, 1863-11-04
1RoN.cLAps AND TIE FUTuRE.

41G1IlU6C duA LIE MVlAlOI1 aO SAo4k AtAC
ago, on the waters Of Chesapeake Bay,
yet more startling are the probable issues
Of that eyentfu1 encounter. Not only did !
That memorable fight tbring to untimely and |
sudden end the gigantic fleets Of great ma
lions, utterly abolishing the boosted supe
riority which had made a few countries
the naval dictators Of the world; but it |
has opened new and pregnant intimations |
of the coming destinies, which it behooves |
all to heed and provide Tor.
Happily our OWL country, the first to |
test the availability Of aru,orea ships, has
not ceased to profit, at once and with en-
esgy,. by the experience which our dire
war has forced. Every few weeks we
hear that the Government has ordered
new and fresh supply Of iron~clads. ltis
vel. Though we need them not for the
termination Of our domestic troubles,
there is yetmuch in the looming prospects
Of international trouble all over the world,
to admonish America to be ready to act
her part in the possibilities Of impending
events. 4
TWAS a sad and III portent when Eng
land and ttance-nanons 80 o7erse-eom-
bfned, as they nave aone' 20 rus .ne
world. 6adder yet wss their deplozable
1nfscouception Of our American struggle,
when they took advantage Of its first out
break, to do all In thelr po"er1o ciusn 1ne
American hepnbne; ana' knowing our
weakness IN an emoartass,ng ca'n VA" "
cripple Russia but me oeeos are CONE
The peace oi the world, and anaty OF na'
lions are broken WISE coonse's' anu q
just moderation may arrest anu pfe'en.
the issue. But when the friendly and
pcaceah1e relations OF the wor1o ale 1nus
ar1ogantly and "an1only @hsutpeu' a.isesl
dent that II must oe1oaoo 'ae "ls<@' .ou =,
sels to MAINTAIN peace ana uos. y: 49,
eoen TO secure peaeS, mus' e,e!s 4eas .Ea-st n
ton prepare anu gs sqa' ~ ~ ~. .ro.sa 49, 10
that may come nc uops, a. "aa a.at % ~ ~ ~
bor LOT peace. nnt VIC Ass ss;v ~ ~. ~ n ~ ~
caneo' anu VI 1ea4' - MIL ~ ~ -
o1esseo- ,.;th;, . fau
1ng'anu anu a.n;un . ' .ha e"en-;tv and
Weeks pseu =. essaan5 SOS sa.e ,ron-o,sd ~ aeets m
p'o"ese VI 1re. ~ ..s.a .s - - h,th =. .as h.ra
inc ocean. 1ne .:"sa, go 49, 49, rha W.r;or
oeen .as tio% e&s.o'.s 49, - .h:~- ~
anu haack :rtn' sue - .o'ot'e '-p - -,
England, VAIN 'ne!i o,e"v toun0 ouo ~
guns, and 1onr anu a-na1ncn atl1of' <1e :
unprotected Tor one hundred 1eet' DOW anu
stern A good Judge has expressed lne
opinion, "that, as war ships, they are
worthless" Their power OF endurance
inocean storms has borne poorly the test o.
tzi1+
On the 27th Of septemner' sa1eo noa
CherbouEg, under tae command o. VICE
Admiral Renaud, 8 neet OF joe 1ron-claa'
the pride OF the French navy faea'
voyage was far from satisfactory. Amlds
the "tenible rolling to which they vert
subjected, the Normandle. so successful II
the trial Of the previous month Of May
WIS covered with "continnous sheet o
water" utterly formdding the nse Of he
artillery, while the boats Of all the ship
were washed away; and many Of the yes
sells had to enter port promptly to repai
, damages. Neptune alone was hard En-
envy; and it is thought no report Will ap
= pear Of this oninous triall
E From au appearances, America, With 1t
present lnsaluaole experience. and kno"'
skhl ana tae. IN naval cons1faenon an'
amploseu ptonanes, nas, ~ yet: n1oe =
1sa1 1i''n %u " e1.ast 1ns1ail
OF = 1 na se1 ooss ~ oenoo'o "
keep teauy ana equa1 " any emergency J:
anu sae "'ss'in VI 1ne government N u
present enefgeuc prepafanons' must tnd
cordial and unhesttsting concurrence fto1
. every citizen.
But it is not only in the relations I
p. pending and possible complications Of nj
(. tions that this momentons revolution
: naval affairs is OF importance. What,ma
we not ask, is to be Its Ultimate and SUI
effect upon nations possessing large an
remote eo'onsal possesstonss u such po
sessions, IN umes u "n' ean W eto''ese
only by armies from tue paren1 ooun1
how can such armies be transported