The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-01-13
Washington Letter.
Correspondence ofthe democratic Advocated

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 9Th, 1888.
Every wear about this time trained host
of LOBBYISTS and contractors are louoIy grl3eSveu
because we have no big guns or SHIPS Eng
land. France and Italy, they lament nave
larger guns and ships than we nave anu M Elea
nndooyor tn scare the "children' ofthe United
Stats into the contribution of millions OF aol,
lars by picturing the coast OF the OmteG
Sto+as defenceless and at the mercy OF colossal
n;rates in ironclads There is no end to such
nIatitudes as "In time of peace prepare lor
war; These lobbyists, contractors ana the
army and naval officers who encourage them,
would have the United States like sWaggerc
ing bully, ever ready for fight. In time OF
neace and prosperity the occupation OF the
army and navy and the manufacturer OF war
Sn,1pIias Is zone; hence these tears. Now,
anart from the fact that man with emp on
bis shoulder and revolver IN his pocket is
much more likely to get into fight and be IN
tho wrong than the man who attends to MS
business. there are other reasons why we
should neither spend money nor energy Tor
offensive or defensive ornaments now. The
first reason is that we are not IN the slightest
danger of attack. There is not and there has
not been for sixty years cdSuS Oet1 between
the United States and any formidable power.
There has been no dispute with any country
| tbonGbt of firing gun. We have never had
any quarrel with any great powers except
| England and France. The causes and COM
plications which keep Europe filled with col
| tossal armies are only safeguards for US. Not
even England, with her insular security, dares
to lower her guard by the dispatch OF war ships
to this country. But, to suppose the lmpos-
sible. let it be assumed that England will send
half dozen of her big ships here. The cause
for such expedition will be known from one
to five years in advance, and either period
will be sufficient to enable us to built coast
defences, and even floating batteries and
rams, and to SOW our ports with torpedoes.
1t will also give us time to drive English COM
merce from the seas with privateers, to say
nothing of the occupation of Canada. Does
any one suppose England will risk the de-
| struction of her commerce, which is as much
the breath of her life as agriculture is ours,
| If, then, England cannot afford to fight us;
how much less can France, Russia, Germany
or Italy, each of which countries is sleeping
| on its arms, afraid to weaken its defence by
| the loss of a brigade or ship. Besides, there
is no more likelihood of our having quarrel
with them than with Sweden or Denmark.
Indeed, we are entirely exempt from the ne
cessity of maintaining military and naval es-
adjustments If England is safe because of
the 'slver-streak'' that divides her from the
continent, how much safer are we, who are
| divided by a streak more than one hundred
times as wide.
No one knows the future, and there may
come a time when we will need ships and
guns, but it is certain that if we build them
now they will be obsolete and useless when
we want them For the last fifteen years the
powers of Europe have been entertaining
themselves by building first ship that will
withstand any gun, and then gun that will
pierce any ship. They have now, believe,
ships steel -plated to the thickness OF three
feet, and guns that will throw steel-pointed
shot of about fifteen hundred pounds, and
they are still adding to the thickness of their
armor and the size of their guns These are
very costly experiments, and it would seem to
| be our policy to let them work out their re-
d,tctiO dd a6sudum. when we may profit by
their mistakes. 1t will be time enough for us
to make an appropriation when they have per-
formed the miracle of making gun that will
annihilate any ship, and ship that will with
stand any gun.
There is no public sentiment in favor of the
increase of the army or navy. The sentiment
that favors such increase is very private and
select. General Sherman favors it because
he is the centre of military coterie that has
no army for background and is naturally
feeling very much out of place. Secretary
Lincoln favors it because he is cOrralled by
General Sherman and West Point. Secretary
Chandler favors it because he is surrounded
by host of dry land Rear Admirals, who, as
the French would say, have no rdisOn d etre,
and who, literally translated, are ducks out of
water. Behind them all are a host of vora
cious contractors and a full and overlooking
treasury, continually increased by swollen
revenue G.. A. S.