IS! -i.V' «'■;«;!;«: M'W Increase the Nayy— Cuba Must be Free. SPEECHES O F HON. ALSTON G'TpAYTON, OF WEST VIRGIxfA, In the House of Eepeesentatives, March 24 and 2G, ISOS. Thursdatj, March 24, 1S9S. The House being in Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, and having under consideration the bill f H. R. 9378) making appropriations for the naval service for the fiscal year 1898 -99 — Mr. DAYTON said: Mr. Chairman: Inasmuch as this bill now presented for the consideration of the House increases appropriations something more than $3,000,000 over the bill of last year, it is well for the House to clearly understand the provisions that make up that increase. Generally stated, three items constitute it. First, the increase of the force of ~',000 men and boys, made nec- essary by the manning and putting into actual service of the ships: second, the increase in the number of vessels that shall hereafter constitute our Navy and provided by this bill, viz, the 3 battle ships, G torpedo-boat destroyers, and "torpedo boats. In addition to this, the bill has provided for the rebuilding of a gun- boat to take the jjlace of the one substantially disabled upon the lakes. The third principal item which has helped to make up this increase is the provision of the bill for the five dry docks that it has been deemed necessary to build at Portsmouth, Boston, League Island, Algiers, and Mare Island. I\Ir. Chairman, every thoughtful citizen of the Republic will agree with the Secretary of the Navy that this country is to be congratulated upon the fact that we do not need either the vast military or naval armament required by the other great powers. Our forefathers, chastened by the deadly and protracted struggle of the Revolution, builded better than they knew, and when by the Monroe doctriiie they established the principle as one of fixed national policy that we would not allow ourselves to become en- tangled in the meshes and network of European politics, but that our interests and our action should center alone in the Western Hemisphere, we made way for the dismissal of armies and gave full sweep to the tide of development and national progress that has come to us beyond the wildest dream of one hundred years ago. 3107 1 \ V 73009 4^ C Co Separated as we are by vast seas, we can rest in security and ^* tranquility, notwithstanding the." armed peace" of Europe, with ». • its Franco-Russian alliance, its triple alliance between Grermany, ''^ Austria, and Italy facing each other, while England, with her characteristic energy, maintains singly and alone a naval arma- ment equal to and able to cope with that of either of the alliances in case it shall become necessary. We need no navy to protect foreign colonies or to enforce our rule in distant empires. We are not interested in the questions of the East, nor wuU we be affected if China in the future shall seek to revenge her recent humiliation at the hands of Japan. But, Mr. Chairman, while we may rejoice in our favorable location and conditions, this sense of security should not cause us wholly to overlook the wise truth proclaimed by the great German chancellor, the man of "blood and iron," Count Bismarck, that the best means of securing and maintaining peace is being pre- pared, in a measure at least, for war. We must not forget that while oceans intervene between us and other great nations, those oceans are now underlaid with strands of cabled steel, by which communication can be had in a few minutes, and that we are, therefore, necessarily in much closer touch with foreign powers than in years gone by. We must not forget, either, that the obligation is upon us, not alone from considerations of national pride and the maintenance of the American spirit of self-respect, btit also from that of the proper protection of our citizens abroad, to not wholly ignore our naval armament. I am fully persuaded of one thing, and that is, constituting, as we do, a body of 70,000,000 brave, self-reliant, and intelligent people, wholly wedded to the principle of self- government and having proved beyond peradventure that such government can be, and by us is, made as strong, stable, and en- during as any other on earth, we need have little fear of hostile invasion. Exercising the intelligent freeman's right to agree and disagree Tipon questions of internal policy, but always ready, w^hen danger from outside threatens, to bury on the instant all differences, to respond with one voice, to follow one flag, to know but one tie^ that of American brotherhood — I say, under such conditions as