Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-12-20
,r armfnr our coasts and navy

guns, mostly rifles and heavy ROd- +
man smoDth-bores. Six of these
ships are f1rst-elass iron-clad frigates,
and seven Others are Of the ID class /
of armored ships.
In our own navy, according to the /
report of the Secretary, we have |
eighty-one ships Of all classes; and
to this number is to be aided four |
monitors and eight tugs, which can |
be fitted for cruisers or torpedo |
boats, makinga total of ninety-three
vessels that could in time be fitted
for service.
We have not a sea-going irOn-clad
in our navy. Monitors cannot re-
main at sea, even if they could be
kept afioat in all weather; they can
not carry a supply of fuel for more
than few days and do not carry
sail. Their turret ports are SO near
the water that in rough weather
they could not be opened; and, more
than all, an S-ineh rifle at sixty
yards can riddle their turret plating
in half an hour.
The piercing power OF an S-inch
rifle is, theoretically, nine and eight
tenths inches 1T 500 yards and nine
and five-tenths at 1000 yards. A
target of l1-inch Iaminated plates is
equal in resistance to six inches OF
solid iron platings. Our monitors
are covered with eleven inches of
plates, each of one inch thick, laid
one over another, and at short range
could not resist the 8-inch rifle of
the Spanish Navy, ranyother, and
would be destroyed by a gun of
larger calibre at long range.
Our one large rife 24-inch), now
at Sandy Hook. cost about SIS, 000.
This gun has proved the equal, if
not the superior, of any gun of
foreign manufacture of equal cali
bre. 1t throws a shot weighing
/ from six hundred to seven hundred
pounds. (See report of Chief of Ord
nance for 1878, in which for results,
the American gun is pronounced
decidedly" superior TO the krupp
and Italian gunsl, which use heavi-
er charges than are required for ours
/ to do the same work that they Go.
Herr Krupp, in response to pro-
poSaI from our officers to giVea price
/ for a Finch rifle, offered to manu-
/ facture and place on board ship for
transportation Il Pinch rifle for the
sum of 500, 900 in gold, the condi-
/ lions being that the gun : ould be
tested under his own supervision.
This is nearly double the cost OF an
American cast-iron gun of superior
capacity and, as experience proves,
equally safe and effective.
Because we have escaped the pc
\ nalities of our Indifference SO many
wears is no guarantee of such good
fortune in the future. The property
owners of New York, Boston, Phil
adelphia and Baltimore, and the
coast cities generally, North and
South, will hold somebody reSpOn-
sible for this perilOus condition when
the situation is thoroughly under
stood.
Economy based upon the idea
that we can afford to postpone the
work of suitably equpping our for
tifications until a crisis arises, may
prove delusion, and IF course will
If we postpone action long enough.
If foreign power desire to bring
on a war with us, for any purpose
whatever, the fact that we are help
less and unprepared will stimulate
the motive TO hunt for pretext.
A government based upon the
will Of 50,O00,000 of people, rich,
prosperous and Astounding in resOur-
ces, without the common means OF
defense of its honor and interests,
. presents a sorry spectacle TO the
world.
OF course, Mr.. Speaker, member
of this House of my economic no.
tions, yesterday eXpressed-b0th as
to domestic frugality and foreign
trade-loving and believing in the
persuasive influences of free inter
course and reciprocal advantages
would naturally be diSinclined tC
vote inOrdinate OUTLAWS for harbOl
defenses. He would prefer the cheap
defense of fair customs duties and
enlarged liberalities; but the millen-
MUM which ushers in his localities
has not yet begun to dawn, and he
mast consider contingencies of Omi-
nous aspect.
Am told that there is no danger
a breaking out of hOstilitieS with
other countries, and therefore ne
need of making appropriations fol
the armament of our forts? The
time has not yet come for the liOr
and the lamb to lie down together;
the ploughshare and pruning-hOOk
are liable at any time to be convert
ed into the bayOnet and sword. The
history of recent wars in Europe
Asia and Africa is lesson of warn
ing to Us. Our increasing trade and
growing relations with other cOun-
tries admonish us to be ready al
least for defense if not for aggres
sion.
Think of our critical relations
with Spain! How often in late years
have we been on the verge of con
tiict with Spain? Her present com
merical relations with us are per
petual menace. Her tariff SO dis
eliminates against this country that
it il almost robbery. When we con-
slider our exports and imports IL
Cuba alone, the discrimination
against us is so marked an evidence
of selfishness and enmity that it is
almost caS,tS bplH. For five years,
from 1872 to 1876, we bought of Cuba
on an average each year goods to
. the value of $71 1864 ,327, while we
, sold but SI5, 465, I39. This ltaves the
enormous balance against us OF $780,
1893. 1885, During these years we pur-
chased of Cuba to the amount oil
1856. 82I ,638, while Cuba only bought
in all ST., 330, $50, leaving trade
balance against us of $279, $50, $40.
During the past twenty years Cuban
exports to the United States have
been increased at least 100 per cent.
over our exports to Cuba, which
have remained sta iOnery. We have
been Spain's best customer, especial
" in sugars. Yet how shabbily and
Ineanly are we treated by her. The
Spanish tariff favOrs her own YES
sells to such an extent as to deny TO
us advantages given other countries.
Here is a statement OF this rank in
justice:
A barrel of flour of Spanish pro-
duction imported in Spanish YES
sci would pay duty offs %.
The same -four imported in for
eign vessel would pay $3.50.
A barrel of fiOu. of foreign pro-
duction imported in a Spanish YES
sci from any country except the
United States would pay $4.694.
The same -four imported in for
eign vessel would pay 1851.
The discrimination against the
United States can be realized when
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