The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-05-21
BIZ THos. MAvoY.

of Nations arts; and comparing the
ocean to a vast warp, and sea vessels
in the aggregate to enormous shuttles,
he completes the magnificent simih-
tude by considering commercial inter-
course the wool that is woven into the
interoceanic web, called the comfy of
nations. It is certain that, without
the aid of navigation, the general diff
fusion Of knowledge now attained,
would have been prevented: and our
race could not boast of the material,
moral, social, and political advan-
tages it now enjoys. Instead of glory
ing in an exalted position of human
civilization and enlightenment, we
should be groveling in the debase-
ment and decentralization Of barbar-
Gus Vassalage. We fnd, likewise,
that those peoples which excel and
prosper in the noble art Of naviga-
ton, are Of a harder, more robust,
intelligent, and enterprising nature
than those which are indispOsed to
pursuits, fraught with hazard, and
requiring a spirit Of adventure. The
interchange of commodities IS not the
only, nor the principal, beneficial re-
suit of commerce, the only and most
valuable fruit Of scientific triumphs.
Its grander and more estImable dis
finction is that it brings the various
and widely separated members of the
human family into direct cOmmunica-
ton with one another; shows them how
mutually dependent they are for the
necessaries, and comforts, and luxu-
Ties Of life; teaches them the practical
value Of the precept, Love thy neigh
Dor as myself" promotes an inter-
change of ideas, thus adding to the
universal stock Of human knowledge;
encourages a spirit Of amity, forbear-
ance and benignIty; and binds the
whole inha bitants of the earth into
one vast, liberal and universal solid
arity.
Since the building Of Noah's AK,
timber and metal have ! )t furnished
material out Of which to construct
ship around which cluster so many
glorious and historical associations
and memorabilia, as gat her IN so great
plenty around the hull of the Old
Ironsides. Her very appellation would
seem TO have conferred upon her the
happy virtues Of invincibility and in
vulnerabiliry, and to have prCpitiated
Neptune TO guard her destiny, and to
render her not only successful, but
fortunate. The recOlectiOns of the
Revolution, pregnant and Tespl hdent
as they are with deeds Of noble daring,
heroic suffering, and generous self
sacrifice; yet, with the exception Of
the famous exploits Of Paul Jones,
ttVVhO left a name at which the world errevz
pale.
To point a moral or adorn a tale"
in the Bon Homme Richard, are con-
fined to the operations and achieve
ments of the patriot armies command
ed BY Washington and his illustrious
associates. The navy Of Great
Britain had become, by constant ac-
erection, so enormous IN point of force,
and so terrible in renown, In conse-
quence of unvarying success. that the
infant Republic was intimidated from
attempting to create a navy. The IN
sulting aggressions of France upon
the incipient and crescent commerce
of the United States, in 1899 aud the
war with Tripoli, in 1903, had demon
strated the imperative necessity Of a
naval force to defend aud protect the
interests and enterprises Of a nation
ambitious to excel In maratime Dur-
suits; yet men, having the direction
of national affairs, and distinguished
for wisdom, patriotism aud spirit of
enterprise, had declared it to be utter
folly to undertake to form a navy suf-
fciently powerful to contend with the
puissant fleets of the British Isles.
Accordingly, it happened that when
war was proclaimed against that
country, In 1872, the navy was re-
markably insignificant in the number
Of vessels, but they were, in several
instances, superior in model of con-
struction and weight Of armament to
any ships of their rate possessed BY
Spain, France or England. The expe-
diency of dismantling the ships and
permitting them to lie at the navy
yards in inglorious desuetude, or to
be employed only for harbor defense,
was gTavely debated, and about to be
adopted, when, fortunately for the
reputation of the country, Command
ers Stewart and cambridge, happen
ing to be at the seat of Government
at that critical juncture, exposed
the folly, cOwardice and ruinous con-
seqences Of such proceeding, and their
strenuous and praiseWorthy remon-
strances induced President Madison
to recommend the abandonment of
the contemplated scheme, and the en-
ployment OF the talent, energies and
resources OF the Nation In creating a
feet that, considering its meagerness
and pauclty OF vessels, accomplished
such marvellous results as raised tbo
reputation of the United States i'm.
mensely in the estimation of the ma
vol ,,ovvovs If tho world