Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-12-12


any difficulty in tdevising profitable
plan to the country in getting clear OF
the accumulaiing surplus of money in
the United States Treasury. Especial
ly should there be no difficulty while
the country is without navy that
would be in keeping with its character
and standing as nation. A large
part Of the surplus could be probably
employ Ell in the construction OF iron
clads to take the place Of forts and
earth defences wherever they exist
along our coasts and on our rivers and
bays. There will be no use for them for
many years, perhaps never, but to be
prepared is to be forearmed. The best
way to prevent war is to be prepared
for war. In case of sudden Eruption
of peace with any of the leading ma
tons OF Europe, iron clad fleets could
be sent across the ocean and our large
cities would be at their mercy beyo
the feeble resistance that might be Of
fered by our old fashioned forts, which
are admitted by the best naval authori
ties not to be equal to iron clads. 1t
seems little like huge burlesque for
a nation like the United States with al
sea coast like hers running thousands of
miles on the two greatest oceans OF the
world to have practically no navy.
Evidently it would be the wisest Of
Craftsmanship for Congress to take a
part of that surplus complained of, or
all of it if need be, and construct navy
commensurate with the standing and
acknowledged greatness Of the United
Stat as D nation.
But there are other ways by which
this surplus can be put to practical
use. An attempt has been made to
stigmatize the plan as dishonest grab
into the public treasury of the nation
but the more it is looked at the more
foolish and ridiculous become the futile
objections to appropriations for the i'm,
provements Of bays, harbors and rivers
at the public expense. 1t is only when
appropriations are made for some con-
pressional district that has neither har-
Dor, bay or river of national importance
to improve, merely to satisfy some
troublesome Congressman, that objec-
lions could be consistently made to
river or harbor Improvements.
This of course should not be done,
but every harbor that is made more Sc
cure for shipping, every river that is
made more easy to navigate, every ob
stacle that is removed, are all so many
additions to the security and prosperity
Of the nation.
And there is still another plan by
which some OF the surplus revenue
could be applied to good advantage.
but it is a plan which some over-quick
ened coDsciences have denominated
as unjust, and consequently for the
sake of being seemingly just the United
States are losing millions every year
which properly belong to her.
We allule of course in this conneC-
ton to the neglect or rather refusal of
vessels for carrying the United States
mails to and from South America and
other countries on the Western Cont
nsnt, the trade of which properly be-
Government has been so conscientious
ly ca opposed TO subsidies for ocean
lines Of steamers, European countries
have been entirely clear Of such con-
sCientions quallns aud have literally
subsidized their ocean lines aud have
as a consequence robbed u, OF our South
American trade. No wonder the | III
ted States merchant marine is of no
effect, and We are losing the ocean ear
ryius trade under such discrimination
against the mercantile interests Of the
country. Was there ever such Il penny
wise and pound Il dish system praC
tictd by Sny utner nation OF III. world "
Millions i'll the treas ury, aud the Coun
try without IA navy ! Millions IN the
treasury and our harbOrs Insecure and
rivers unavailable Millions III tie
treasury and no ocean lines Of steamers
that can successfully compete VITA the
lines of other nations i'll the carrying
trade This is ridiculous in he cX
treme. Why does not Congress TAX
the matter in hand and spend these mil
lions III building naval vessels, II
improving harhors and rivers, in 81 osi.
dizing.steamers for carrying the United
States ma Is and bringing the trade O
other nations to the shores Of the Uni
ted State See what an army Of mel
out Of employment could be given worE
and wages See how il would lessen thu
cry of hard times
1t would be better to spend this sur
plus N National Improvements than u
cut down the import duties On foreign
goods which make the surplus, whicl
modern day tariff revenue reformer'
and free traders are attempting to do
The surplus would be none too large /
judiciously expended. The latter i
what is wanted. Let the surplus CONF
and grow larger, but let it be spent II
National improvements which will Civ
work and wages to people who meet II