Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-21

that France and England were not only
united in relation to their foreign policy in the
east, but would also act in concert, if occasion
required, in other parts Of the world" Two
years ago, these twin allies gave as notice that
they had assumed the protection of Cuba, the
gem of the Antilles, with the consent of Spain !;
and since the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, that di
plomatic enigma upon the files of the State De-
partment, Central America, will, rs a matter OF
course, come under their especial supervision
What more? Why this European interference
is to extend to those Eden-spots of perennial
beauty, the halfway resting-place to japan, the
Sandwich islands
so much for the bold avowal of the English
lord Upon the heel of his notification, comes
a leader In the Times newspaper, upon the in
efficiency of our navy, its utter hnhlness for
actual service, the rottenness of It's organiza.
ton; and, in reading it, one would suppose that
Boston could be sacked, New York pillaged,
and Charleston burned, before we could lay
the keels of vessels of war to protect ourselves.
Seneca says "The wisest men are taught by
their enemies" Do not let this maxim be lost
on us as nation. Let us not be blinded to the
true state of the case. When we know the
worst, we can prepare for it. England owes
us no affection. We rival her as the carriers
of the commercial world. We have become
necessityto her. Without us, grass would grow
in the streets Of Manchester; the hum of the
loom and the buzz of the spindle would cease in
her cotton-mills. The cutlery in Birmingham
could find no market. We are her superior in
prosperity, and in all that makes nation be-
loved at home and revered abroad Her bad
faith towards Russia is the true cause of the
present war-based upon an after-thought poll
cy, quite characteristic of her present Premier.
According to report, it seems that arrange
ments for the partition of Turkey with the
Muscovte Gar had been secretly acquiesced
in by England and, upon her treachery be-
coming exposed, we are told she indignantly
refused " the proposition she had once unoffi-
cially sanctioned. From the official circular
ofthe same noble lord, we find that Russian
raw materials and manufactures, though carried
in American bottoms, are liable to seizure and
confscation; thus instituting marine police
for the annoyance and destruction Of our COM
merce. Win the American people submit to
such .insolent and arrogant surveillance, sup
ported by the entente cordiale of England and
France? No, never. The battles Of 1912
will have to be refought ere England will drop
her insane pretensions, her obsolete policy
| and the sooner our navy is increased for that
struggle the better Let us not be deluded by
the batteries of her ministers. You might as
we'll expect child would forget the mother who
| graded it in her bosom, as to suppose England
would forget the hostility she owes this country.
| No matter how bland her smile, she delights to
deceive. No matter how soft and gentle her
voice, "her voice is the voice of Jacob, but her
| hand is the hand Of Esau." Sir, will now
| give the committee statement of the relative
condition of the navies Of the world compiled
| from the best authorities. Our tonnage is but
a.few thousand less than England. We have
been gaining upon her, till at last we are neck
and neck. The value other trade is 5 $50, 00O,-
| 600, and ours scarcely inferior. For the pro-
lection of her commerce and the vindication of
her rights, she maintains a navy of 302 sailing
vessels and 1872 steamers-total, 494. France,
sailing vessels, 22S; steamers, l32-total, 800.
| Russia, u steamers and 90 sailing vessels
total, so. TurcoEgyptian navy, 20 steamers
| and 50 sailing vessels-total, 70. The navy Of
Sweden and Norway, IL steamers and 40 sail
ing yessels-total, 81. Austrian navy, 81 sail
ing vessels and steamers-total, 33. Spain,
8 steamers and l6 sailing vessels-total, 25
Sardinia, Holland, the Sicilies and Greece Is
steamers and 81 sailing vessels-total, IS.
And it must be recollected that all these yes
sells are in perfect order, and ready for sea at
days notice, while all the model republic I"
can muster, for the preservation of her neutral
ity or defence, is the significant number, great
and small, rotten and Sound, Of every grade,
| 72-9 steamers and SO sailing vessels. To tell
the plain TRUTH we have scarcely fifty vessels fit
| for actual service, mounting less than thou
sand guns, while the vessels Of England alone
mount twenty-five thousand. We need this in
crease for the preservation of exports to the
amount of $4OO,OO0,00O. We need it for the
guardianship of4, 900 miles Of seaboard and our
| fisheries. We need to have ships sailing into
| e.. L..
and guaranty the rights of our citizens. We
need it in view Of the inevitable general war in
Europe, when our agricultural industry will
supply the deficiency in England and France
of the breadstuffs that usually flowed from the
Black sea and the Baltic, to the amount of
S2S,000,00O. Are not these interests, present
and prospective, worth protection? We have
as gallant spirits who are longing for active
service, as ever trod the planks of a quarter
deck; but we lack the ships. SIR we lack the
ships. Nor should the services to science rem
dered by Wilkes be forgotten, whose admirable
narrative ofthe exploring expedition has never
been exceed nor Maury, whose practical
wisdom has filled the hearts of those who 60
down in ships with confidence; nor De Haven,
who sought, nor Kane, who is seeking, the fame
of philanthropy among the icebergs of the
north. The navy has always upheld, in stain
less glory, the honor OF the country, since the
days of Paul Jones, Bainbridge, Perry, and De-
catur and only last year we beheld in the
harbor of Smyrna, the birthplace of Homer,
Captain Ingraham achieving a triumph more
glorious than that recorded Of Homer's heroes.
The able and patriotic recommendation of the
Secretary Of the Navy fol, q thorough personal
reorganization, upon proper basis, will render
the judicious increase | advocate still more
effective. Believing in an economical admin
tration of the government, shall never deem
that public treasure squandered which is spent
in the protection Of the rights and property of
the people, rendering them doubly secure in
peace, and invincible in war--feeling with
the great Greek poet, "THE NATION WHO
WISELY YIELDS THY TRIDENT, 0 NEPTUNE,
ALONE IS ARBITER OF THE EMPIRE OF THE
WORLD"
The Albany atlas thus comments on the