Великий военный синдикат

           Theoppositionpapershadbeenloudandrecklessintheirdenunciationsoftheslownessandinadequacyofthenavalpreparations,andloadedtheGovernmentwiththeentireresponsibility,notonlyofthedamagewhichhadalreadybeendonetotheforts,theships,andtheprestigeofGreatBritain,butalsoforthethreateneddangerofasuddendescentoftheSyndicate’sfleetuponsomeunprotectedpointuponthecoast.ThisfleetshouldneverhavebeenallowedtoapproachwithinathousandmilesofEngland.Itshouldhavebeensunkinmid-ocean,ifitssinkinghadinvolvedthelossofadozenmen-of-war.InAmericaaverystrongfeelingofdissatisfactionshoweditself.Fromthefirst,theSyndicatecontracthadnotbeenpopular;butthequick,effective,andbusiness-likeactionofthatbodyofmen,andthemarkedsuccessuptothistimeoftheirinventionsandtheiroperations,hadcausedagreatreactionintheirfavour.Theyhad,sofar,successfullydefendedtheAmericancoast,andwhentheyhadincreasedthenumberoftheirvessels,theywouldhavebeenreliedupontocontinuethatdefence.EvenifaBritisharmadahadsetouttocrosstheAtlantic,itsmovementsmusthavebeenslowandcumbrous,andtheswiftandsuddenstrokeswithwhichtheSyndicatewagedwarcouldhavebeengivenbynightandbydayoverthousandsofmilesofocean.Whetherornotthesestrokeswouldhavebeenquickenoughorhardenoughtoturnbackanarmadamightbeaquestion;buttherecouldbenoquestionofthesuicidalpolicyofsendingsevenshipsandtwocannontoconquerEngland.