New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-06

Ia move England was uSputlfp tne plh Pi'-
sentcd for the damages committed by the Alabama.
If there had been any but the most pacific dis
position here what would have happened? Is
not the fact that it did not happen and that the
Canadian provinces were left alone to come to-
gether under the British flag earnest enough of
the forbcaring and amicabc sentiment prevailing
in America toward the English people? But it
was Immediately after this earnest had been given
and apparently a. tho result Of the issue which
reunited the American Union, and proved its
eternal strength. that Royal Commission reported
the necessity of now Notifications on this side OF
the Atlantic, and carthworks began to rise at
Halifax BERMUDA San Lucia and Jamaica.
The subject Of an Isthmian canal WAS AZ this
time renewed here and in France, and the proba-
bility grow large of a successful and carly set
Element Of the great question. Great Britain pos
scssrd an ancient fortress at Jamaica and another
in fairly good condition at Bermuda. British
carrisons existed also at Barbados Port Of Spain,
and Dcmcrara Now tie situation is wholly
changed bermuda. three days ont from Charles
ton and Ncw-York. is equipped with fortif'cati"ns
which are described in the Colonial Year Book
rs the d" most perfect and formidable in thu world
Why on earth were the Dcrmudas selected from
among ell the 9,2s0.s44 square miles of British
territory as the spot whcreon 10 create the most
destructive arrangements for war that anywhere
exist The Year Book points out that the Der
mudas are situated in md.occan At about equal
distances from the West Indies, the eastern sea-
hoard OF the United States and the Dominion ~
Canada. including our great naval station at Hall
fax With that great naval station submarine
cable now connects the fortress at BERMUDA. IL
WAS laid only two years ago, and it cost II ,50o
900. a sum ten times greater than the exchanges
between the group and Canada. What do they
want that cablc for? Why does il run from fort
70 fort? The tolls IL earns scarcely pay tho en-
pcnss OF generating enough electricity to send
a message In the rccf-incoscd harbor OF Ber-
muda Great Britain has placed a fully equipped
,hip-huilding plant, drydock that Will lift her
heaviest seagoing battleships, naval stores com
plcte a coaling station and vast system OF
earthworlls, which, the Year Book says, are
mounted with the heaviest gums and render Fer
muda quite beyond the reach Of hostile attack
Hostile attack? WHO is going 10 attack Eng
land at bermuda? Her French qulrrel Is in
Erypt Her Russian quarrel is in Asia. Italy
and Germany are her allies, and only Germany
could pretend to make war against her ter
many has no navy 10 speak of, and no European
.tate could have the smallest occasion to cross
1000 miles Of Atlantic seas TO attack her.
Not satisfied with converting Halifax into
new Gibraltar and rendering bermuda quite
beyond the reach of hostile attack, Great Bit
ain-and all since ls67-has immensely strength
ened the garrison at Kingston and created an
entirely new one in the harbor OF Castrl"s, San
Lucia. England's West Indian possessions, as
cyery one knows are now worth - 10 us
for one TO tho country that owns them SUB
stantially al they produce is sold in Ncw-lork,
and all their food supplies come from New-l orK'
They are of so little value Mr.. Froudc declares
| that an earlier Gladstone Government actually
| thought of letting them drift out OF the En-
pire As commercially they are American ne
ncndencics SO politically their sentiment Is Ia
vor,blc 10 close relations with the K"pupnc'
Certainly nine-tcnths of the population OF every
| one Of these West India colonies would vote u"
| dav for annexation il their votes conlu w ''-
fectvc There can 10 no prrterc', therefore, '''''
| ENGLAND is spending millions oil doiiarS III gum
| and stores TO defend trade she mas not So'
or a sovereignty she does not want All Ah,''''
| can who visits these islands. VINO secs 'n'"
| food going down in the snip 'h'' wal
| him and thor produce going back III the oi'c
| that takes him home, who listens to the people
| tell him how coldly England treats them ana now
| COMPLETELY She avoids expense or r'~po'S'"''i's
| IN their account, cannot fail 10 wohuer 40 "'
walks along the battlements at Kingston an" w
| amines the forts and drydocks now nu'uins ~
| Ca.tr;cs what is all this for? What JuSti'
g. ,hos, onormous expenditures? Whom do these
| GUNS menace, and on what klha oi cNp'''''
| is all this powder and ball TO go :?
Something in the nature of an answer 10 '"'Se
Questions il suggested by Il glance at the map
| nr;rted above. Taking Halifax bermuda, hhSs
COR and Castrics together, chain OF oehsiV" loi L
| ;scotiops il constituted within three days rcacn
| ~ ovorv American Atlantic scaboard city, ana
nerfcctlv commanding both Of the proposed is'h
| milan canals IL is a chain completely ehcircnh9
our uudcfcnded Atlantic coast Each OF 'h'~
ur;tish fortresscs is practically impregnablc
- maritime attack. Each is sustained
bv a fertile country. Each Is mounted
with guns of the most effective modern type Eac'
il capable of equpping vessels Tor sea at an III
stont's notice 4 cable connects them al with
one another and with London. y telegram iron
tho British foreign Office could send vessels OF
war from Halifax to Boston in twenty-four hours
from Halifax to New-York in two days, from Der
muda to Ncw-lork or Washington or baltimore
or Charleston or Philadelphia in three days, from
| J,u,lic, to N,wOreans Ill tire oiNs II non
.hmaica I. Gi,ytown or Panama in ~ dnTS. az.
from 81. Lucia to Panama or 'rStpwh III iou
days Ii l., all well enough to- talk ABOUT the I'm
ros.ililitv of a war with England, about fra
| tcrnal feeling Christian goodwill, community o
interest, and all that sort OF , thing lhry o|s ,
| remains that while this side of th'
Atlantic have not only been taking but actin;
| in that spirit, and have passiN ely allowed on
| great coast cities 10 remain III on indeiensb
condition. England has been creating At our yer.
doors a magnificent system OF outposts of attack
and with nothing but love in her heart, il mal
lie. She has her armor fastened, and her lance set
This state Of things does not exist in the Paciii
as yet. But far us opportunity has been PIE
sented. or Diplomacy could OBTAIN 1t. England Ia
done all she could 10 make herself formidable, ain
is much better prepared to attack us than " y,
land Islands lust north and east of Cape Horn
there is a British coalinG station. AT sydney