The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-12-12
Ti.den Oh Coast D6f5nces.


New YORK, Dec. 4. The Hon. s.
j. TiIdeu has written long letter to
the Hon. John G. Carlisle, in which
after declaring that public opinion
points to Mr., Can !isIe as speaker of
the next House, submits suggestion
AS to one of the public objects for
which an appropriation ought to he
prompt and literal. The Sage of
Graystone then points out that pro
vision for our sea coast d Licences is a
paramount necessity. and should pre.
cede the reduction of the revenue and
excessive rapidiIy in paying thppup.
lie debt. The properly exposed to
destruction in the twelve seap0r;s-
Portland, Portsmouth, Boston, New
port. New York, Philadelphia, Bal
tim0re, Charleston, Savannah M
Orleans, Galveston, and San Fran
cisco-canaOt 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 State
ment afford a true measure of the
damage which might be caused to
the property and business of the
country 10y failure to protect these
seaports from hostile naval attacks.
The best guarantee against aggFeS-
sion, the best assurance that our di
pl0maCy will he successful and pacific
and that our rights and honor will be
respected Ivy other nations, is, in their
knowledge, that we are in situation
to VindIcate our reputation and inter
e5ts. While we may afford to he de.
tlclent in the means of offence, we
cannot afford to be defenceless. The
nOtoriety of the fact that we have
neglected the ordinary precautions of
defence invites want of consideration
In our diplomacy, injustice, arrogance
and insult at the hands of foreign ma
tons. 1t Is now more than sixty
years since we announced to the
world that we should resist any at
tempts, from whatever quarter they
might come, to make any new COLON
lZatIOn on any part of the American
continent that while we should re.
spect the status quo, We should pro-
tect the people of The different nations
inhabiting This continent from every
attempt to subject them to domin-
ion of any European power, or 20 in
Z tai"}Sc. &. with their uIniioi4lhe(fexrf
else of the rights of self government.
This announcement was formally
made Ivy President Monroe, after
consultation with Mr.. Madison AMI
Mr.. J9fftrOn. 1t was formulated Ivy
John Quincy Adams. Our govern
ment has firmly adhered to the Mon,
roe doctrine, and even so late as 1860,
it warned Napoleon III. out of Mex
leo. 1t is impossible 20 fOrpSee in the
recent scramble of the European
powers for acquisition of colonies,
how soon an OCCASION may arise for
our putting in practice the Monroe
doctrine. 1t is clear that there ought
to be some relation between our as
sertiOn of that doctrine and our prep.
aration to maintain it. 1t is not in.
tended to recommend any attempt to
rival the great European powers in
the creation of Il powerful navy. To
leave our vast interests defpnceleSS,
in order to reduce the cost of whisky
otis consumers, would he a snleciSEl.
The present time is peculiarly favor.
able for providing for this great ma
tional necessity, too long neglected.
Not only does the surplus in the
Treasury supply ample means to meet
this great public want without lay.
ing new burdens upon the people,
but the work can now be done at a
much lower cost than has ever before
been possible.