New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-21
INFLUENCE OF MECHANICS ON POLITICS.

INFLUENCE OF MECHANICS ON POLITICS.
Turning fora moment from the eternal
conflict of parties, we read with pleasure
the deliberate discussion of national cues
tons in the British journals. One lead
ing topic is the effect Of the mechanic
arts on the policy Of England. 1t is
treated from the standpoint Of Lord Well
lngton, and the battle Of Dorking. That
is an apprehension that England will not
always prove strong enough to repel her
assailants. But Captain Colcmb, royal
navy, takes a larger, perhaps a more
alarming view. 1t is that the British isles
may be Invested. Strangely enough
the principal arguments for such posi-
bility are drawn from the naval warfare,
if such it may be called, OF the
American civil war. Captain Colomb
shows it to be in the power
of swift steamers to pursue and destroy
ships of commerce. These ships can not
all be conveyed, nor can the priyateers be
often caught. He cites the destruction
caused by the Alabama, and especially
the fact that seventeen American vessels
Of large tonnage lay for three months IN a
neutral port of the British East Indies,
while out 'freights rated high. and were
abundant. But this idea Of Investment is
not by blockade. The British isles are
dependent upon foreign commerce for
food and material England draws these
supplies in great part from her distant
colonies. Her commercial and war steam
ers are dependent on distant coal stations
very difficult to protect. II, therefore,
in the opinion of Captain Colomb
bellgerent shall waylay the track of this
commerce, it will be obviously difficult
for England to keep up her foreign COM
munications. and may be thus reduced
like any other citadel by cutting off her
supplies. This term OF an investment is
used as entirely distinct from a blockade.
The plan Of naval strategy laid down by
Captain Colonb is for the government to
station in time Of wa. naval force at
such principal passes as the enemys priva-
teefs must use. These passes he enume-
rates. In this connection he quotes from
Captain Semmes to show that the Amer.
ican Minister OF Marine. Mr. Welles, was
strongly. remiss in guarding such passes.
It does not seem that Captain Colomb
perceives the extent Of the danger nor
the difficulty of remedying it. While sail
furnished the only medium Of war and
commerce England was safe. even su-
preme on the seas. When, however, sue
cessful experiment vindicated the appli-
cation of steam as the motive power OF
an armament on the ocean, her supremacy
vanished. Then, indeed, her very wealth
became temptation to any ration that
could buy privateer. This was shown
by the experience Of the Confederate pri-
vateers, which. with almost every port
biockaded, and without . coal station,
inflicted an immense amount of mischief
upon the second maritime power Of the
earth. As England built these destroy
ers, and received he. pay il cotton, it was
no doubt thought capital bargain at the
time. Yet with the Geneva award and the
demonstrated dangers Of a purely maritime
nation, it may not in the end pay SO well.
But it may be seen from this great peril
how much tbs political condition OF the
world depends upon the discoveries of the
mechanic arts. 1t would seem. therefore,
the duty Of men, assuming to be regarded
as statesmen, to cultivate public skill and
intelligence as the means OF preserving the
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