The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-03-11
ENGLAND GRATEFUL.

OF the s275, ,Ooo.0 600 Of exports for |
1869, s2l5, ,00D, 900 according to Off
cil statistics, published in the dis
patches during the week, were in for
eign vessels.
The attention Of the country has
scarcely ever been d rected to a more
humiliating fact. It's business inter-
ests have been sacrificed to the political
interests Of the Republican party.
These melancholy figures indicate an
other of the achievements of the New
England tariff system. The materials
employed in ship-building and the ar
ticles consumed by the laborer have
been so much enhanced in price, that
American ship-building is no longer
though of. Congress, to make sure of
its conquest, has restrained the pur-
chase of foreign built ships. The fig
ures at the top of thisparagrnph tell the
result.
But we did not stop with the
subjugation of our commercial marine.
Congress has achieved results over the
navy as practically important. We
are rich in officers, drawing large sala-
ries, though trife poor in ships. Ac-
cordins to the Tribune 'the .country|is
the possessor of thirty Admirals, and
seyenty-seven Commodores with sub
ordinates to match, eighteen rear-ad-
mirals and fifty-two commodores are
nominally on the retired and reserve
list, but some sort of duty has been
found for fourteen admirals and twelve
of the commodores so that they get full
pay.-fve admirals being on Especial
duty at Washington, though what
special duty may be there, except to
fatter admiral Porter, we do not see,-
and altogether there are sixty-three
admirals and commodores engaged in
active duty of some kind, though very
few are at sea.
Notwithstanding this formidable array
of naval dignitaries, the United States
has lost the proud rre-eminence thai
it once enjoyed as a naval power
We have done something more thar
to complete the degradation of the
South and give our own immense car.
rying trade to our foreign competitors
We have earned the gratitude of Eng
land for surrendering to her the lord
ship of the seas. The London Time
bestows the following comment upor
this result of American craftsmanship
The extract will be read with interest
and its expressed satisfaction will b,
noted as being full of suggestion fol
American politicians, as well al yexa
ton for American pride.
certain Satisfaction ought undoubtedly to |,
derived from the official account Of the American
navy in our last expression. 1t is a novelty 4
find England exhibited to the world as a mod.
OF enterprise and success n the matter Of naval ad
ministration. The British Admiralty has not of,e
b:en complimerted either at home or sbroad bu
nct7 Nc uafc tue american cecrctdry repeating
and even magnifying. the recent eiaims. of ou
First Lord Mr. ChiIders was Mt the pains Of ex
planning last spring that really had got n bet
tes feet than either France or America Mr. Rob
eson echoes his words with will, and declare
that ono of our new iron-clads would drive m
American squadron from is station in a siu-i
day. What We used to think of the UniteI State
the United States think of us; what we use
to confess with annoyance and vexation tbey MOI
confess Of themselves. Last March, when the ne,
administration succeeded to Office, the whole nav
OF the Union Comprised, told, but 203 We,
sells, and Of these only one fourth could be eonsid
cred Mt sor duty. In commission on foreign 81.
tions there were forty three vessels, but even {
these no more than eighteen were "in conditio
for real SERVICE" Meanwhile. old wooden shin
and iron-clad monitors wera lying up in ordiuar
and going to decay; s.Ifuis, turrents, and machir
cry, ard most costly and powerful, exposed witt
out care to the action of tho clements, were fa,
losing their value and of the whole fleet of NOR
itors relied upon by the country for defense n,
one could hare been ready in time to resist sut
dsn attack We seem to be reading tho stori,
6f our own harbors and dock ards in these word.
Never, indeed, in any of our panics was
more dishcartcning yicw taken Of our m aritinc d.
sision than is here put forth officially by tho Sc,
rstary of the American Navy. lie docs not e,
eotly tell his countrymen they are not safe for
eay against invasion, because invasion Is not
shing the Americans have to fear but he war;
sAsm in plain words tEar @fhe first sight of a fo
sixs war would send their navy hurryinx ign,
0i1ious!y TO their shores"