The New York herald., 1870-03-15

Gentlemen on the floor OF Congress, deep In
great nation, and able to dictate terms to any
Power on earth. They talk OF our naval
strength" which, in reality, is confined to
miserable failures Of wooden vessels, some
few good tugs and an acre OF iron monitors
that would not float with their turrets and guns.
The condition of the navy has been explained
to the country in the report of Secretary Robe
son in unmistakable language, and an earnest
appeal is there made to Congress to place the
service in condition beftting at least fifth
rate Power. The appeal has been vain.
The very men who talk 80 loud and who owe
their present positions to the army and the
navy, but for which they would now be
unknown, are the most malignant enemies of
the service, and are doing all they can to
bring it into disrepute. What pitiable condi-
ton this great republic would be in it war was
suddenly sprung upon us; yet who knows
when that event may occur?
The government is now in treaty with the
Dominicans for portion of their territory,
WulCH udS OccH HuuCu COVcICu NY h0hu,
France aud Spain, If report speaks the truth
we are bound by the conditions OF the
treaty to protect the Dominicans against
domestic and foreign enemies with our naval
forces. II We recognize the independence Of
the Cubans variety of complications will
arise, and We may be suddenly called upon
to prepare for a collision with Spanish fleets
that outnumber us in guns twenty to one. The
Spanish men-vf-war now in Cuba carry over
four hundred guns, while our small squadron
mounts but thirty guns all told. One of tho
Spanish frigates now in tho harbor of New
York carries more guns than our entire West
India fleet, which, though it comprises good
vessels of their kind is no match for the
Spanish force assembled in Cuban waters to
meet an emergency, which they naturally
conclude may arise at any moment. While
this condition Of affairs is well known to
the people of this country, who can well
understand the situation of affairs, our ships
that are ready for service cannot even get to
sea, because Congress has refused to grant the
requisite number Of men to maintain force of
forty vessels, these to be divided among all our
stations abroad. Four or five ships now ready
to sail for foreign stations cannot depart be-
cause the law will not allow them crews, while
the crews of vessels abroad, whose times are
out, have to be given one-fourth more pay to
induce them to remain few months longer on
the stations.
The country has seen how the present
department has labored to form a navy from
the debris left by Mr.. Gideon Welles, and
although eighty-six vessels have been resur-
rected from the dead, it has been done at an
expense Of three and o half millions of dollars
less than was paid by old Sinbad the Sailor,
who in his last year ittei out bat two ships.
Yet Congress cannot and will not see this.
The very men in the republican party who
ought to come forward and insist on the
navy being put in a condition to meet the
pressing necessities of the country are the
first to find fault with the government for its
endeavors to afford protection to our citizens
abroad.
ii we recognize belligerent rights in the
Cubans, then comes the right of search on the
part OF the Spanish vessels Of war, and we all
know what that will lead to with people like
the Spaniards. Spanish officers are not par
ticnlar how they exercise their duties, pro-
vided they cripple their enemies. American
vessels would be subjected to unnecessary and
rigorous searches, and our naval commanders,
who have always been instructed to resist
the claim to the right of search on the part Of
any Power, and who have probably at this
moment particular instructions on the subject,
would soon bring about q collision. The
first gun fred in this cause would fire the
heart Of every American, and we should
find ourselves involved in a war before the
people had time to comprehend It. These are
some Of the results that would flow from a
miserable parsimony that should never be
countenanced by statesmen.
BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY WORK. THE
British Parliament debated the new bill ol
pains and penalties for Ireland, which Mr..
Gladstone has submitted to the members-as
outlined in a HERALD special cable telegram
yesterday, yesterday evening and to an
early hour this morning. The measure en-
braces all the points enumerated in our cable
despatch, but elaborated with official care sc
as to be made ready for executive use. The
Public Education bill for England was also
considered, and one of the American nava
claims, which originated during tho jeff Davi:
rebellion, was spoken Of Ireland and England
are thus to be instructed-the one with thu
bayonet and sabre ahd prison uniform, tn
other with the English grammar and geogra
phies. All about the same in the end, how
ever.
HURRY Up THAT PROCLAMATION THE r8di
Gals in Connecticut are anxiously awaiting the
PRONUNCIATION Of the Presidents proclamation
aunOuncinr tho ratifica finn ne Tho Gftcor+J