Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-06-21
ON NATIONAL WEAKNESS.


A recent article in Harper's Magazine
by naval officer points out with alarm
ing dIstlnctness the deienseless condition
Of the United States in case Of war with
any foreign power. The writer shows
that our navy is useless TO contend With
the modern vessels and artillery Of even
the petty South American states, not tc
speak Of such naval powers as England
France, Germany, and even Italy and
SPAN Any OF the 6rst-class warships Of
those nations, armed with improved ar.
tillery, could anchor of our coast, entire.
| ly out Of range Of the most powerful guns
possessed by us, and, without the least
harm or wish Of harm, lombard and de.
stroy any Of our seaport cities Our war
vessels would be powerless to oppose
even one such monster as the English In.
flexible or the Italian Duilo. They wonlt
be sunk before they could come within
range Of those iron-clads, and even II they
could get in range their shots would have
no more effect on the steel armor than so
much hail
1t seems beyond controversy that this
picture OF helplessness, distasteful as 1t
may he to contemplate, is not over
drawn. The fact has been often enough
made plain that we are not only without
a serviceable warship, but we have not
even a first, or second, or thirdclass
piece of artillery, and in all the land
there is not the requisite machinery or
"plant' for making one. While there is
not a remote probability OF foreign
war, 1t is not at all comfortable to feel
that we could not engage second-rate
European nation II we wanted to; and
the recent furry with Canada led to some
wild talk, showing that peace is not as
sured to us forever. To know that we
hardly have a choice between resistance
and submission in any serious complica-
national seif-respect and independence.
whether we are to equip ourselves for
offensive operations or not, by building
a costly fleet, we should at least be able
to defend a few of the most important
points on our seaboard. The testimony
is unanimous that we have no adequate
means of defense against modern navies
Not only that, but we could hardly inter
pose an obstacle to even briefly delay the
destructive operations of an enemy's fleet
To build naval outfit capable OF holding
its own against foreign attack would
require many years time and immense
sums OF money. Ten years and hun
bred million dollars would not, probably,
put us on an equality with France, even
II all the plans We're laid and the work
begun at once. 1t Is matter Of COM
paratively little time and money to make
a show for the defense of few leading
seaports, which are the vitals of Ameri-
can commerce. A million dollars could
buy from the Krupp foundry guns enough
to make 1t no easy matter for any fleet
that floats to enter an harbor guard
ed by them. Other nations buy
their artillery from Krupp and Arm
strong, and IL these men make the
best guns cheaper than they can be made
in America, why should not the United
States buy enough to at least oppose
some obstacle to the approach of hos.
tile fleet in the harbors OF Boston and
New York, the mouth of the Mississippi,
the waters Of Narragansett bay, and Del
aware bay, and also make impreguable
Fortress Monroe, which commands the
gateway to three or four states and the
national capital2 Many of our harbors
could be defended, perhaps, with torpe.
does and other devices, but we are almost
as far behind in the torpedo service, which
was invented in this country, as in ships
and artillery. 1t is difficult to conceive
the situation that would be presented by
the United States in event of a war break.
ing out In the next few years. We might
get to sea enough armed cruisers to de-
stroy the commerce of the enemy, but
aside from that we could do little more
than set still and be bombarded.
There is no probability that any foreign
power win ever be able to effect lodg-
ment on our soil that would develop
formidable land campaign. With COM
psratlvely small outlay our most yulnera-
BILE ports could be made capable of de-
Tense, and we should be out of danger A
complete system of armament and FORTH.
cation for the whole coast would cost an
immense sum, but It would be money
well expended for our protection, and
cheaper than the cost OF new navy.
A Raving Maniac.
oAmIslE, KY, June 2O.--Hon. Win