these we need have little fear of being assailed at our own fire- sides. Too many self-constituted " minutemen " and sentries will spring up to allow that. I submit, therefore, Mr. Chairman, that any future danger must be met almost altogether by naval forces and naval defenses, and that it is therefore wise policy for us to be liberal to our naval establishment and respond promptly and effectively to its needs and requirements. I submit further, Mr. Chaii-man, that it is also wise for us as an original proposition, wholly independent of present emergency necessities, to establish a fixed policy of in- creasing our Navy to a point where we will not be ashamed of it, or. in case of necessity, be compelled to scamper over the globe to buy vessels to meet it. Mr. Chairman, that being true, I hope— especially after having devoted these long weeks to consideration ot the subject — that no one will be misled by the recommendation made by the Secretary of the Navy that we should build but one coast-line, first-class battle ship. The committee must understand that that recom- mendation was made under other than present circumstances; 31tiT and I here state, personally, that the Secretary of the Navy is in entire accord with the committee in the recommendation that there shall be three instead of one. I have made this statement after a personal interview with him in regard to th9 matter. I have made it, too. in order that the three (it seems to me) impor- tant features in this bill may not be assailed here upon the ques- tion of economy, which is sprung so olten in this House. Mr. Chairman, the other subject, that of dry docks, has been considered long and thoroughly by the Committee on Naval Af- fairs. ' Its consideration has been based not only upon the recom- mendations of the Department, not only upon the report of the board appointed to ascertain and determine how many of these dry docks should be built, but it has been based upon the inde- pendent examination made by the committee itself from other and outside sources. A very strange thing has occurred in this House in the sessions that have gone b}'. It is to my mind a remarkable thing that heretofore we have been retarded in building dry docks by the fact that points of order have been made against this provision as being new and independent woi'k, and therefore outside of the pro- visions of the regular appropriation bill. I sincerely hope and believe tliat when this measure comes to be considered upon its several provisions there will not be a man in this House who will attempt to raise this point of order and place himself in the strange position of saying that we are authorized to build new battle ships, to build new navy-yards, to build new tool houses and machine shops, to jiurchase the machinery neces- sary to build ships, b;it we are not authorized to erect, as it were, the scaffold upon which they are to be built, repaired, and cleaned. It seems to me that the day for that kind of economy has passed and that the time has come when we must not only furnish our Navy with the navy-yards, tools, and material necessary to repair our vessels, but must also furnish them with the docks to dock them. Now, Mr. Chairman, I insist that the necessity for this increase in our Navy has been made thoroughly apparent, not only by the incidents and facts which have been transpiring within the last few years, but that the necessity is emphasized by a comparison of the Navy of this great nation of ours, the proudest, tlie noblest, the most civilized nation of the world, with the navies of the powers. This comparison emphasizes the fact I am insisting upon, that it is wise for us to pass, it is good policy for us to pass, and we shall not bo true to the American spirit unless we do pass, almost, I might say, without question, the reasonable, prudent increase authorized by this bill. I have also a statement — slightly different, I think, from that filed by my colleague from Louisiana (Mr. Meykr] — in regard to the naval equipment of tlie world. Gentlemen will understimd that naval vessels are divided into different classes according to the different uses to which they are to be put. First, as to battlo ships and other vessels that are cajiable for the line of battle. While England has 75 already l>uilt and 13 Imilding of these that can go out into the broad sea to furnish the line of battle; while France has 4(5 built and 11 building: while Russia has oO built and 10 building; while Italy has 20 built and (5 building; while Germany has 22 built and 4 building, the United States has l;5 built and 5 building. Of the commerce protecting and scout- ing vessels that are designed to protect commerce, England has 119 3167 tniltandlTLuildinfc: Franc6,51 built andSbiiilding; Russia, 33 built and 2 bnildins;; Italy, 17 built and 1 building: Germany, 18 built and 7 building: the United States, 27 built and noothers building. Take it allthe way through. Take the coast defense vessels: England has 60; we have 13; France has 26; Russia, 34: Spain, 13; Germany, 13. Of the torpedo boats, England has 308 built and 13 building; France has 257 built and 36 building; Russia, 161 built and 14 building: Italy. 