The American Navy. 15 



can only render herself ridiculous by entering the 

 water. That is England's domain. 



" Her home is on the mountain wave, 

 Her march is o'er the deep." 



We are talking just now about building some ships 

 for a proposed American Navy, which is equivalent to 

 saying that we are going to furnish ships to the enemy, 

 if we are ever foolish enough to have one — for it takes 

 two fools to wage war. Unless America resolves to 

 change her whole policy as a republic, teaching mankind 

 the victories of peace, far more renowned than those of 

 war, and goes back to the ideas of monarchical govern- 

 ments, she should build no ships of war ; but if she will 

 leave her unique position among the nations, and step 

 down to the level of quarrellers, let her beat the navies 

 of Britain and France, for the ships of a weak naval 

 power are the certain prey of the stronger in time of 

 war. In peace they are useless. 



In thinking of the real glories of America, my mind 

 goes first to this — that she has no army worthy of the 

 name, and scarcely a war ship of whose complete in- 

 efificiency in case of active service we are not permitted 

 to indulge the most sanguine anticipations. 



What has America to do following in the wake of 

 brutal, pugilistic nations still under the influence of 

 feudal institutions, who exhaust their revenues training 

 men how best to butcher their fellows, and in building 



