The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-15

1
human knowledge and the diffusion of
comfort over the earth. The day has
/ come when Europe and America have
| found an urgent inducement to de-
mand of Asia and Africa the rights
F.! of hospitality, of aid and comfort
| shelter and succor, to the men~whe
pursue the great highroadS of trade
and exploration over the globe. Chrls-
tendon is constrained by the pressure
of an increasing necessity to publish
Its wants and declare its rights to
| the heathen; and in making it's power
| felt, will bring innumerable blessings
to every race which shall acknowledge
| it's mastery.
"The government of the United
States has happily placed itself in the
| front of this movement: and it may
be regarded as one of the most en-
couraging guarantees of it's success,
THAT the expedition which has just
/ left our shores takes with it the earn
est good wishes, not only of our own
country, but of the most enlightened
| communities of Europe. The opening
of Japan has become a necessity,
which is recognized in the commercial
| adventure of of all Christian nations.
/ and is deeply felt by every owner of
Ian American whale-ship, and every
lvoyager between California and China.
| This important duty has been con-
signed to the commanding officer of
| the East India squadron a gentle
men in every respect worthy of the
trust reposed in him, and who con-
tributes to it's administration the high
est energy and ability, improved by
| Hong and various service in his pro-
| feSSion Looking to the magnitude
of the undertaking, and the great ex-
pectations which have been raised,
both in this country and in Europe,
lin reference to it's results, the casual
| ties to which it may be exposed, and
| the necessity to guard it, by every pro
| caution within. the power of the gov
| eminent. against the possibility OF
| failure / have thought it proper, with
Iyour appreciation, to increase the force
destined to this employment, and to
put at the disposal of Commodore
| Perry a squadron of unusual strength
and capability. l have. therefore. re-
Gently added to the number of vessels
appropriated to the command, the
| line battle ship Vermont the cor
vette Macedonian, and the steamer
| Allegheny. These ships together with
the soop- of-war Vandalia, originally
| intended to be assigned to the squad
ron, and with the ships now on that
IStation-the steamer SuSquehanna and
/ the sloops- of-war Saratoga and Ply
mouth-a portion of which are now
near to the term of their cruise, will
| constitute a command adapted. we
may suppose, to any emergency which
| the delicate nature of the trust COM
mitted to the Commodore may ,)te-
sent. It is probable that the exhibit
| ton of the whole force which will he
under the command of Commodore
Perry during the first year will pro-
duce such an impression upon gov
ant VIII n
| toned to measure their compliance by
the array of power which accompanies
the demand of it as may enable him
| to dispense with the vessels whose
term of service is drawing to a close,
and that they may be returned to the
United States without any material
| prolongation of their cruise.
Hon. James c. Dobbin, of Cumberland.
1t does very welI TO conclude this
assembling of opinions in favor of a
great navy for a great nation in the
eloquent words of the accomplished
gentleman and able lawyer who was
President Pierce's Secretary of the
Navy and who wrote them in the
light of the Crimean war-a war that
affected not only Europe but the East
ern interests of England and Russia
These considerations invite the
United States to look to means, and to
set about the gradual increase of the
navy. Will it not then, be advisable
to begin without delay to provide and
lay up the materials for the building
and equipping of ships of-War, and to
proceed in the work by degrees, iii
proportion as our resources shall rem
der it practicable without inconVeni-
ence, SO that a future war of Europe
may not find our commerce in the
same unfortunate state in which il
Nv no |
to be a fair proposition that our navy
should, AT LEAST. BE LARGE
ENOUGH TO COMMAND OUR OWN
SEAS AND COAST. Otherwise, it'll
would seem to be not only a useless
appendage, but fall an easy prey to
the enemy and add to his strength.
And, in view of this point. it may be
we'll to remember the positions over
looking our home commerce, the
Bermudas and West Indies. well for
titled and held by other nations. It'll
may be said that we have strong for
tifications, and that they can be relied
upon for defence. But our fortified
tons with their conceded Importance,
without a navy, have we'll been COM
pared to a shield without a sword. |
Perhaps it may be alleged that our
navy was comparatively small in the
war of 1872, when our gallant officers
achieved brilliant victories won for
themselves 1mperlSnaDle renOWn, and
broke the charm of the enemy's naval
invincibility. Those We're, indeed, |
great achievements, and we still have
proud spirits in the navy whom OPP
portunity would call forth, and who
would again accomplish all that valor |
and patriotism could accomplish. But
without charging upon the circum- |
stances which helped to occasion sue
cess then, or dwelling upon the dis |
aSters that then befel our commerce. |
when we call to mind the Formidable |
growing. and. in numbers at least, |
the overwhelming strength of the |
navies of the many great nations with |
whoml we claim equal rank NAV it |
not be well to consider that it NAV
even be possible to tax too severely |
the valor and skill of our small navy. |
however gallant? AS, however. we |
have enjoyed a season of profound |
peace, with the exception of a war
with a nation without a navy. 1t is |
perhaps, not to be regretted that we
have deferred enlarging ours thus !
long. as we can now adj
vantageously avail ourselves of the
vast improvements suggested by the |