Page:The Galaxy, Volume 6.djvu/80

68 have been violated by England—the nation which helped to drive our commerce from the ocean.

Our navy must be rebuilt on a new system, with new plans. After perfecting our ships, we must adopt a ratio by which the size of our navy will be in proportion to the size of our commercial marine. That is, we must have so many tons of naval vessels to so many tons of commerce, and so many guns to a proportional number of tons of naval vessels.

At present, we are in no condition to assert our rights, and although we have nominally a number of vessels on our naval register, yet few of them could render any service as vessels of war on the ocean.

Our squadrons on all the stations are entirely at the mercy of one or two heavy iron-clads such as are found in the English and French navies, for such vessels as these would destroy our entire force in a very short time. Let us hope that there will not long be cause for anxiety, and that instead of talking war against a nation that could do us irreparable mischief in the event of hostilities, we may settle our difficulties by diplomacy. We can, at least, take our revenge by distancing our rival in commercial enterprises, and snatch from England the prize by which she has gained her strength and glory. Let us husband our resources, build up an army and a navy, and then our motto may be Nemo me impune lacessit.

D. D. P., U. S. Navy.