The New York herald., 1871-12-18


ana that portion Of what remains consists Of
parcel Of old iron tubs, which we dignity
WIN the title Of our sTron-clad Fleet'-a set
VI noat'ng man-traps, whose only recon-
meodation for going to sea would be their
Irresistible tendency to 60 straight to It's
bottom-lt Is concluded that the American
Navy, If not exactly able to whip all creation.
is at least adequate to all probabilities Of need
in eitherwar or peace.
Why does the Navy Department year after
year thus deliberately foist this Official false-
hoed upon Congress and our peoplea WHY
does the Secretary in each annual report
gravely state that ''Lhe navy Of the United
States now consists Of one hundred and eighty
ships, calculated to carry, when in commits
sion, thirteen hundred and ninety guns,
exclusive of howltzers and small carronades."
Such enumeration and such language are
liable to convey false impression, and are
simply preposterous in face of the fact that Of
the sum total Of one hundred and eighty
''naval vessels" only forty-nine are available
as ships-of-war, and Of these but twenty-nine
are Immediately available as sea-going vessels
of sail and steam power, carrying four
hundred and seventeen guns. It Is unlikely
that the department means deception but
If it did 1t could scarcely be more sue
cessfal in the use Of words adapted to
such purpose. Little tugboats are not
ships Of the United States Navy; neither
are rotten old hulks, which are ready
to fall to pieces. Why not make a separate
invoice of all such trash, and state plainly
that our navy consists Of forty-nine ships.
none Of them, in the modern sense Of the
term, first class men-of-war; that twenty-nine
of these are available, the rest unprepared to
go at once to sea, and that they carry alto
gother ON armament of six hundred and
eighty-seven gunsp The Spanish Navy has
one hundred and twenty two vesses-many Of
them powerful iron-clad cruisers-ca carrying
one thousand guns. The French Navy has
four hundred and sixty-two vessels, carrying
four thousand eight hundred and thirty-four
guns The British Navy has six hundred and
thirty vessels, carrying nearly eight thousand
guns. Whenever Congress or our people are
seized with belligerent ft reference to these
figures may be instructive and beneficial
Lovers of peace may be assured that there
is but slight danger Of war on our part. Our
condition precludes the possibility of it, We
must pocket national insult sooner than
dare resent it, and rather apologize than fight.
And as soon as we are resigned to this con-
viction we shall have become, what we are
already accused Of being, a nation of shop
keepers, whose money-getting greed will
have obliterated all memories of national
greatness, extinguished every instinct of ma
tional pride and blunted all sensitiveness Of
national honor, and will leave us contented to
accept the kicks and cuffs OF the world, pro-
vided we may be permitted q profit in the
operation.
Who Is responsible for this cuIpable neglect
Of national interests, so manifestly tending to
national debasement, which leaves US at the
mercy of other Powers and renders our
security dependent upon the good nature and
forbearance of our neighbors? Those who
represent or, rather, misrepresent, the
people-the Congress Of the United States.
To this patriotic body the Secretary of the
Navy has repeatedly, but vainly, appealed.
The present Admiral, jealous In the interests
of the service, painfully cognizant Of its i'm
portance and deficiencies, and earnestly soli-
citous for the honor aud welfare Of the nation,
has urged, argued, almost entreated, that our
legislators should appreciate the necessity of
attention to their duty Of providing adequately
for the national defence; but unfortunately.
few men In Congress seem to see beyond the
local interests of their own particular State or
district, and to them the honor and welfare Of
the whole nation are subjects Of minor inn
portance, for which they seem to have neither
taste nor time Besides, economy and re-
trenchment are fashionable and popular, and
I'VE must cut down the appropriations,
though 1t out the throat of the republic.
The Secretary Of the Navy Is himself not
altogether blameless. As the representative Of
the interests of the service, and as a statesman
concerned for the welfare of the nation, there
would have been propriety in his urging moro
earnestly in his recent annual report that, as
measure Of imperative public policy, our naval
force should be Immediately and extensively
increased. Aud instead of s'recognizing," as
he does, ssthe desirability Of reducing the
military and naval establishments of the
country to the lowest point consistent with
the dignity and safety of the country, and its
important interests" and that the reductions
suggested in the service are carried ''as fas
as they can be at this time without injury or
danger" he might properly have insisted
that the present reduced condition OF the
naval service is both injurious and perilous 10
the great interests of our country.
THE PLEASING INTELLIGENCE reaches uA
from Washington that all is quiet In St. Do
mingo. By way Of affecting proof we are