Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-08
DAILY POST.lNTELLIGENcER
ma TILoss,. LETrEs

The letter OF Samuel j. Iildsn warn
ing the cosntry Of the danger Of sl.Js-
ing our seapsrt cities 10 remain a. tne
mercy Of any foe Who msy choose - at
tack them, lie vorthy Of tbs most re
speetfui consideration. Est alone OF Mr..
Carlisle, 90 whom !, IL directly sd-
dressed. not alone Of Congress to ~n0tn
4. is indirectly addressed, bat o. all the
people. Any Suggestion a. 70 the policy
of tna Government, any warning o. =
. danger, any opinion on snslest OF
pabiie interest from sges q source,
should not be lightly regarded. MI
Tilden. perhaps, is better qasiinsd than
any other living man 20 speak With vis-
dom and caud1f Of tue duties aud nsees-
sities Of The Amsriesn people Intense
ly American In his feelings, retired for-
ever from ssliss participation "a poll
ties. sHh g mind thoroughly sehoolec
in the science Of gov rnn1snt and stored
with Information Of q prscii al and
u.eful kind, a zord from him should
not be unheeded. Ia this case, hoSeVer'
the warning IL cot bis alone. he voices
a Sentiment which 10 shared by every
American who IL both pa;riotis and in
telligent. he points oas need which
nobody fails TO recognize. He rebukes
the Government for lack Of foresight
and a negligence Ehieh cannot be de-
Tended.
I, IL impossible 10 Justify the false
economy which has resulted 10 leaving
the vas, amount Of property in the ei-
ties Of the Atlantic. Calf and Pacific
coasts undefsnded. Is has been spily
compared with the economy Of mah
who, living in a neis hborhood infested
with burglars. would not purchase Q
lock for his front door. No one can be
found who will sdduce an Argument
against the necessity Of providing coast
defsnsss; the officers OF the respective
bureaus of the War Department hare
used the plainest language IN discussing
this matter in their reports year after
year, yet year after year their loud
warnings have fallen on heedIess ears,
and Congress has failed TO listen to the
plainest dictates of prudence.
The people are bat just awakening to
q realization Of the utterly defsnseleas
condition In which our cities have been
allowed to fall. Ii Is probable that at
the Gloss Of the Rebellion ths United
States possessed the most powerful ar
tillefy that the world had ever seen. bot
since that time We have utterly failed
10 prsit by the vast improvement which
other nations have made Ia ordnance
and fortifiostions. There Is not forth
hoation on our coast watch could make
Q formidable resistance TO tue attack Of
Q modern iroselad nset. The United
States Government does not possess Q
singie piece u ordnance which could bs
relied upon to do serious damage TO q
modern ironulid. IL possesses only tso
guns whish could be reasonably ex
pected 10 do the slightest damage 10
such vessel. The Notifications Of New
York harbor, for instasoe, would nc
more be able TO check the approach OF
such Q deet as England, France, Ger
many, Russia. Italy OF Spain could send
across the Atlantic than boy would be-
able 10 sink canal boat with a pea
shooter. lndesi, even II il were other
wise, the present defsnses Of New York
are useless, az a d set coul lie in til,
outer harbor out of range Of their gun,
and lay the city In ashes.
Nor could these defects be easily
remedied II an emergency should arise
A gan eqasl to toe heavy gans possessed
by England, France. Italy, Germany
Austria or Russia could not be built IN
tbs United States in less time than
eighteen nonths. II plant for building
10 existed Ia this country aud ever,
facility for the ~srk Was at hand. Ia
fortunately, however, no sash plan
exists, nor could one be constructed IL
less than three years Nor could W,
count upon purchasing guns in + Itop,
to be delivered ia less than two years
even II We should be permitted to bring
them across the Atlantic after they had
beeu secured.
In the matter Of Notifications we ar,
fully AZ helpless a. in that of ordnance
The old style stone fortihoations and
sarthworks have been rendered useless,
BY the great improvements in modern
artillery. The Notifications Of the
future mast be Of iron. and We have nc
plant 81 which the enormous plate,
necsssary for their construction could
b successfully cast. Ia short, We are
utterly al the mercy Of any Zoe. As a
recent writer says. III would take a,
last six years 10 pot our eoas, In the
condition OF defense In which u should
Do al this noment. and Who wos ia
guarantee that we will be al peace with
all the world for the next sir yeany'
Congress mag not listen to Mr.. Til.
dsn's warning. bu, she people have
already heard IL They desire eagerly
aad earnestly that the blindness and
folly which have characterized the
treatment Of the question by pas, Cos-
sressss shall no, be displayei again.