congressman
Richard Pearson Hobson is our most
ardent naval enthusiast. If Congress
should adopt his idea build 1000
600 900 navy, what assurance have we
that next year England, Germany, and
Franc would not increase their ma
vies at cost of five billions. Then we
would have to make ours ten billion
dollar vanity, only to have it's glory
dimmed by an expenditure of fifteen
billions b. our riva 8, and so on until
the sole business of the world would
be the building and manipulating OF
fighting ships.
The big battleship craze, after ten
years. persistent agitation, leaves the
United States with large fleet and an
aching void in the Treasury. When
our feet returned from it's dress par
ade around the world it was greeted
with joyous acclaim, as if some amaz-
ing feat had been accomplished; while
as a matter of fact, there was nothing
wonderful about it. Every vessel ua-
derwent months of preparation for the
trip: the schedule was slow; stops
were frequent and of sufficient length
for any necessary repairs; provisions
had been made in advance for coalir e
at convenient stations. Under such
conditions it would have been an ever
lasting shame and disgrace if the fleet
had not reached home on schedule
time. But almost every vessel had to
go at once to a dry dock or shipya
for extensive repairs. Any foreign
tramp ship that enters our harbors
can make a better record than this
in the ordinary course of business and
nothing is thought of it.
The tax paying public will never
know the cost of that famous junket
and thus far the only visible results
are that We had no ships available tc
protect American citizsns in Turkey
during the recent revolution, and in
creased ship building activity by for
eign nations who, having awaited
themselves of the opportunity to in
spect our naval strength, are proceed
ing to outmatch us.
If the Unite States ever goes to wal
again it will be provoked by our nava
enthusiasts who, having exhausted
all peaceful resources to increase the
navy, will not hesitate to plunge the
country into warfare in order to &C.
oomplish and justify their ends.
1t was our navy that precipitatec
the war with Spain. If the Maine haC
no in threatening manner anchor ed
in Havana Harbor, she would not have
been blown up, causing loss of mill
ions of money and hundreds of pre-.
cious lives. If we had not had great
er navy than was necessary Dewey
would not have sal ed into Manila Bay
on that fateful May morning, and we
would not still be counting the cost Of
that doubtful victory.
The naval appropriations 70. the
fiscal year is s13s, 900, 900. If this sun
were left among the people and spent
for education, it would put new sons
in the nations mouth. If expend
in the development of agriculture
trade and commerce, it would max.
the desert bloom, thd barren field
fertile, and the wheels of industry t
turn in very ecstacy of delight.
spent upon humanity it would opel
the doors of poorhouses and close tn
doors of vice. It would kindie a new
Ii hit in the eyes of children and lif
from Jn- backs of the weary heav,
burdens of woe.
Let us have ships, and in such nu N
bers that they will cover the face o
the great deep, but instead of frown
ing battleships, bristling with gun
and threatening the tranquility of tn
earth, let them be white winged mes
sengers of peace, argosies laden wit
the fruits of our harvests and tn
products of our factories, and whe
these ships sail into the harbors G
the world, instead of melting enmit