The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-08

80 qua opportunity given to younger
nIea &C De promoted before they. too.
pCsSame too old for service Upon Mr..
DODOln's recommendation CONGRESS- IN
1884. appropriated 100000 for the
construction OF six first-class s.eam
t.,sates, the first in the service, the
nlii passing n House of Representa-
Ives Dy a vote OF nearly three to one.
TX these vessels the New York Times
said: ~
\, Among the noblest marks which
ne has left behind him are the six
new steam frigates authorized upon
u sussest1on, and constructed under
AZ oirectlon. The fulfllment of the
oFoer OF congress in that connection
was 10 MIN a matter of deep concern.
ana he gave it the most careful per-
sonaI attention. No detail Of the plan |
oi nlodel proposed escaped. his atten-
uon. The result Of his supervisory
.aoors was the production of vessels
nat DO honor to the American name
~eereVer they are found
HOW well satisfied the country was
Win ms work may be inferred from
the Iact that Congress, adopting the
recommendation contained in his last
report, appropriated funds for the
building of five steam sloops upon
the model Of the six steam frigates'
Already built. Mr.. Dobbin believed
hrnniy in a strong navy. and in his
last repOrt left the following message
to his country:
Il deem 1t my duty %candidly to ex-
press the opinion hat our navy is
not only too diminutive to be expected
10 contend fairly with that of other
respectable nations, is insufficient to
give adequate protection to our COM
merce, but is unquestionably too feeble
to command h waters Of our w
coast. l could not if
would disguise the truth that even a
respectable navy u necessarily in
volve large expenditures. But it is
equally true hat without : naval
strength a six months war with any
nation with a powerful marine would
in the seizure Of rich and valuable
cargoes. in the destruction OF fleets OF
merchantmen, and in p~lundering de-
fenseless points along the coast, cost
us more. far more. than q squadron
or 1nvincible men-Of-War .
l regard the steady increase of nava,
: strength net as a war, but as a peace
measure measure Of defense in.
. volvlng grave questions Of CONNER.
= cia1 security and national independ
. . ence. Negotiation and diplomacy will
DO exhausted before war is made upon
a nation of brave men, powerful ant
ready for the conflict.
= There is. much in the proud con
= seriousness of national strength tina
stimulates trade, emboldens enterprise
and nerves the arm OF
q And while / by no means suggest tn
:, policy 0 X the necessity Of SO large
= naval force as many powerful nation
foster. yet it is desirable and attain
= able, too, that the American either
whether in the opulent. emporium
along the coast or In the rural retreat
~ Of the interior, Or borne in his adver
- turOus spirit to traffic in the thronge
"a ports OF h strong or the obscure
y ports OF the barbarous and veal
L should gather confidence and courag
le and energy from the reflection that h
A. belongs to a government recognized b
\, all AS able to avenge his wrongs an
vindicate his rights"
t. Perhaps the best feature Of NJ
a DObbin's administration Of the Nav
Department" in the opinion Of tt
New York Journal Of Commerce, III
ne been his constant and unrefnittiE
orable discharges for good condu
he and the law for increased pay for Sc;
ed men, adopted by Congress under h
ID, recommendation, . the sy
IT tenn cf inspecting supplies more clos
mt ly at the several AVA station
1t that Of manufacture
,is the medicines for ships use by O.
navy SuEScOLS, dHN Il
I. careful steps which have been talk
of to have the companies Of ships mo
xv comfortably berthed or bOard-ea
ar and all have a tendency to render t
seaInen OF navy not only 1no
Dr. contented and healthy, but ever wi
Of Ing for the most perilous service"
al these reforms may be added h ab
htion OF corporal punishment, for q
his earnest and unyielding hostility
every e!ort toI ~ 10. IT..
of 1.-THE navy is indebted for the fair tr
y which its abolition has received"
Perhaps the success Of this refo'
was due in no small degree to
sympathetic interest which the Sec
tary of the Navy manifested in t
its I ~ Iat +horo know of bia :
ne 80 - orv instances of IN
vas P'cIa .a.I.o ~,