Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-12-05

be prompt and liberal. In considering the
state and management of the public reve-
nues, the sui ject involves the questions
whether we shall extinguish the surplus
by reducing payments on the public reve-
nues, or whether we shall apply the sur.
plus to payments on the public debt, or
whether we shall seize the occasion to
provide for our seacoast defenses, which
have been long neglected. I am of the
opinion that the latter is paramount ne
cessity which ought to precede the reduc-
ton OF the revenue, and ought also to pre-
cede an excessive rapidity in the payment
of the public debt. The property exposed
to destruction in the twelve seaports-
Portland, Portsmouth, Boston, Newport,
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Gal
weston and San Francisco-cannot be less
in value than
FIVE THOUSAND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
To this must be added vast amount of
property dependent for its use on these
seaports. Nor does this statement afford
a true measure Of the damage which
might be caused to the property and busi-
ness OF the country by failure to protect
these seapoIts from hostile naval attacks
They are the centers not only of foreign
commerce, but of most of the internal
bAAdO anu CAOhhnkCb VI OOhCotlC PiOouS-
tions. To this state Of things the ma
chinery of transportation Of the whole
country has become adapted. The inter
ruption of the currents of traffic by the
occupation OF one or more of our principal
seaports by foreign enemy, or the de-
struction OF them by bombardment, or
the holding over them the menace of de-
struction for the purpose of exacting con-
tribution or ransom, would infict upon
the property and business of the country
an injury which cannot here be foreseen
nor measured. The elaborate and costly
Notifications which we're conrtructed with
the greatest engineering skill are
NOw PRACTICALLY USELESS.
They are not capable of resisting the at
sseks of modern artillery. A still --r.,.sr
defect exists in our coas.t. usfsnses' The
range of the best modern artillery has be-
come SO extended that our present fortifi.
cations designed to protect the harbor of
New York, where t~o-thirds of the i'm
| port trade and more than one-half of the
export trade of the whole United States is
| carried Oh, are too near to the great popu.
lations of New York City, Jersey City and
Brooklyn to be OF any value as protec-
ton. To provide effectual defences would
be the work of years. 1t would take much
tlme 10 construct permanent Notifications.
A small provision OF the best modern guns
would take several years. Neither of
! these works can be extemporized in the
presence of imminent danger. 4 million
OF soldiers, with the best equipments, on
the nights surrounding the harbor of
New YORK, in our present state of prepara-
ton, or rather in our total want of prepara-
| ton, would be powerless to resist small
squadron of war steamers. This state OF
things is discreditable to our foresight aad
| to our prudence.
THE BEST GuAgANTRE
| against aggression, the bert assurance that
| our diplomacy win 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
i vIndlcate our reputation ard interests
While we may afford to be deficient in the
means OF offense we cannot afford to be
de.onseless. The notoriety of the fact that
I we have neglected the ordinary precautions
| OF defense, invites want Of consideration
in our diplomacy. injustice, arrogance and
insult at the hands of foreign nations. II
IS now more than sixty years since we an.
nounced to the world that we should re-
sist any attempts from whatever quarter
they might come, to make any ne~ colo
niZations on any part of the American
continent; that while we should respect
the status quo, we would protect people o
the different nations inhabitinc the CONT.
| nent from every attempt to subject them
t. the dominion of any European power, ol
| to interfere with their undisturbed exer.
else OF the rights of self-governme Mt Thi:
announcement was formally made by
President Monroe, after consultation with
Mr.. Madison and Mr.. Jefferson. 1t was
formulated bv John Q lincy Adams. Oul
| hao l,, -
THE MONROE DOCTRINE,
and even 80 late as 1865 it warned Napo
leon III out of Mexico. 1t is impossible
| to f1resee in the recent scramble of the
European powers for acq q1isition of colo
nies how soon an occasion may alise fol
our putting into practice the Monroe doc
| tIine. II is clear that there ought to be
some relstion between our assertion o
that doctrine and our preparation to main
tain it. 1t is not intended to recommend
any attempt to rival the great European
powers in the creation of powerful navy
The changes which have rapidly occurred
by the diminution of the relative resist
ing power of the defensive armor of iron
clsds, and by the increased efficiency o
modern artillery, which, on the whole
has gained in the competition, sugges
that we should not at present enter large
ly into the creation OF armored vessels
In the questions that heset this subject
until they shsll have reached q solution
we can content ourselves with adding bu
sparingly to our navy. But what we d(
add should he the very best that science
and experience can indicate. This pru
dental view is reinforced by the consider
alton that the annual charge CT main
tanning war vessel bears an importan
proportion to the original
| COST OF CONSTRUCTION.
In constructing permanent fortiticationi
and in providing an ample supply OF the
best modern artillery, tf annual cost O
| maintenance is insonsiderable. Nearly
the whole expenditure is in the oTigina
outlay for construction. Ii we do no
make the expenditure necessary to provide
for our seacosst defense when we have
surplus and have no need to levy new
taxes, we certainly will not make thos,
expenditures when we have no longer
surplus in the treasury. To leave our vas
interests defenseless in order to reduce the
cost of whisky to its consumers would b,
solecism. The present time is peculiarly
favorable for producing this great nationa
necessity too long neglected. Not onl,
does the surplus in the Treasury supply
| ample means to meet the great publi
want without laying new burdens upoi
the people, but the work can now be don,
| AZ much lower cost than has ever befor
been possible. Defensive works woul(
consist almost entirely of steel and iron
These materials can now be had at
UNPRECEDENTKDLY Low PRICES.
A vast supply of machinery and OF labor
called into existence by great vicissitudt
in the steel and iron industries, offers itsel
to our service. We should have the salts
faction of knowing that while We wer
availing ourselves of the supplies which
would ordinarily be unattainable, W
we're setting in motion important ind us
tries and giving employment to labor in
period of depression. With encourage
ment by the guarantee of work, or pei
haps by the government itself furDiship
the plant, the inventive genius of on
people would be applied to the creation G
new means and improved machiner
and establishments would spring into eS
istence capable of supplying all of the Ms
tional wants and rendering us completed
independent of all other countries in re
spect to the means OF national defense
endeavored to impress these ideas upo
Mr.. Randall the last time / had the plea
ure Of seeing him. With my highest T,
CARDS to Mrs. Carlisle and yourself, / II
main, very truly yours, S. J. TILDKN,
| To the Hon. John G. Carlisle