New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-14
NAVAL REFORM,

Commerce is said to be conservative, as in certain
seuse it is 1t is dstrutfu Of innovations. specula
tons aud novelties especially in any field which it has
not thoroughly explored. And yet Commerce is not
slow to avail itself of shortcuts and improved process
es and has excessively adopted and improved the
Steamboat, Railroad aud Telegraph. 1t is not 4
whit more devoted to Fogyism, clearly understood to
be such than other interests 1t is liberal wherever
heraty is expedient but has sharp eye to the man
chance.
Now let US suppose that our Government, in view Of
the intimate connection between Commerce and the
Navy, should decide that Commerce should support
and control the Navy ind that the merchant princes
of New-York, Boston, Baltimore, Charleston Savan
nah, Mobile, New-Oreans and San Francisco, should
assume the maintenance and management Of the Navy
hcreaitor-does the man live who imaenes that said
Navy would not at once 10 thoroughly overhauled re-
modelled, rcGtted and made far more effective in pro-
portion to its cost Who believes tia. the cost Of the
service per gun aaOat would be nearly great as it
now is
We are not arguing that Navy is too great too
small too old too young but simply that its cost is
,bominabe. 1t is thrice as great this day as il was
when john Q. Adams retired from the Presidency,
though its efficiency has not been even doubled
That lis constitution is arstOcratic at the base and
despotc at the apex is abundantly known. The most
efficient and protIacted service therein sailor
rarely or never wins a commission. Officers and men
are separated by wall OF caste as impregnable Glib
raltar. One class is born TO command, the other to
obey, the as in Cuba or Russia. What right have
republicans to expect good results from system like
this
Then as to our vesselsno one needs to DC told that
our Naval Architecture is conspicuous failure. While
our private owned steamships and clippers are the best
and swiitest in the world their National counter
parts are among the sowest and poorest Very few OF
them could he sold for half their cost though vessels
frequently bought out of our mercantile marine
for foreign service at profit Dear as labor, timber
snd other materials now are i: would be easy 10
tract with capable sbipbulders TO construct better
Navy than ours ever was for less than these vessels
baLe cost.
Yet the Secretary calls for ships more money,
more nen-a Retired List for superaunuated officers,
involving of course chance to promote and appoint to
fill their places, thus increasing the
paid by our people for the support in deness and lux
ury of officers waiting orders
There is at this moment great scarcity Of seamen
in the Navy and the Secretary truly reports that they
N'-~' ~ V"talNSu PitoSht SsNaD"S-ON A"sSSVA
wages, since their services are in demand at higher
wages with better treatment and better prospects, in
the mercantile service. cabnboy or green hand in
clipper or packet knows that, ii he have capacity aud
conduct himself properly, he may enc day rise to the
commando OF the craft wherein he is but cypher
the individual in National vessel knows that his
destiny is fxed-that deep gulf yawns between him
and the quarterback and that he may never hope to
pass it. Why should capable, withdrawing. self-re-
spectiDg seaIren enlist in the Navy And can even Al