Year: 1878

y
more than ordinary interest, because, in
addition to the usual statistics and infor-
nation, it corrects widespread misconcep-
tions respecting the condition Of our naval
force, which is really great deal better
than has been represented. 1t is satisfac-
tory to learn on competent authority that
our navy does not consist almost wholly of
wretched old tubs and unseaworthy vessels,
and that the Secretary is content, tor the
present, with the meagre appropriations
placed at his disposal by Congress.


Secretary Thompson resembles one of
those extremely capable housewives who,
when reverse overtakes her husband,
has the tact skill and good nature to ac-
commodate herself cheerfully to a small in
come and to make her home nearly rs pleas
ant as in period Of affiuence. 1t is a solid
and sterling merit in public officer to be
able to practice an uncomplaining economy
and to make n respectable show with stinted
means. Secretary Thompson possesses this
merit in a higher degree than any re-
or of any other department which
handles large sums Of the public money.
1t is often said that a good workman does
not quarrel with his tools, and the entire
absence from Secretary Thompson's report
of any apology founded on the smallness Of
the appropriations, or any complaint Of the
niggardly spirit of Congress, attests not only
his good temper but his skill in cutting
garment according to the cloth. 1t is
great advantage to have Secretary Of
the Navy who knows how to practice
economy and exhibits no querulous dis
satisfaction with the fit of retrenclment
which seized the democratic House Of Rep
resentatives Economy is virtue which
Mr.. Thompson says nothing to discourage
His estimates for the next fiscal year are
on the same modest scale as the cxpendi-
lures of the last. 1t is the tendency Of his
report rather to apologize for the penurious
curtailment than to find fault with it.


Even with the small means at his dis
posal Secretary Thompson has been able to
bring the navy into n state Of tolerable
efficiency. He has at present thirty-four
vessels in commission, all of which are in
a condition for active service except the
Gettysburg, now in the Mediterranean
squadron, which needs more repairs than
it would be economy to make. The with
drawal of the Gettysburg will reduce the
number of vessels to thirty-three which are
in commission as cruisers and need no
immediate repairs. There are six others
now undergoing repairs which can
be reftted tor service in few months,
which will increase the thirty three to thirty
nine. There are thirteen others requiring
more extensive repairs, but which can be
put in condition without any increase
of the appropriations; and the effec-
tive cruising force will then be forty-seven
steam and five sailing ships, making fifty
two in all. The Secretary also points
out resources for easily increasing
our nava! force to ninety-one vessels
IN case Of an emergency. This is a much
better showing than anybody supposed
possible previous to the publication Of this
annual report. Many Of the vessels built
during the war have become utterly worth
less, owing to the haste with which they were
constructed of unseasoned timber. These
are not worth repairing and the Secretary
recommends that they be sold. 1t is per-
haps the decayed condition Of this part of
the navy that has produced the impression
that we are almost destitute Of seaworthy
vessels. There is q sense Of relief in find
ing that Secretary Thompson is able to give
so reassuring an account of the actual con-
dition of the navy.


The Secretary does not attempt to disguise
the necessity for large increase of the
navy when we shall have recovered our lost
mercantile marine. He laments, as every
citizen with any sense of national pride
or any true conception Of national
interest must lament, the loss of
our merchant ships since 1861, and
the fact that we are now paying the
enormous sum Of ninety million dollars per
annum to foreign shipowncrs for freights.
When we shall have rehabilitated our shat
tered navigation interest, of which we were
so Justly proud in its palmy days, we shall
need an increase of the navy for the protec-
tion of oar commerce. III we are TO
abandon all attempts to recover it,
if Congress acgriesces in the annual
LElDute OI neuflN u
to foreign shipowners for services which
the maritime. spirit of our own people
qualify them to perform, and which they
did perform when the extent of our naviga-
ton was national boast: if We are perma-
nently to submit to this loss and humlia-
ton, then, as Secretary Thompson justly
remarks, we shall need no navy for the
protection Of our commerce, and I'VE shall
be left to decide the future OF our navy with
reference only to the possibility Of war with
foreign Powers and to the means of our ma
tonal defence By proper protection to our
coasts and harbols." For the latter pur-
pose torpedocs and torpedo boats might
suffice, and false economy might restrain