The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-29


The Empire line sidswhsel steamship San Salvador
Captain Nckerson, will sail from pier Is North river at
three p NJ. tomorrow for Savannah, connecting a,
that port with steamers for Florida &c
Oar New Acquisitions OF Territory-What
VIII Congress Doe
With the purchase Of Alaska and ST. Thomas
it is necessary that our real estate agent,
Mr.. Seward, should receive the necessary funds
to meet our obligations in the premises. There
is no question that the possessions which we
have lately obtained will be of extraordinary
value to us politically and commercially. OF
Alaska we give in to-day's HERALD a valuable
detailed account, so far as information exists Of
its natural condition. lis fisheries are des-
tined to be Of far more importance to the
Pacific coast than those of Labrador and New
foundland are to the Atlantic, while from the
interior Yankee enterprise will reap royal
interest upon investment Alaska is also the
entering wedge to the possession Of Western
British America, which must soon fall into our
hands, us the result of the debates now just
opened in England upon the Alabama claims.
With reference to ST. Thomas, that which
gives value to the island is its magnificent
geographical position, which entities it to be
called tho key to the West Indies 1t Is the
great rendezvous for all vessels in ballast
which are in search Of West India freights. 1t
has the most accessible harbor of all the West
India islands. It controls the route of all the
trade which will in the future pass from
Europe to Asia and the Pacific coast of North
America via Panama. 1t dominates Cuba,
Jamaica, St Domingo and Porto Rico. It
gives us what has long been one of our
greatest wants upon the ocean-an out
post which will be q resting and supply
point for our navy and our merchant marine.
To the geographical advantages possessed by
this Danish island are to be added the local
one of splendid harbor, deep, secure and
always accessible, with docks all built and
coaling stations ready for use. The narrow
entrance to the port scarcely exceeds quarter
Of mile in width, and the bold rise of the
land on either side presents fine natural ad-
vantages for the construction Of Notifications
at very little expense. One million Of dollars
we'll expended should make the harbor as un-
assaiIable as Gibraltar, while small work
built upon the hill back Of the town would,
by plunging fire, sink any iron-clad which
might pass the outer forts.
We hope that the purchase Of St Thomas is
but the first step in commercial policy which
will be sufficiently broad to meet our wants.
II is beyond question that nature intended to /
make us great commercial people, and we
must obey the mandate. There Is but one road
Of England and establish throughout the world
q regular outpost system We must have ~
every important point that lies upon any of
the grea. trade channels possession which
we may call our own, and at which our com
MERGE may seek shelter in time of need, and
our navy find aid and supplies in time of war.
We never can have q solid commercial great
ness until this is done.
The next great point to be obtained Is the
Sandwich Islands These, by natural causes
the trade winds, which force vessels to pass
them, their enormous whale fishery business,
their overlooking and dominating Of the whole
vast commerce of the Pacific, and their con-
stantly increasing importance-are Of incalcu-
liable value to ms. In time of war the great
nation holding them would be possessed Of the
key 10 the Pacific. From the ports existing
there feet might dash out and sweep East
Indian trade from the Pacific Ocean. They
are a natural outpost for the United States,
and to our Pacific trade are far more i'm
portant than ST. Thomas is TO the trade
Of the Atlantic. To allow them 10 fall into
the hands OF another great Power would be
for US blow in the direction Of commercial
suicide, for such an occupation would be q
constant threat against our ocean development
Much Of our internal greatness depends upon
our greatness on the sea- No statesman will
ignore this, and the quicker our Congress turns
its eyes and brains in this direction the sooner
we shall be on the road TO national fortune.
In view of these things Congress should not
hesitate to make the appropriations necessary
for the prompt payment Of the money for the
purchases. The price is moderate in compare
son to the advantages gained. To be mig
gardly in expenditures for commercial great
ness Is to exhibit very narrow minded states
manship especially when II is patent that
nature has made US the geographical trade
centre Of the world.
General Crnnt-Nforc Retrcnchmepfs.