Smyrna times., 1861-04-11
Opinions OF the Press en- the Present
State Of Affairs.


As matter Of Information, we give the fol-
lowing opinions of some of the leading journals
on the present state of our National affairs.
The Philada. Press comments on the actiVl-
ty of the army and navy. The Press thinks
the Administration contemplates making some
important movements, but maintains secrecy
in view of the i'll success which attended the
expedition of the Star OF the West, with sup
plies and reinforcements for Fort Sumter.
II furnishes a ma tier for congrotuation that
our army and navy, which heretofore have
been useless and expensive ornaments, may be
of some practical use where their services are
most needed.
The army and navy should be our national
police, and a community feels comfortable
when they know, in times of danger, that the
police are on active duty.
The Philada. Inquirer says we have Gov
ernment, and comes to that important conclu-
sion, from the fact that quarter masters, COM
mssaries troops, horses, provisions, fast-saillng
steam transports, war steamers, munitions of
war, dock yards, navy yards, arsenals, barracks
&C., &C., all fit-we hope not like vision
before the bewildered eye.
The war spirit is evidently gaining ground.
We are not prepared to say, if war must
come, let it come," but rather, it is loo late in
the day for so expensive an exhibition of Ame-
rican prowess, on both sides. Can we not
rather Join forces and settle off some old scores
with foreign power! There's Cuba and
Mexico for the South, and Canada for the
North. The whols Western hemisphere must
be ours some day.
The N. Y Herald. This is the only time
in the history OF this Napoleon of the Press
that it has not been able by means of its able
corps ef contributors or friends at court, to un-
ravel State secrets. Now, it admits, in almost
direct terms. that it is in the dark. 1t speaks
of the mysterious and threatening aspect of the
revolution. 1t finds fault with the secrecy OF
the administration, as the defence of the weak,
and as calculated to arouse suspicion. The
ostrich hiding its head is referred to, and a
threatened split in the Cabinet as showing
that the war secretaries have triumphed over
the peace secretaries.
We quote this melancholy language from
the Herald:
"From present appearances we know what
we may expect in the future. We see that
all the professions of peace uttered by MIR. Lin
coin and others were mere idle talk, or else
made TO lull the country into state of false
security till the administration concluded its
loans and was ready TO strike blow. Fort
Pickens, on its lonely ssndbar, may, in its
ruins in after years, tell of the bloody battle oi
Pensacola, which commenced the civil wal
that desOlated the United States in the yea
I 1861. Our fervent prayer is that it may not
aud that those enemies of their country wh'
cry for blood may be disappointed. But ofthi
: there seems now to be little hope.
I The N. Y. Tribune praises the " reticence
o of the Government as to its intentions with rel
e erence 10 the seeded States II thinks lh
warike movement is for the defence of tn
: Texas frontier, but that at any rate the Gov
q ernmevt is On the eve of taking some energel
8 ic measures 10 some direction.
This is very definite information, but W
d presume about as much as the Cabinet itse
n could furnish were it disposed TO address h
: anxious public. We will wait until we kno
Q something more, before we attempt to sta
the policy OF the Government.