The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-20
arms end officers in Spain for the supply of EN-

NOUS republic. As he sports ribbon order at his
conceded to him by Isabella the
Immaculate, he does little foreign business on
Spanish account, of which the ferocious fill |
busters may not as yet be informed. On
the whole the Senior is clever fellow, we'll
posted in all that is going forward in the
Spanish and Mexican empires, and ready
to write, talk or act in Spanish, French or
English, with equal zeal and fuency for his
mistress, Queen Isabella the Immaculate, or his
master, Don Antonio the Victorious As he has
been nobly rewarded by the one with ribbon,
it is to be hoped he will be richly recompensed
by the other with an autograph. He is an ex-
cellent representative from the Mexican kitchen
cabinet; therefore we are rejoiced to find him
exercising his appropriate functions at Wash
ington, vice Senior Atocha, recalled.
Senior Rafael comes, of course, to give Gene
raj Almonte the latest news from the Mexican
palace and court circle, and also the finishing
touches to the Gadsden treaty. There is no
doubt he comes charged like magnetic tele-
graph with important information to the Mexi-
can Minister about the everlasting abortion,
which, although it has had its brains knocked
out Ivy the Senate, will not die in the common
course of nature. Now what is this information
is the question. 1t is surely an amendment
only little amendment-for few more mil
lions, which the United States would not feel,
and Santa Anna would, most gratefully. In
the meantime, General Gadsden will be well
received in Mexico courted, caressed, fattered,
treated to brandy, and humbugged. The real
negotiation will be at Washington, and we wish
some Of our correspondents in that virtuous
city to apprise us Of the result without delay.
There is the point, and we know no place where
metal is more attractive. But beware of Senior
Rafael You can get nothing out of him.
Mr. BooocKs NAVY BILL-We published
yesterday the bill lately introduced into
the House of Representatives for the re-
organization Of the navy. Our readers will
thus have had an opportunity for Judgment
upon the merits Of the measure for themselves.
At the present epoch, when our foreign rela-
tons may at any time involve us in the entan-
clements Of the European imbroglio, to cay
nothing Of the prospect of war with Spain,
nothing is more imperatively called for, from
the exposure of our commerce and seabOard to
foreign spoliations, than well disciplined and
efficient navy. This Mr.. Bocock proposes to
give us. 1t is hardly necessary to recapitulate
the details Of the bill. Next in Importance to
the provision for an increase of the seamen and
marines to the number of three thousand men,
is the increase Of pay which it is proposed to
give them, and without which none but very
Indifferent men could be raised. The creation
Of new grade Of flag officers is also appro-
pirate to the reorganization of the service
The object Of having grade Of officers term
ed flag officers" is with view of distin-
gushing by law the commanders Of squadrons
"a distinction which is now dependent on cour-
tesy-and because it gives them higher rank,
when meeting foreign fleets, than the title of
Commodore would give them. This will put
an end to good deal of ill-feeling, which is
now sometimes felt in such cases, by the SINH
larity of the name Of our highest grade of ma
val officers with the comparatively inferior
rank which officers bearing the same title
hold in other services. The reduction of the
number of officers, so as to get rid of
the drones. must be fully appreciated
by any one who will take the trouble to look
at the present navy register More than half
the officers are recorded as g waiting orders''-
nearly three-fourths Of the higher grades
whilst captains are recorded as having been
last at sea twenty years ago. To break up
this rotten system we have in the bill before
us the establishment of Board of Reform,
retired list; and in all cases materially reduced
pay when on leave of absence. The declara-
ton that promotion shall not depend upon date
of commission exclusively is proper as far as it
goes, but it should be worded in such way as
to make merit in all cases the sole test of pro-
motion. In any of the professions of civil life
man depends upon his talents and industry
for success. In this country sthere should be
no attempt to build up an aristocracy, unless
that Of brains and merit. But above all things
let us avoid an aristocracy Of age and old fogy-
ism. We have tried it in our navy, and its pre-
sent condition is the legitimate result.
1t is provided in the bill that there shall be
an increase Of seamen and marines to the
amount of three thousand men, and induce
ments are held out for good conduct and re. en-.
istment, by means Of meritorious discharges
and the payment Of wages during the interval
between the discharge and re-enlistment The
regular pay Of the seamen and petty officers is
also increased. A provision is inserted by
which the President will have the power to
select from such boys as are employed in the
navy, and receive good conduct certificates,
not more than five annually, and commission
them as midshipmen, to be educated at the
Naval Academy,
We, of course, have only glanced at few Of
the principal points Of the measure, and refer
the public to perusal of the bill itself, which,
notwithstanding its length, will no doubt COM
mand attention. We hope the measure will be
pressed to conclusion without delay. Public
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