Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-06-10
Our Navy Now and In 1916.

The Washington STAGES is discussing
the present condition of our Navy as
compared with its condition in 1916.-
Thirty efectiUe ships ofaH classes, it says,
compose the present navy of the United
States; these are all in commission, and
upon them alone are we to rely for pro-
lection against insult. Is not this a de-
plorable state of things, it enquiries,
when it is considered that we have a
commercial marine, exceeding in tonnage
and enterprise that of any other nation
on the globe? The Estates" adds, that:
"FOrty-ttoo years ago we found seUen-
ty,four vessels, all in good and effective
condition, necessary to give protection
to our commerce, which was only eight
hundred thousand tones: while now we
find that with a com merce of nearly flee
millions of tone. we have but thirty ships
oftcar in commission to protect it; which
number could only be increased from
our present naval resources to the mum
Der of ffty, and even her at great ex-
pense and delay. What excuse can
there be for such neglect to our navy?
Other nations nave nutured their navies
developments, but we seem to nave neg
ASSNS0 Az OhhAA ~ As Val q A8lNN.
The whole effective force of the British
navy in 1853 is S43 vessels.
Leaving out the vessels engaged in
"harbor SERVICE" we find the British ma
Wy to consist of seren hundred and THIRTY
JtUe Uesels Of all classes, while the Uni
ted States navy consists of thirty IN COM
mission, and probably fifty effective yes.
sells of all classes, although the CONNER
cial marine tonnage of the United States
exceeds that of Great Britain.
SIN view of these facts, it is no won.
der that Palmerston left as a lagacy t.
Lord Derby the admiralty orders tt
search we'll all United States merchant
men even suspected of being engaged il
the slave-trade. If they do give offenc,
in executing these orders, an apology
will make the anlende honorable, as the,
know the President has no means II
exact more. But, thank God, this art
full diplomatist has missed his mark 70
once. The Premier is, to a great ex
tent, the Government of England; bu
neither the President nor Congress i
the Government of this country. Th
people can be heard here, and on som
subjects their voice is like thunder, ant
this is one of them; its tones are becom
AhS 81 NiOdi, dnu OlSIluO1, IhuO SdOlhC1
and even Congress, if it respects its brie
authority, must listen"
"There could not have been a NOR
propitious moment for US, in the las
fifty years, to adjust this principle O
':.free trade and sailors rights" than tn
present, and a more unpropitious 70
England. We are free from any zen
tangling alliance" and have at the he'll
an old and tried statesman, who battle
Pam himself, while in London, and fo
which the Premier has, perhaps, neve
forgiven him AS a coadjutor is tn
venerable Secretary O. State, who game
his first prominent diplomatic fame i
Franc, against England on this yer
point.
- ENGLAND has or cares just now er
crossed with India, China, and Franc,
while her commercial classes are so d.
pendent upon us, that, to wage war wit
us on a principle which is SO manifest
our just due, would cost her a revolt
ton at home more dreadful than an
foreign invasion"