192 built and 16 building; Germany, 151 built and 1 building; Spain, 60 built and 3 building: Japan, 29 built and 22 building, and we have 8 built and 15 building. The total navy of England includes, of all these different kinds of vessels, 632 built and 48 building; France, 482 built and 57 building; Russia, 303 built and 26 building; Italy, 266 built and 13 building; Spain, 189 built and 13 building; Japan, 74 built and 13 building: United States, 85 built and 20 building. I insist that when it is stated publicly— and I get this information from reliable sources— that in this coming year England proposes to spend §127,- 000,000 in the increase of her Navy, Russia will spend for ships alone $83,333,000, Germany will spend $95,000,000, while France will build one battle ship, 8 cruisers, 8 destroyers, and 6 torpedo boats, and Japan will build 3 battle ships, 5 first-class cruisers, 6 second- class cruisers, 3 torpedo vessels, 8 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats, every self-respecting American citizen must desire that we shall not be so far behind even Japan as we are in this work. [Applause.] Other important information is contained in this statement. I have not time to read, but will incorporate it in the Record, by the leave of the House, for the consideration of the committee, as a part of my remarks. Mr. Chairman, a few more words, and I am done. I have alwaj^s deeply deplored the custom so much indulged here, under the license of general debate, of disciissing questions foreign to the bill under consideration. I would not for one moment express myself as I am about to do if I did not believe that not only the argument in behalf of the increase of our Navy but also other extraordinary and exceptional reasons justify me. It is needless for me to call attention to the fact that we now have one less battle ship than when we last discussed in this House a naval appropriation bill. This bill provides for a new Maine, but the American heart has not ceased to thrill with hor- ror because the original Maine lies a wreck in Habana Harbor with 266 of her brave men buried beneath her. We can not, no matter how hard we may try, believe otherwise than that it would have been impossible for this condition of things to be a stern reality confronting us in any other hai'bor in the woi'ld. We talk as we will about an accident, and yet the time when and the place where it occurred brings the full realization that there is one nation, or at least one individual, who would destroy us if possible; and while I am in entire accord and sympathy with the wise and patient, yet prompt and patriotic, course jjursued by the President in this matter; while I rejoice that nothing has been done in anger and haste, but a full investigation has been ordered by a board selected from the best, bravest, and most sensible body of naval officers to be found on earth, one member of which board I am proud to count as a constituent of mine, nevertheless, while our hearts may be full of sadness and indignation over this Maine tragedy, let us not for one moment forget that it is but an incident 3167 in a greater and more horrible tragedy transpiring daily before our eyes, and which, I insist, this great, enlightened, Christian nation must stop. [Applause.] Two hundred and sixty-six brave men are dead to-day as a re- sult of the Maine tragedy. Over 200,000 are dead in Cuba and 255.000 more, largely helpless women and children, are being held in imprisonment and starved to death there to-day. We do not know as 5'et that the Spanish authorities blew up the Maine and destroyed the lives of our seamen, but we do know that Spanish authority is responsible for this wholesale deadly mui'der in the first degree going on within a hundred miles of our shores. [Applause.] And do not forget, Mr. Chairman, that the only cause for this — the only crime that these pitiful dead and dying have been guilty of — is that, inspired bj' our