Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-05

Savannah and Eleven other Great Cities
Which are at the Mercy of Foreign
FOes-OppOrtuneness Of the Present
Period for Accomplishing the Work
Necessary.
NEW YORK, Dec. 4.-Hon. Samuel j.
Tilden has sent the following letter to
Hon. John G. Carlisle:
GREYsTONE,
YONKERs, N. Y, Dee. !, 1885.
DEAR Mr.. CARLIsLE-As public opinion
points to you as the Speaker of the next House
OF Representatives, desire to submit sug
gestlon as to one of the public objects for
Whlcn an appropriation ought to be prompt
ana liberal, In considering the state and man
| agement Of the public revenues the subject
| Involves the questions whether we shall eN-
tinguish the surplus by reducing the revenue,
or whether we shall apply the surplus to pay
ments on the public debt, or whether we shall
! seize the occasion TO provide fer our seacoast
defenses, which have been long neglected.
A PARAMOUNT NECESSITY.
| am of tine opinion that the latter is a par
amount necessity, which ought to preceue
| reduction of the revenue, and ought also TO
precede excessive rapiditv in the payment of
/ the public debt. The property exposed TO de-
struction in the twelve seaports of Portland,
! Portsmouth, Boston, Newport, New York,
| Philadelphia. Baltimore, Charleston, Savan-
| nah, New Orleans, Galveston and San Fran
| cisco cannot be less in value than $4,000 000,-
| Gee
CENTRES OF COMMERCE.
| To this must be added the vast amount Of
| property dependent for use on these seapOrts,
| nor does this statement afford the true meas
| ure OF damage which might be caused to the
| property and business of the country by fail
| ure to protect these seaports from hostile
/ naval attacks. They are the centres, not
| only Of foreign commerce, but of most inter
| nal trade and exchanges OF domestic produc-
| tion5. To this state Of thlngs the machinery
"a ~ IN trrh uf nv 10 hn
] come adapted.
| TREMENDOUS INTERESTS INVOLVED.
Interruption OF the currents of traffic by
! the occupation of one or more of our princ-
| pal seapOrts by foreign enemy, or the de-
| structlOn of them 10y bOmbardment, or hold
| ing over them the menace OF destruction for
| the purpose OF eXacting contribution or ran
| som, would inilict on The property ana busi-
! ness OF the country injury which can neither
! be fOreseen nor measured. The elaborate and
| costly fortihcatons which were constructed
with the greatest engineering skill are now
| practically useless. They are not capable of
| resisting the attacks Of modern artillery.
NEW YORK's DANGER.
A still greater defect exists in our coast de-
| lenses. The range Of the best modern artillery
| has become so extended that our present fOrti-
| tications designed to protect the harbor of
| New York, where twO-thirds of the import
| trade ana more than half of the export trade
| OF the whole United states IS carried on. are
| too near TO the great Dopulationso of New York
city. Jersey City and Brooklyn to be of any
| value as protection. To provide efectual
| defenses would be the work of years. It.
would take much time to construct permanent
| forti6catiOn, A small provision of the best
! modern guns would take several years.
| Neither OF these works can be eXtempOrized
| in the presence of emeTgent danger.
100000 SOLDIERS WOULD BE USELESS.
A million soldiers with the best equipments
| on the heights surrounding the harbor of
| New ork in our present state OF prepara-
tiOn or rather in our total want of prepara-
| t1On. would be pOwerless to resist a
small squadron of war steamers This
| state of things is discreditable to our
| foresight and prudence. The best guarantee
against aggression. the best assurance that
| our diplomacy Will be successful and pacific
and that our rights and honor will be respected
| by other nations is in their knowledge that
we are in situation to vindicate our reputa-
tion and interests.
CANNOT AFFORD TO BE DEFENsFLEss.
While we may afford to be deficient in
| means OF offence, we cannot afford to be defense
| less. The nOtOriety OF the fact that we have
neglected the ordinary precautions OF defense
/ invites want of consideration in our diplomacy,
! and injustice, arrogance, ana insult at the
| hands of foreign nations. 1t is no more than
| go years since we announced to the world that
we should resist any attempts from whatever
| quarter they might come to make any new
| colonization on any part of the American
continent. that while we should respect status
| quo we should protect the people OF the dif-
| terent nations inhabitng thus continent from
| every attempt to subject them to the dOmina-
| tiOn OF any foreign power. or to interfere with
their undlsturbed exercise Of the rights of
| self government.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
This announcement was formally made by
| President Monroe after consultation with Mr..
| Madison and Mr.. Jefferson. 1t was fOrmu-
| lated by John Quincy Adams. Our govern
ment has firmly adhered 10 the Monroe doc
| trine, G1d even so late as 1855 10 warned Ma
| pOleOn out Of Mexico. IL is impossible 70
! foresee in the recent scramble OF European
! powers for the acquisition of colonies how
/ soon an occasion may arise for our putting in
| practice the Monroe doctrine. II is clear that
! there oug ght to be some relation between our
| assertion of that doctrine and our prepara-
! tion to MAINTAIN it,.
NO RIVALRY INTENDED.
| II is not intended to recommend any at
| tempt TO rival the great European powers in
the creation OF powerful navy. The
| changes which have rapidly occurred by the
/ diminution OF the relative resisting power Of
| the defensive Of On-clads and by the in
creased efficiency In modern artillery, which
| on the whole had gained in competition, sug-
gest that We should not at present enter
largely into the creation OF armored vessels.
QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY.
In the questions that beset this subject until
| they shall have reached a solution, we can
| content ourselves with adding but sparIngly
! TO our navy, hut what we do add should be
/ the very best that science and experience can
indicate. This prudential view Is reinforced
| by the consideration that the annual charge
Of maintaining q war vessel bears an i'm
| portant proportion to the origin cost Of con-
| struction. In constructing permanent forth
| fcations and providing an ample supply OF
the best modern artillery, the annual cost OF
| maintenance is inconsdeTable. Nearly the
whole expenditure ~ IN the original outlay
| for construction.
THIS THE TIME FOR THE WORK.
II we do not make the expenditure neees-
| gary 20 provide for our 5eaCOast delcnCea hen
| we have a aurpus and have no need 10 levy
4 new taxes we certainly viii not make those
! expenditures whom We have no longer y SUR
| Mus In the treasury Toleave our vast inter
/ ests defenceess In order to reduce the cost OF
| whisky TO its consumers would be a sOleciem.
| The present time Is peculiarly favorable for
providing for this national necessity too great
| long neglected. Not only does the surplus in
the Treasury supply ample means 10 meet this
great public want without laying new bur
| dens upon the people, but the work can now
be done at much lower cost than has ever be-
| fore been possible.