The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-09

E 0VsOABo EVanoys
"The republic Of the United States,n said
Taileyrand In his day Of diplomatic power, " is
giant; but it is giant without bones"
Upon this idea the great Powers Of Europe
have heretofore acted in reconstructing the
affairs Of both hemispheres, and in giving the
law TO belligerents and neutrals Down to the
late Southern rebellion, with navy OF some
forty or fifty vessels scattered about in the
four quarters of the globe, and with discip-
lined army Of less than twenty thousand men,
this country held the rank Of third rate
Power in the courts OF Europe. But this Is all
changed now. Four years of the most stupen.
dous civil war In the records Of mankind have
given bones and muscle to the giant, strength
and elasticity TO state of development which
is without parallel among the greatest nations
Of ancient or modern times
The Grst paragraph Of the last annual report
of the Secretary Of War presents in the sober
statistics of history the substantial evidences Of
this national strength and elasticity. He says
that the military appropriations of the last
Congress amounted to $5l6,24O,l3l, and that
the estimates for the next fiscal year, after
careful revision, amount to S33,S14, 461; that
the armies Of the United States on the 1st Of
May, 1865, numbered one million FIVE hundred
and sixteen men, and that over eight hundred
thousand troops have since been mustered out
Of the public service and restored TO the pur-
suits Of peace. Next comes the Secretary Of
the Navy with his report, wherein we find
that sin the several blockading squadrons in
January last" there were employed, "exclusve
Of other duties. All vessels and 2 455 guns and
that there are now but "29 vessels remaining on
the coast, with total Of 2l0 guns" that ''from
1000 men at the commencement of the rebel
lion the number lin the naval scrvice) was in
creased to 81 500 men at its close, in addition to
1880 artisans and laborers employed in the
navy yards, against 3,sH previously In the pay
of the government" Ii next appears that this
immense array of the war establishment has
since the fall of Fort Fisher, been reduced
from over five hundred to one hundred and
seventeen vessels, and that the work of reduc-
ton, as in the army, is still going on.
There is something almost as wonderful in
the quiet and rapid absorption Of these i'm
mense warlike forces among the masses of
the people rs in their enlistment, equipment
and movement to the front. Six months after
the collapse of the rebellion our mighty fleets
and armies have disappeared as in dream,
and it taxes our credulity to realize change
so tremendous and so quietly effected. Here,
however, where every soldier and sailor feels
f1.ot ho Ia III or tho roynrprca and that kLa
government is the best Inheritance he can give
his children, there is no mystery in the matter
whatever. But among European philosophers
and statesmen, where armies and navies are
employed, not by the people or for tho people,
but to hold them in subsection, our late transit
tons from peace to war and from war to peace
will be somewhat difficult to comprehend.
The ruling minds Of England and France
will be apt to conclude that the strain of the
war upon our financial resources has not only
enforced this rapid disbanding of our enor-
nous military forces, but has so far weakened
the country as to render it perfectly harmless
for years to come; that from sheer exhaustion
we arc bound over to keep the peace on any
terms; that with our army and navy reduced
20 soon to the margin Of a modern peace
establishment we confess to the world that
peace is not only our policy, but our necessity;
and that Earl Russell may, therefore, take his
own time in settling those little affairs of the
Alabama, Shenandoah, &C., and that Maxi
milan may make himself perfectly comfort
able in Mexico. The rebellious South has
been mbdued, but IL remains impoverished
and demoraliacd: the victorious North has had
enough Of war, and is exhausted; the rcconsiruc-
ton of the dismantled Union, as the negroes
are free, may occupy North and South for years
to come, and what cause, therefore, have Eu-
ropean nations to fear the United States upon
any provocation short OF actual Intervention in
their domestic afiairss
But if the statesmen Of Europe shape their
policy henceforth towards this country upon
such fallacious ideas they will soon discover
the magnitude Of their dclusion. Our govern
ment desires peace; but il expects Justice and
Indemnity for the past and security for the
future" in its international relations. If our
armies are disbanded and our squadrons put
up at auction, the men, ships and materials
army and navy, still exist A foreign war
would harmonize the two sections at once, and
enable the government within sixty days 10
bring into the field, il necessary, five hundred
thousand veteran troops, armed and equipped,
and FIVE hundred steam vessels-of-war and fifty
thousand sailors, seasoned in battles, cruises
and blockades. England and France there
fore, should understand that the present pacific
proceedings and manifestations OF the govern
ment Of the United States result from con-
seriousness Of its strength against any possible
emergency, and that while IL seeks the path Of
Cancellation and peace it is prepared to make
good its just demands, even to the extremity
Of war; and that the American people will hold
their government 10 this policy.