example, they have longed and sought for free self-government. And do not forget also, Mr. Chairman, that when this House, almost by unanimous vote, followed by the Senate, declared in favor of belligerent riglits for this distracted isle, had Mr. Cleveland acted promptly, at least 100.003 lives would have been saved, Cuba would have been free, and in all human probability the il/aai*? would not bo to-day a dismantled wreck, but would be peacefully cleaving the sea, manned by men now dead, and flying the proud American flag. [Applause.] Do not spare in our remembrance, too, Mr. Chairman, that other fact that when the question of belligerent rights was discussed in the Senate, by far the strongest, most earnest, and affecting words in behalf of such recognition came from the lips of the noble, venerated statesman who stands to-day at the head of President McKinley's Cabinet. Let us look at this question fairly and squarely. Under the Monroe doctrine, if Eastern powers should seek to settle the affairs of Cuba, we would regard it either as humiliation or an affront. The obligation is upon us. In this case we are our brother's keeper, and the blood of dead thousands cry aloiid to us out of Cuba's ground. I do not want war if it can be avoided. I want peace, but with honor and with a sense that I can look my wife and boy at home in the face and feel I have some heart and humanity left in me. I do not want them to think that I can stand by and .see other wives and children starved and strangled without a word of pro- test. With food aud raiment in one hand and with its strong power backed by the righteous will of 70,000,000 of freemen, this Administration must intervene, stop this horror, and give Cuba her freedom. This intervention may be done, I hope, peacefull}^ If so, God be praised; but if not, and it can onlj' be done by war. let it come. Humanity, mercy, charity, and all the attributes of God Himself will be with us, and Cuba will be free. [Applause.] 3167 6 Comparative sutiunary of the principal fleets of the tcorld, built and building ■^m ^rr >> fl •1-5 Classes of vessels. '^;i 03 CS h Ci p. 03 1-5 c3 n cqW fa « I— 1 c Ld K o a. b. a. b. a. b. a. h. a. b. a. h. a. b. a. b. a. b. (^ 29 9 12 5 10 6 6 2 4 3 4 5 9 1 R 12 4 4 ._ 2 .. 7 i \ Fit for the line of battle - . C 11 .. 5 2 _. a _. 1 1 u 5 13 C. 2 V 8 6 1 F IS i 12 6 10 2 3 i i 2 4 4 5 4 1 (^ 17 4 O 2 2 1 V) 1 H 4<) 3 Iti i> 5 3 (3 11 8 3 » 3 1 i Commerce protection and j scouting — ^ I 11 ti 1 t; J_. X'l 10 14 3 1 .. 8 1 7 3 3 1 ,_ •7 ._ I< 2:^ 3 1 1 8 1 _ . 3 ._ _- L 1 13 1 •^0 6 3 3 5 1 Coast defense .< E.. N 11 4:i -- 12 14 21 13 11 2 13 "6 -- 2 11 ■- -- _. M :k 6 13 3 8 ii 9 9 1 11 3 4 .. Torpedo attack and de-^ fense ' 0.. P 91) 51 6 'i^ 6 1 67 14 i(i+ 1 13 9 65 i 7 3 S *> <- 8 1 6 in 4 6 -- 30 145 2S 6 4 53 4 22 13 26 1 .. B 104 5(3 99 69 16 i 4 7 12 __ Summary: Line . 75 119 t_iO 308 70 13 17 ii 6 46 51 26 257 102 11 8 38 3(1 23 34 181 35 10 ii 20 17 192 37 6 1 16 22 18 13 151 18 4 i 'i Id 27 13 8 21 5 V 15 6 17 V 4 22 " 8 12 13 60 96 4 6 "3 4 4 27 10 Cruisers 2 Coast defense - Torpedo flotilla Unclassified vessels . . ■- Total 632 48 482 57 303 26 266 .3^:^:' 12 85 ?^l'74 33 18Lt 13 " 3 A. First-class battle ships. B. Second class battle ships. C. Third-class battle ships. D. Seagoing coast-defense ironclads. E. Nonseagoiug coast-defense ironclads. r. Armored cruisers. G. First-class protected cruisers, 6,000 tons and over. H. Second-cla.ss protected cruisers, 3,000 tons to 5,990 tons. I. Second-class unprotected crviisers, 3,(_)itlJ tons to 5,999 tons. J. Third-class protected cruisers under 3,000 tons. K. Third-class partially protected cruisers under 3,(X)0 tons. L. Third-cla.ss unprotected ci'uisers under 3,000 tons, not including old and slow ships. M. Torpedo gunboats. N. Gun vessels, third class, mounting heavy guns for coast defense. O. Torpedo-boat destroyers. P. Torpedo boats, first class. Q. Torpedo boats, second class. R. Torpedo boats, third class. The unclassified vessels comprise all armed vessels not included in the above-mentioned classes, and consist of gunboats, special-service vessels, old and slow cruisers, small-gun vessels, and armed dispatch vessels. Under each nation column a contains the number of vessels completed; column b the number of vessels building, and shows the present activity in naval construction. Columns a may be taken as the present naval strength of each nation; columns a and b combined as the strength in 1900. Proposed naval expenditures^ 1S9S. England proposes to spend $127. 