The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-12-10
PROTECTIVE COAST
the VOICE OF aREYsT0NE's
SAGE.
An snierts'i"s Letter from the
Hon. Sa aslsucl J. fiIden 10
Speaker Carlisle ON
Leading Issues.

Speaker Carlisle ON
| Leading Issues.
NEW York, Dec AIR. Samuel
J. Tiiden hns sent the following tn
Hon. J. G. Carlisle:
"GREYsToNE."
YnNKEHs. N. T.. Dec 4, IS.
Dear Mr.. Carlisle:
As public opinion points to you
rs the next Speaker Of the House
of Representatives, l desire 10 sub
nit a suggestion as to one of the
public objects for which an appro-
priat'on ought 10 be prompt and
liberal.
In considering the state and man
sgement of the public revenues. he
subject involves the questions
whether we shall exsingnish the
surplus by reducingthc revenue, or
whether We shall apply the surplus
to payments on the public debt. or
whether we shall seize tho occasion
tn provide for our sea coast defen-
ces. which have long neglected.
l am Of the opinion that the lat :
ter is a paramount necessity, which
onght to precede the reduction of
the revenue. and ought also to pre-
cedc an excessive rap'dity IN the
payment of tho public debt. The
property exposed to destruction in
the twelve seaports. viz: Portland;
Portsmouth, Boston, Newport. New
York. Philadelphia. Baltimore,
Charlston, Savannah. New Or
leans. Galveston and San Fran cisco.
cannot be less than $5, 900, 900, 900.
To this must be added a vast
amount'of property dependent for
its use on these seaports. Neither
does this statement afford a true
measare..of the damage which might
be caused TO the property and bus
ines Of the country by . failure to
protect these seaports from hostile
naval attacks. They are the CEN
tres not only of foreign commerce.,
but most Of the internal trade and
exchanges of domestic productions.
To this state of things The machin.
cry of the transportation of the
whole country has been adapted
The interruption of the currents of
traffic by the occupation of one or
more.of our principal seaports by a
foreign enemy, or the destruction of
them by bombardment, or the hold
ing over them the menace of de-.
structioh for the purpose of exact
ing contribution or ransom, would
inAict upon the country and busin-
ess, an injury that cannot be for
seen nor measured. The elaborate
and costly fortifications which we're
with the greatest en-
skill are now practically
useless. They are not capable Of
resisting the attacks OF modern ar
tillery.
A still greater defect exists in our
coast defences. The range of the
best modern artillery has become
30 extended that our present forti- |
fications, designed to protect the
harbor Of New York (where two.
thirds Of the import trade and more !
than one-half of the export trade
Of the whole United States Is car
RED on), are too near to the great
of New York City ,Jer-
sey City and Brooklyn to be of any
value as protection.
To provide efectual defences
would be the work of years. II
would take much time to 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 emergent danger.
A million of soldiers with the
best equipments on the heights sur
rounding the harbor of New York
in our present state OF preparation
Tor rather in our total want ofprep,
arntion) would be powerless to re
sist small squadron of war steam
ers.
This state of things is discredit-
abe to our foresight and to our
prudence; the best guarantee
against aggression. the best assur-
ance that our diplomacy will be sue
cees!ul and pacific. and that our
rights and honor will be respected
hy other nations, is in their knowl-
edge that We arc in a situation to
vlmdicat. our reputation and inter
ests. " hie wc may afford to be
.le6rient in the means of offence we
cannot afford 20 he dcfenceless The
nc,oriety of the TACT that VIC have
neglected the ordinary precautions
Of defence invites want of considera-
lion in our diplomacy, injustice. ar
rogancc and insult u, the hands of
foreign nations.
1t is now more than sixty years
since We announced to the world
TINT wc should resist any attempts,
from whatever quarter they might
come, to mike any new coloniza
lions on any p'rt Of the American
that while we should re-
spcct the s:.'tus quo, We should pro-
Eect the people of different mtions
rom every attempt to subject them
70 the dominion of any European