St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-21

the CaPe Of Coca Hope, not to mention the
possibilities growing from the attitude OF the
United States toward the Irish dyn2nniters.
sorneof these complications, and many 9TH
ers, were mentioned by the speakers, as rea-
sons why the country should at once proceed
to strengthen itself by the erection OF de-
fenses along the sea coast, and on the ap-
proacbes Of the more important inland
towns.
enc would think that England might rely
on its monst7ous feet, but even in this dr..
rection the members Of the institute found
but little comfort. The armed feet is large
one to be sure, but in case Of war it viii be
needed to guard colonial interests, to act
as conveys for merchantmen, and to act
against the enemy at distant points. This
would not leave any considerable force for
guarding the menaced seaports. 1t was fur
Their shown that there IS to be depended on
in case of war, for home de-
Tense, only 100000 regular troops,
$4,000 reserves, $4,000 militia, 11,000
yeomanry, and 207, 900 volunteers, in all
only some 470, 600 men for the protection OF
the fright little, tight little island" These
facts show that Great Britain is in q shocking
condition, and that it will be mere luck, or
an advantageous dispensaton Of Providence
alone that viii prevent the entire country
falling into the hands of the enemy in case
Of an invasion from France, ireland, or even
a platoon Of carpetbag dynamiters from the
United States.
If Great Britain is IN this shocking con
dition with the most powerful navy in the
world, and half a million troops available 10
guard territory triae larger than Mime
sofa, what is the position of this country in
comparison? We have hundreds of times as
much territory to beguarded. We have only
some 20, 600 soldiers TO be called on in case
+ of emergency, and our entire navy does not
amount to the value Of the British n-boat,
the Inhexible If Great Britain is alarmed
what should be the state OF mind Of
the patriots of this countrya We have our In
dians to police; our relations with Mexico
are never quite satisfactory; there is a grow
ing belief that some day not very dista MT
there VIII be trouble with Spain on account
OF Cuba; the question Of the De Lesseps ca
nal is coming and viii be sure to breed
trouble, while the role we have assumed in
announcing and asserting our intention to
enfore the Monroe doctrine over all this con-
tinent viii, in time, lead to complications
whose. end viii be war.
All this scare in England among military
men is an absurdity, and tends to prove what
many have already suspected, that Great
Britain is a great, oyergroWn, commercial
calf that is always apprehensiye of some ter
rible danger, and is always running and bel
lowing as was said of Falstaff by Prince Hal.
It has not within the last half century at
tackled any enemy Of its size. It fought in
the Crimea with the French and the Turks as
allies, and it is historical that the French
did all the vital fighting that was done during
the contest. Since that period it has fought
Beers, Afghans, Abyssinians, zulus, emas-
culated Egyptians, naked Nubians,
and Niam-Niams from the Soudanese
deserts; and this is all. at
this moment with over 600 armed vessels on
the seas, with some 200, 900 available troops
in India, half million at home which may
be called into immediate active service, and
100000 regular troops on foreign service,
making in all, according to the official re-
ports an army Of some 100000 men which
may be modified and brought into service
without delay, Great Britain is in state Of
ludicrous terror over a possible invasion, and
is proposing a vast line Of coast Notifications
and internal defences.