The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-13

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annexation-woul poll fifty votes to their one.
Besides, there is a higher consideration involved
than that suggested by the knowledge of the
popular will. Our national progress depends
largely on the course we now pursue in this
quarrel with Spain. Our national character
remains TO be vindicated in the eyes Of the
world. With the single exception Of the case
Of France under General Jackson, our national
squabbles have almost always resulted in such
way as to create the impression that we were
easily duped, and slow to assert our rights.
During the whole OF the continental wars
which preceded 1872 our rights were tram
pied under foot first by one, then by the
other of the belligcrents, and for thirteen
years We submitted to these injuries
almost without protest. Our ships were seized,
our crews imprisoned, our commerce paralyzed;
and yet we never retalated Who can doubt
to-day that if we had declared war twelve years
before we did, our national standing would not
have been higher, and our shipping more re-
spected than the close of the war left the !?
Then, again, no other nation but the United
States would have waited for IN invasion Of
their own territory to make wa upon Mexico !;
or, the war ended and Mexico beaten, would
have paid her for the territory bought with the
blood Of the victors. In both these cases, the
hesitation and weakness displayed by Us arose
from the motives now urged against the adop-
ton OF firm policy with Spain. From 1890
to 1872, the merchants in Wall street and State
street clamorcd against violent measures and
implorcd tho government 10 deal largely in
moderation: then, as now, dreading u fall in
their stocks, and a diminution in the demand
for cotton. Everybody recolects the. agony
with which they heard OF the declaration of
war against Mexico Their ships, they knew.
would be seized and priyatcers would scour
the ocean under the Mexican flag. II must have
been quite disappointment to some of them to
escape as cheap as they did. Now, again, we
hear them protesting by all means that the
honor OF the United States must DC indicated
but, say they. the precise time has not come
quite yet. They will say so till the end Of time
till the CabaIiS make practice of imprisoning
all the American citizens thcy can lay their
hands on, and till a second IIayti is duly or
ganized on their shores.
We say that the time has come. Destiny is
debating to the Spanish government such re-
ply as win precipitate the event. Destiny in
like manner is placing our interests in the
hands of q man like Mr.. Sonle who. while he
cannot make matters worse thpn they are, is
likely TO hasten contamination which he could
rot have aycrted had he tried. Goth the ore
3In 81 Ia m
true view the only statesmanlikc view lis
tl'at which indicates Il policy looking to the
future interests ri ihe United States a a great
maritime nation Any other would ruin it.
authors, and degrade the co,ntry. We have
yet to see how Ar. Pierce Hili act For our
part. we have but little hope
WILLIAM IL. rl.NRD l.. Tim FCLn ros nlG
PREsIpGNCG.-The prospect d the speedy pa--
sage Of tie Nebraska hill ha. taken inc Seward
party ~ Gpris9. /. was their intention il lei
the ;nti-s!ayery i tation sti, 4 'i'tle lotgor
before they brought Mr. Scwanl ,sitiy forward
as a candidate lur the Presidency. a. il now
seems probable however, chat the hll Vii pssg
within 'ew day, and "a, .hcrc arr strong
chance. al ibc agitation dying out shortly
afterwards iir. seward has notified his org'jit>
to hoist his b., ii once and accordingly, The
lesser OF he two brilliant li.ht, III hi, city
duly nominated hila yesterday ~ candidate
for 1896. Very appropriately, the nomination
was Simultaneous with the meeting OF the
American Anii-Slasery society: and thus the
people OF the North will need but little addi-
'ioaal Information with regard 10 the opinions,
views. aud designs Of the proposed President.
lie viii ruu ol course On the anti--layery ticket:
aud We all know that tbc society which was
founded twenty years ago fog the propagation
of ant-sl1ycry principles, aud which has -four
ished ever since. now declares that it. mission
j. to bring about the dissolution 81 The Union
and the propagation of infdc.i;y. On bread
platform. therefore, Of which disunion and
atheism are ne maia supports, doe, william II.
Seward present himself 10 The people Ut the
North II uill he curious 10 note thc result
THE Frr Observation-Disclosures TOR !,
Fu,E M.,rsHn.--Wc arc surprised that the re-
cent 5evelo7cnents which hsvc been made
respecting me prevalence Of incendiarism in
thi, city, and the inadcouacy oi orr means for
checking IL. have not induced the insurance
companies to take some steps towards intro
ducing new regime. They have sort Of
police consisting Of q fev men, who ere styled
the "insurance watch" mt though these are
well known 10 be active and useful. they are
obviously toe few in number 10 reader substan-
tial service. IL the Insurance companies knew
thc. cp-i interest tbpy yst,1d ta-sir tbarnc,lxa.
actively n endeavoring to have .he present
volunteer system abolished and "a body Of paid
ircmen substituted in its place. They would
likewise 20 once embrace proposal which has
recently been made Tor the establishment of
new o'tIce. t5ai of Tire Marshal the duties 1t
-uch Officer being 10 search out and discover
tho Origin of tros. The gentleman who makes
th,- proposal Nj. Alfred f. Baker, i endorsed
by nearly sli the judicial and municipal officers