New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-24

The Washington Union, ia noticing Secretary Do5bln
report ayers that the whole country, to man has
felt fhe necessity for speedy aud thorough revision
together with considerable increase, Of our navy
What Tie Mon means by the whole country, to man.
we are at loss to determine the whole country as
VIC understand it, is, when not stimulated by pDit
clans absolutely Indifferent to the whole subject As
for the country desiring considerable increase of the
navy, It ia absolutely wrong statement 80 to affirm.
Corgressmen who take place to speculate, Treasury
editors and such persons, may desire such an increase
butthe people at large would forget the existence OF tue
institution if they not reminded Off, bythe report
ofeachnew Secretary who wishes to distinguish himself
Since 1916 we have spent annually sums yayngfrOmtwo
to ten millions more or less the nayyand first anu
last il has cost us peace establishment certainly
not lees than one hundred and fifty millions, directly
and indirectly But we are puzzled to name out Of the
unnecessary Mexican war sin, lie act Of any warlike
importance achieved by this nayy-from the simple
reason that it not wanted The Quallah BattoO affair
was gallant and tie conduct of Capt Ingraham,
but we apprehend that influences in the Indian or
Mediterranean seas could be achieved without any such
institution.
The special abuses of the present navy are Tie cank
ers Of long peace Not that there are not greater
abuses in war only the excitement Of tho latter pre-
vents them from being known. But we should like TO
know where is the navy without predominant abuses
Read Smoletts description of the English navy one
hundred years ago. See, too at the present moment
the inEolent preferences given to men Of noble
rank 10 obtaining commissions aud preferments
Lock, too, at the French navy-a government
slipyard burnt down deRignedly-so beloved
under Louis Philippe, 10 prevent exposures
of jObbing Towering abuses, in fact, emnenty an
inherent part Of the military system. Unlike other
things its mission is purely destructivait despiscs
labor, is essentially Arstocrltic and wasteful The
philosophy Of being defensive is set up for it by each
nation alike whereas it is simply aggressive. Now
how can such system have other than procyitss to
vast waste and deterioration Wars looked at
through the partial pectacles Of national PRIDE but
find them all quite distinguished for army and navy
abuses as for glory. If Mr. DObbin gets his six steam
ers, they will 10 brief period equal any old Govern
ment craft in being behind the times, for it is rule
that TIE Government Of this country cannot compete
wih the merchant marine in the economies Of building
or directing vessels.
1t is most remarkable that the test for Democracy
nOythe cardinal points of the faith as set forth in
messages speeches., dhd LIE C0H, anu ilS cOaulOrs,
hostile to real democracy The chief enemy TO de-
mocracy a standing army or aggressive force Of what
ever kind. The history of the world tells but tale
of nations sunken under the weight Of armsof fighting
men, too proud to work, but not too proud to live
the work Of others. The tendencies of socaled
Democracy are just in the direction far they
unchecked by the better OF the people The
Mexican war was purely democratic measure the
Increase of the Navy another and the love of hostile
display is accompanied by equal hostility to domestic
interests, and tie desire Of multiplying grandOse for
eisn rotations