The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-16

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
But few days ago our relations with Spain
seemed on the eve of being ruptured and war with
that country inevitable. The cloud has not yet en-
tirely cleared away, and the detention OF vessels
peaiing our nag may, in the dim future create
difference OF opinion between the government OF
the Uaite0 States ana that of Spain. AT that time
demonstrated TO the country the inefficient con-
dllon Of the vessels OF our navy, and proved that
SPAN had more ships and more guns In the waters
CT the Gull than we had In our whole navy.
1t seems that our urgent appeal on behalf OF the
navy has brought forth some fruit for our WASH
ington correspondent Informs us that tae Dill for
building zen new sIoops T W mees VAN s see ana ap
IN the senate the committee Iavors the sale OF
ola ships and material Inc proceeds 70 10 used Al
The HERALD mas always maintained that THIS re-
public ought to Keep up navy sufficiently s.rong
harbors at home. II - also maintained Inal our
countrymen should. like English subjects, iec SCI
cure IN their rlgnLs when away from home IN the
TRANSACTION OF iestiiae business, and 10 that end
has advocated the maintenance OF respectable
Our country embraces such q broad area and
there are 80 many conflicting interests. That the
navy, which should be our buiwark has Deen neg
lected by Congress Representatives VINO come
from The middle districts OF the continent. KNOW
hle OF he necessity OF navy large eaouxh to pro-
tect our people and our ships abroad, ana wnen
any proposition tending to increase the navy or
even " Keep II at It's present Stale o weakness Is
maze. sucn proposition IL Sauuieu with prUvlsOS
that certain rivers, unknown To geograpners snail
be II AIDE navigape, or other proylsos equally US
absurd.
The spanish question may be In q fair way OF
settlement. out there looms up now the OLD contr0-
versy In reference 10 the Alaoalna cams and
although the spanish navy Is STRONGER Than ours,
that OF England rs match Tor both. Wnat snaii we
do II We have War with England Is u question
r0n-clads nj to 70 TO sea, no wooden vessels That
can 90 last enough 10 como up win an ordinary
English cruiser, and no dock yards with Appliances
for building O respectable feet OF vessels OF any
closed most OF the private establishments OF the
country. We nave confidence enough IN the me-
chanlcal ingenuity OF the country 10 say That We
believe war with any country wOnld terminate
be useessiy heightened by not having proper
naval establishment to commence with. We there
fore urge upon Congress the necessity OF lmine-
dlatey LOOKING into TINS suOJecL DELAYS are
often dangerous. The BRITISH government mas o
large neet OF sea-golng Hon-caas now cruising
IN the Mediterranean; another powerful nee6 can
soon, II the necessity arises tie commissioned at me
Qock yards at nome; and within sky days AFTER
war is declared n that event taxes place, thirty
irOu-cadS could De concentrated on our coast.
The port OF New York - ny no means SAFE with
the entrance through the sound rs well by the
main channel, practically undeienieu; and wnat-
value nIay be attached 70 torpeuoes, an enemy
could safely sacrince nall q dozen ships n the re-
malnder or the feet could pass III. Aside ron
that IL IS O known fact thal the 15-ncn guns
mounted on our deences are virtually OF no use on
account OF detective carriages. They may stand
four or five discharges with their maximum
charges; but the chances That the will
give way az the nrst fire. distractions IN the way
Oi chains can he removed In night, and unless
something rs done soon, the only alternative VIII
be to f up the channel with stone and earth, which
would reduce New YORK TO the standard OF an ln-
Land CITY. Once more we say TO Our Lawmakers
that delays are dangerous. PATltlOT.