750, 0(X) Russia will spend for ships alone 83 33;i'4(X> Germany will spend 95! 000^000 France will build- Battle ship 2 Cruisers 1...'!. .!.'.."" !'..'. g Destroyers ^.".]!.!"!! ^ 8 Torpedo boats J. ^. J "!.'!." I !!!!."! " g ol67 Japan will bnild — Battle ships 3 First-class cruLsers 5 Second-class cruisers 6 Torpedo vessels 3 Destroyers 8 Torpedo boats 13 Now, Mr. Chairman. T yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman frum Pennsylvania [Mr. Arnold] . »♦»»*** Saturday, March 26, 1S9S. Mr. DAYTON. Mr. Chairman, any member of the Naval Com- mittee who would seek to answer the argument of the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Cannon] in the five minutes allotted to him must necessarily labor under serious disadvantages; but as a member of that committee I do not desire that these remarks shall pass wholly without observation from the members of that com- mittee. I want to call the attention of the House to the fact that the chairiuan of the Committee on Appropriations — and I say it kindly— has a weakness for finding fault with the appropriations that do not come from his own committee room, no matter how much or how little they may be; and I want to call attention further to the fact that while this House promptly voted to put $.")0.0i)i).00a at the disposal of the President for the emergency which it was thought, and which the gentleman himself stated to us. threatened the country, yet this same gentleman springs up in opposition when the Naval Committee, in the discharge of a plain dutv, asks that a few millions be appropriated to prevent Kuch emergencies springing up before the country in the future. [A])plause.] It is not a wise policy, gentlemen, for us to be in that position where these emergencies can arise, and while a man may stand here ami proclaim his patriotism, I want to say that the broader, the nobler, the greater patriotism of an American citizen is to pro- vide liberally for the American defense, so that emergencies can not arise to make it necessary to scamper all over God's green earth, under a s))ecial appropriation, to biry the battle ships that can not bo bought. [Applause.] A nation looks at the future as an individual does, and we must lay our plans and we must have our policies; and it is a very strange thing for a great leader of a party in power to stand here, it seems to me, after having asked for a great emergency appro- priation» to oppose a broad policy that would make every Ameri- can citizen proud of the American Navy, proud of the fact that the American flag trpon an American ship, protected by the whole- some fear of American power, can go in peace into any harbor in the world without the vessel that bears it being blown up and destroved. But, Mr. Chairman, inasmuch as this amendment proposes to meet the question of dry docks, I want to call attention to the weakness of the position that has been taken by the chairman of the Committee on Appropriatitms. I want also to call attention of the gentleman from Missouri [Mv. Dockery] to the fact that 8 he has not. it seems to me, comprehended the care and the dili- gence and caution exercised by the Naval Committee in fixing these appropriations and in fixing the points where these dry docks are to be built. „ , .„t -, .i He must remember that the Secretary of the Navy, under the Bunce board that was aj^pointed to investigate this matter, sug- gests that there shall be built six dry docks in various portions of the countrv and that certain other repairs should be made, which would involve a total expenditure of $5,725,000; and, on the other hand, that that board and the Secretary of the Navy, loo— for he has adopted it— have recommended that for adequate docking facilities in addition there should be built four or five more, the total cost of which would be $5,400,000. Therefore, if we should follow out the recommendations of the Secretary of the Navy, there woirld be a total expenditure of over $11,000,000 on this one item of dry docks, while the total expendi- ture authorized for the five docks carried in this bill is $4,250,000 only. This has been brought about, gentleman of the committee, by the thorough examination of the Naval Committee, and the ascertainment by that committee that substantial, efficient wooden docks can be built at these five places at a considerably less cost, and the expenditure of a million and a half dollars less than recommended by the Secretary of the Navy. [Here the hammer fell.] 3167 O i iliiiKi LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ll Mllllllll I II llll IJIIjlllll 013 902 157 5 ^