The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-03

squarely sets its face against
the defense OF the country,
against insult, or invasion. He
said: "You representatives of this
great and gall3nt nation, which has
turned its back on no foe. and has ev-
er been victorious; you of the gallant
south, and you of the independent
and sturdy north, this is not a par
ty question. 1t is question of the
/ whole nation. Let us close our ranks
and give to the people cf this country
assurance that there is in these cham
| bers patriotic and not partisan as
sembly. Let us fortify our sea coast,
and then we can say to all the powers
of Europe: "Come on, and you
will find the reception found in
Greece-that every spot of our
soil shall be the grave of hero
or an invader" That every spot
of our soil shall be held sacred to lib
erty, and that the American army can
prove again its supremacy in the sun
light OF liberty, and place the stars
and stripes above any empire which
seeks to pollute our soil with the tread
of mercenary hosts" (Applause)
Mr.. Holman criticised the provis-
ions of the majority report on the bill,
and the principle on which it was
founded. When it was considered
that the country was at peace with
all the world, and was free from any
entangling foreign alliance, the Am
erican people could not sympathise
with an effort IN the present congress
TO create great navy, and make
great preparation for the national de-
Tense. In the event of a contest
arising the torpedo system and not |
Notifications would be the agency
by which our harbors would be de-
Tended. The expense of civil war had |
shown that defenses were improvISed |
as occasion required, and that money |
spent in great Notifications had been |
wasted. The forts on the Mississippi |
river. constructed with the greatest |
care. had not been able to stop the |
progress of even ordinary wooden
ships. There was no excuse, there
was no Justification far taking from
the, People their hard canned
earnings foa the purpose of
initiating policy which, in foreign
countries, had produced woe and ago.
ny of mankind.
Mr.. Follett advocated the minority
bill, declaring the policy of the major
Ivy JILL w OudU |
lowthe footsteps of Europe. The ap-
in the latter bill were but
the entering wedge, and if $3,OOO,OOO
were appropriated, this year. much
larger sum would be asked for in fu-
ture years. There was no danger of
the invasion OF this country. The
masses of the people of the world
were in sympathy with the
people of America, and they
would be the last people who
would be attacked by foreign na-
ion unless there is reaction at home
more destructive than any destruction
by dynamite, he had
10 fear of any nation on earth, even .
hough the United States had not a
,un or ship.
Mr.. Dorsheimer advocated the ma !
ority report and said it was in the !
,ower of several European govern
nents to lombard every American
ity on the Atlantic sea coast. The
river was deep enough to
oat the heaviest battle ship up to l
Matches, and the cities along that 1
tream would be as much at the
mercy of European fleets as wonld )
(ew York or Philadelphia i
lie condemned the policy of false L
economy: and asked what is to be done
With the vast surplus which a mon I
trous taxation has brought in the !
reasury. Every effort, IN this house, {
D reduce taxation has failed. He y
7ould go home to his constituents. y
nd when they asked him what con-
ress had accomplished, he would be
BILE to say that $1,000 would be saved =
y cutting down the salaries of sec ~ ~
etaries of legation, and $1,000 by cut u u
ing the salarys of the minister at n n
tome. =
The committee rose and Mr.. Elliot, 9
rom the committee on elections, re- J
orted resolution declaring Jno. S.
Wise entitled to retain his seat as rep
sentative at large from Virginia
he views of the minority was pre-
ented by Mr.. Turner and ordered to
e printed. T
Mr.. Rosecrans presented a confer c
nee report on on the bill to provide v
)r the disposition of abandoned and h
seless military reservations. Agreed a