Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-04-05

IdIlh HAS OCCuDISd SllCII q pOol' 4ACd1-hu-
miral Inglefield is one Of the most promis-
ing officers of the British navy, is still a
young man, and it is said will soon be pro-
NOTED to the grade Of NiCe-Admiral. But
what excites comment is not merely his
appointment, but the fact that Immediately
upon his arrival, he visited and inspected
the forts, arsenals and navy-yards at New
\ ork; the approaches to New York Bay,
especially at Hell Gate also the harbor de-
fences at Portland, Portsmouth and Bos-
ton, and the entrances to New London aud
Newport. He has made enquiries about
the size Of the guns mounted on the fortifi-
cations and their power Of penetration.
Everywhere he was received with the
courtesy due to his rank and position. AT
Willet's Point, however, which he visited
to make enquiries respecting the system Of
arlny-tOrpcdOes, he was refused admit
tance. On the 10th instant he was sum
moned to Washington by Minister Thorn
ton, and departed the next day under Or
ders 10 inspect the defences of New Or
leans, Pensacola and the other Southern
ports.
1t is we'll known, also, that thsreIs un-
usual stir in the British navy yards. Just
the other day another powerful iron-clad,
the Thunderer, was launched, and at any
moment, within less than one month after
declaration of war, the British navy
could blockade every important harbor on
the Atlantic coast and lombard every
great city on the seaboard. Not even the
torpedo defence-that last resort Of
country without a navy-could long
secure any city against the prodigious
effects Of modern artillery. In the mean
time, Admiral Inglefield will not fail to
report to his Government the utterly worth
less condition Of the United States navy.
In spite of the millions wasted upon it
during the war, it has not, at this day,
half-a-dozen vessels fit for war; probably
not one able to meet on the ocean the
latest built iron-clads of England, France,
or Spain.
Well, that is nothing to Cs; we can't be
expected to feel very much interested in
the national glory, while we are denounced
almost daily in Congress as strangers and
aliens, traitors and rebels; but we do feel
fort and prosperity disastrous war has
left us; and we protest against being pre-
cipitated into another in order to ensure
the reelection of General Grant-or any
other man. Yet, what guarantee have we
against such a contingency?
a few days ago there appeared a clever
imitation of the now world-famous Battle
of Dorking." The writer, starting from
the present situation, in which neither
party will recede from its position, describes
the electoral campaign of 1872. The issue
becomes doubtful for the Republican party,
and it is found expedient to "fire the
popular heart" with some slogan about
g our claims in full and no concessions"
England, meanwhile, is preparing for con-
tingencies and concentrating her powerful
fleet. In America the people are induced
to think that buster will carry the day and
that there will be no war after all, and the
the news arrives in London that the ar
bitrators have decided that England must
pay 930,00O,000 for direct and consequent
tidI damages This is followed by tre-
mendous popular commOtion and a uni
versal cry for war rather than submission.
The British Premier makes a categorical
demand, by telegraph, to know if America
will abandon her claims to consequential
damages ; and, upon receiving negative
reply, war is declared. The American
Minister is not allowed to telegraph the
fact to his Government, and when he, at
last, is able to announce it through the
French cable, British feet has already
made three days sail towards America.
All is dismay and confusion over here.
Only one iron-clad and two wooden vessels
can be assembled at New 7 ork. They
are speedily destroyed by British division
of twelve iron-clads, and the city is bonn
bardled. The other seaboard cities are
threatened with the saue fate, and popular
clamor forces the Administration 20 buy a
dishonorable peace by the payment Of
S15O,OOO, 900 as a war indemnity.
This may appear great stretch of inn
agination, but whom we look at past his
tory, we find many facts far more startling.
Neither side in 1861 believed much that
there would be any war-or if any, very
little. Each thought the other would back
out before coming to blows-and thus we
drifted into war. Every one in Paris be-
lieyed that the question was aTnicably set
tied, when the declaration of var against
Prussia came like a thunder bolt in
July, 1870, to be followed by the most
astounding and undreamed cfLisasters.-
As to England's promptness in naval war
fare, it is her usual Characteristic. Too
prompt sometimes for fair play. The world
has not forgotten the blow she struck at
: Copenhagen, bombarding the capital of a
friendly power, and demanding the surren-
der Of the Danish fleet without any preVi-
Gus declaration of hoStilities, without any
warning whatever. We may depend thai
she Pill be ready in case of need.
There would be little cause for disqui.
etude under Government whose CHIEF
care was the nations welfare. But wher
the success of party is paramount to al
other considerations, we may well exclaim
"Woe to the nation whose leaders are cor
rupt."