The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-12
How About the .avy ?


The kilograms from England have startled the
nation over Its entire breadth, from to ocean,
from quiet slumbers We Americans appear to
possess a stereotype phase in our mode OF looking
at International affairs. When the old Revolution
ended we supposed, or took 1t for granted, that
peace and bliss would evermore be our lot, and the
question Of national defence was not thought of.
The war with the Barbary Powers brought us before
the world in an unexpected manner; but after It's
close and the grand victories aud achievements OF
our little navy, under che Old commanders brought
fame to us as people, the navy was suffered to go
into neglect Then came the war Of 1912, with
England, which brought similar results, and the
seamen and the ships and the officers were laid
away and suffered to rot. The civil war among
ourselves aroused to new eXertions and when
ships and officers were required the country was
struck aghast to find 1t had no navy. The
rivers and the lakes and the ocean were
all scraped and secured to bring into the
service strong arms and brave hearts for the
common safety. But no sooner was peace pro-
claimed than the navy was forgotten. sold, broken
up, and The welfare of the country was hazarded,
left TO repose the debris Of rulnous and de-
strucive war. It 10 well for the country, at once,
to count up Its possessions In naval force, and In
vestigate wisely the means 1t has for events TO
come. There seems to be strange fatality about
this arm of the countrys defence. or rather about
the way 1t Is disregarded. One would suppose that
we were deliberately describing the teachings OF
experience.
our relations with Spain are surely not OF an
agreeable character to contemplate. There Is noJa
naval officer OF any experience who would no
have said, II his opinion had been asked, that 10
protect nag and our national dignity from dis.
honor by petty State IL Is necessary to maintain
large ana well appointed feet in the West Indies
and Cuoan waters. The very presence Of force is a
protection. Spain knows well enough that II we
fail TO police our own commerce and our own SHIPS
she can and VIII do Il for us.
AS To the matter OF the Alabama claims wise men
all over the country have seen all along that the
critical moment had not yet come. correspondents
from Washington tell US that our president has put
his foot down hard and frmn II may reasonably
be supposed mat England has raised her loot
an inch in this matter. Any one VINO mas carefully
easily see this. Nor need we bcfool ourselves Dy
supposng that the position assumed by her minis
tiers Is one or mere bluster The English government
know very well that those millions OF money which
VIC demanded are TO DC wrung our OF the pockets
OF her people, All England knows IL. The English
government could not plant itself On more popular
basis, aud every man and woman IN England, from
the prince to the peasant WI be- and are as united
inc attitude Of Fl, England Is in reality TO-
ginning. She has fully and frankly, and
we must say. once for ALL denantly, orered US the
For the FIRST time In the controversy England mas
offered 10 US and pronered TO US tile ugly thing
war, ana she means it. All England neai It. They
had as well lose Canada anu commerce as millions
! OF god pounds and they know 1t.
The dignity OF this nation now stands exposed as
1t never was before. God grant that no war may
come out OF it, but every patriot must equally pray
that no dIshouor may come out OF 1t as we'll.
suicidal efforts 10 cut down and destroy our navy
have not been one immense temptation TO England
TO bring aD0ut this crisis. she Knows our cry OF
economy at the navy. She knows we have no ships
building our navy yard material is going into swift
decay. She knows that we arc not rebuilding or
was proposed in Congress to sell out the remnants
which we have. and build merchant steamers with
the procecds-a proposition equivalent TO disband.
Ing our naval power altogether.
As the HERALD said not long agO-''cut down the
navy, even II We cut the throat OF the nation by
doingthat IS indeed strange craftsmanship. II Is
even now proposed TO eliminate three entire grades
from the navy-to save, at best, a few hundred dol.
lars. navy without commanders would indeed
be singular sight IL Is striking, with one fatal
bow, at all carly tradition. not only OF our own
country, but OF all others: And % we not Know
navy Is hair made up OF It's old heroic traditions2
Statesmen read history TO little cTecf they DO not
But we still hope that there is sense rs well az
patriotism lett In this republic. But II does not
exist In the insane efforts 10 destroy our gallant
navy or TO depreciate II, or to build up the army at
Its expense The welfare OF this country's foreign
relations depends, next to tue craftsmanship Of the
Foreign ONCE on tho maintenance OF a solid, ef.
fcIcn sound navy both as regards ships and officers
We know, too. that the gallant officers OF the
American navythe comrades Of Fooie AMI OF Par
raeut-and The Official descendants OF the old com.
modores OF our carly wars, who brought character
and fame on tho whole iand, felt too kccnly. the
neglect OF them and thor service. We need no
words OF Boosting now Tor our royal and loyal little
navy. so tar IRON being fact to concratuiate the
nation with, that we have less number or officers
OF commanding grades In our navy than we had
before the rebeluon II Is, indeed, fact At which
Its contrilon at tho acknowledgment OF serious
wrong done TO these brave men, by Keeping back
their long and justly earned advancement.