National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-25
Deen-Sea Soundings.

an unknown, unexplored territory. The
mariner, with his sounding-lead, and the
naturalist, with his dredge, have pretty
accurately determined not only its con-
fguration-its hills, valleys, and sub
terranean currents-but also the character
of its vegetation and inhabitants Its
most secret depths have been laid bare
to the eve of science, which, aided by the
data gathered from various localities, is
enabled to trace upon the chart path of
safety between sunken rocks and over
hidden reeis-a path which the boldest
of navigators, if left to himself alone,
could only find and follow by the diligent
use of the lead.
When science has found the way and
dotted it upon the map, she even goes
further and sets up beacons and land
marks and places buoys to guard against
the shipwreck of those who sail; aud,
with his chart and compass, the sailor,
under all ordinary circumstances, has
only to keep bright lookout in order
that he may bathe his vessels keel in
safety in waters through which he has
never sailed before.
But if he destroys his chart and COM
pass, or leaves them behind, and shuts
his eyes to the warning buoys and
beacons, and refuses to recognize the
landmarks which have been established
for his benefit, his course will be environed
by dangers none the less imminent and
real because unseen. He may take his
soundings, which are valuable in their
way as showing depth and drift, but the
experienced navigator would call him
fool who, having other and better means
at command, depends his safety upon
such a primitive method of determining
his whereabouts or the proximity of evil.
1t is only as last resort or when ex-
ploring unknown regions or approaching
dangerous coast that the lead becomes
valuable, or, as in some cases it does, a
prime necessity.
In navigating the ship of state upon
the broad expanse of American politics
no less care is required than should be
exercised by those who send or sail their
vessels from port to port of the physical
world.
The compass, its needle ever pointing
to the polar star of liberty, and the sail
ing chart, whereon are indicated the
paths of safety and the points of danger.
should always be kept close at hand and
frequently consulted. The landmarks of
past experience should be kept in view
and the sailing orders laid down in the
Constitution strictly obeyed. The wis
dom of the fathers of the Republic should
never be called in question by those upon
whom is devolyed the duty of guiding the
creation of their patriotic hearts.
Unfortunately, in these latter days
there are some insubordinate spirits in
the crew of the noble craft who are de-
termined to sail at random or drive the
vessels PROV against rocky and danger
GUS shore if they sail at ALL
Thirty-seven Bourbon Senators, disre-
garding all the well-known appliances
for insuring safety, seem determined to
navigate the ship, if in their power to do
so, by the means which skillful seamen
adopt only when all other and better
are unavailable.
They have cast overheard their chart
and compass, blinded their eyes to the
built upon the shores of the
past, and, hoisting full sail, are now en-
gagged in letting down the plummet of
debate into the depths of the sea of pub
lie opinion upon which they have ven-
tured and the ship is driving on be-
fore the gale.
Already they have barely escaped seri-
Gus disaster, and the end is not yet. Pub
lie opinion lies far below the surface.
When the bottom is once reached and
the hidden currents are discovered, then
let them that stir them up beware.
Public opinion, when aroused, has
peculiarity of coming to the surface
which frequently results most disastrously
to the power that disturbs it,
If the Bourbons persist in their reck-
less course they may at no very distant
day pluck up their own drowned honor
by the locks" to find that honor, like
their party of obstruction, dead beyond
the power of resuscitation.