Morris tribune., 1885-12-09
MILLIONS FOR DEFENSE.
A LETTER or THE GREYSToNE SAGE
TO CARLISLE
Urging the Appropriation Of the. Treas,
uxy Surplus to the Construction Of
Coast Defenses-what May he In-
YOlved in Further Delay.

NEW York, Dec 7.-Samuel J. Tilder
has written TO Mr.. Carlisle, speaker of che
last house of representatives, the following
letter ON seacoast defenses, dated at Grey
stone, MFR. Tilden's home in Yonkers
Dec. /.
"As public opinion points to you as the
| speaker Of the next house of representa-
| tives, I desire to submit suggestion
as to one of the public objects for
which an appropriation ought to be pro
vided, and literally. In considering the
state and management Of the public revenues
| the subject involves the questions whether
| we shall extinguish the surplus by reducing
| the revenue; or, whether we shall apply the
surplus TO payments ON the public debt; or,
whether we shall seize the occasion to pro-
vide for our seaconst defenses, which have
been long neglected am Of the opinion
that the latter is a paramount necessity
which ought to precede the reduction of the
revenue, and ought, also, to precede an ex-
cessive rapidity in the payment Of the pub
lie debt
s'The property exposed to destruction in
the twelve seaports-POrtland, Portsmouth,
Boston, Newport, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, New Or
leans, Galveston and San Francisco-can
not be less in value than $5, ,000, 100000 To
this must be added a vast amount of prop
erty dependent for its use on these seaports
Nor does this statement afford true meas
ure Of tho damage which might be caused to
the property and business Of the country by
a failure to protect these seaportsfrom hostile
naval attacks. They are the centers, not
the internal trade and exchanges Of domes-
To c< -
machinery Of transportation Of the whole
tion of the currents of traffic by the occupa-
ton Of one or more of our principal sea-
ports by foreign enemy, or the destruction
Of them by bombardment, or the holding
over them the menace Of destruction for the
purpose Of exacting contribution or ransom,
would inflict upon the property and business
Of the country an injury which can neither
be foreseen nor measured"
Mr.. Tilden then says our present defenses
are utterly worthless in the face Of modern
improvements in the science of war, and
that proper defenses can not be provided in
the presenceof emergent danger; thatthe con-
dition of our seacoast defenses is discredita-
BILE to us, and that the best security against
attack is to be prepared for it, while lack of
preparation invites it. The government is
committed to the Monroe doctrine, and it is
clear that there ought to be some relation
between our assertion Of that doctrine and
our preparation to maintain it.
Mr.. Tilden disclaims any desire to have
the government attempt to rival the Euro
pean powers in this matter; but suggests
that to leave our vast interests defenseless in
order to reduce the cost of whisky to its
consumers would be solecism. He concludes
as follows: "The present time is peculiarly
favorable for providing for this great
national necessity, too long neglected. Not
only does the surplus in the treasury supply
ample means to meet this great public want
without laying new burdens upon the peo-
pie, but the work can now hei done at q
much a0wer cost than has ever before
Deen possible. The defensive works would
consist almost entirely of steel and iron.
These materials can now be had at unprec-
edentedly low prices A vast supply of
machinery and labor called into existence
by great vicissitude in steel and iron in
dustries offers itself to our service We
should have the satisfaction of knowing that
while we were availing ourselves of the sup
plies which would ordinarily be unattaina-
bic, we were setting in motion important
industries and giving emplo ynnent to labor
in a period of depression. With encour-
agement by the guaranty of work, or, per-
haps, by the government itself furnishing
the plant, the inventive genius of our people
would be applied to the creation OF new
means and improved machinery, and estab-
ishments would spring into existence capa-
ble of supplying all Of the national wants,
and rendering us, completely Independent Of
all other countries in respect to the means of
national defense" ..s..,.
WAsHINaToN CrTT; Dec Speaker Car
Isle, when asked for an expression of opin-
ion regarding Mr.. Tilden's letter, said: 81
have not yet received it, although it may
now be with my Epeaifat the capitol. Any
Suggestions By Mr. TAden ooncerping public
matters are entitled to most respectful con-
and when it is received shah
give it. careful consideration.n