Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-05-13
THE CONDITIONS TO BE SAT
lSFIED A SYSTEM OF
NATIONAL DEFENSE.
Ma. EDITOR -

vi ~ oN
Without going into
complicated discussions OF the morality
of war, ito advantages and the evils
which follow in its train, we have estab-
lished, upon the simplest and most cer-
tain principles. beyond the reach oi
questio", the necessity and utility oi Ma
tional Dejenses.
From this it was inferred, as neces-
sary consequence, that those who gov
ern are bound to provide them; and
neither can they avoid the just re,ponsi-
Liily. nor the state Of the misehiets,
which, by an inevitable law, attach to
the neglect of this duty.
|, wa. furthermore obse-ved, that the
responsibility oi the evil, as wei as the
glory OF tie good, which our government
does is shared by every one, even the
humb.est freeman, whose boast and
pride /, is to form u par, oi this great
self-govcrnng Republic. Avoiding all
ahs,rac, scientific discussions, though oi
tie utmos, importance TO statesmen, Tor
the body of citizens whose opinions and
votes ihpel the national councils the
practical question arises:
| "Vhai are the conditions which, in the
present state of the World and in oar oun
Country. system Of national defense
ought reasonably to sa'isfy!'
A !ull discussion Of them would fill
volumes. l,seems almost preientious
to b-oach tie subject within limits Of "A
few newspaper articles. Nevertheless
the statemen, oil a few general conditions
may be Of some use in fixing Limits and
giving direction to thought, SO I'at men
Of ordinary intelligence may easily ar
rive AT sound general conclusions suiii-
cient 10 guide them in The conscientious
discharge oil the duty Of voting.
BY it's very terms,
|. A system OF national defense ought
10 be adequate to secure the national ex-
istence under all reasonable and proba-
bic contingencies.
The preservation Of the national exis-
tcnce 10 the first object IL that be lost,
all is lost, and the loss is only aggrava-
ted by having incurred unavailing ex-
penscs, but,
2. National deienses ought to be sui
fcivn,--nol TO make injury impossible
bu,--to render it necessary for the ag
grrs.of to risk receiving greater inJu,
/ ry.
4 These two propositions, applicable TO
every country, under all circumstances
! appear SO selfevident, that, with the
! generality OF readers, any attempt to
prove would obscure them. From them
may be dsduced practical rules very
useful 10 guide any intelligent voter Oh
the general subjec, Of National dc'en'
ses
| Blu, before entering more minutcly in
10 the question with which we began, /
may be well hero to notice some Of the
errors opposed to these Fundamental
conditions.
II One of the most common is to subor
Il dinaie efficiency to economy. by ou
first condition il should be the reverse -
The security Of national existence is III,
frs, thing, and TO be provided for Il
whatever cost and the policy which il
guided by any other prIncIle, is blind
founded in error and ioly.
\ We must provide adequately for ma
tional defense. A system which doe
not do this, like u cheap garment tha
cannot be worn, Is dear because 1t doe
not answer the purpose.
A class Of minds 10 ap, to err in an oP
yoslte direction. PEOPLE Of this clas
are never satisfied with system Of ma
tional defense so long az they can lmag
ine a case in which II would fail. L,
surround the country with y chimes
wall of adamant, extending from th
depth Of the earth 10 the clouds woul
hardly appear to them sufficient, unIes
maue indesttuctlble and surmounied b,
,lceI less guard Of balloon catchers, Il
preven, an enemy riding on ~ind-bag.
irom scaling il. Our trs, condition cut
of oil e1usvagan, expenditure by re
quiring rovi,ion 10 be made only agai ~
reasonable and probable conIingeu
cies.' People much Impressed with tn
wisdom ofons psr,ieslar system Of n'