The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-02-04

! III ISN0f OF the lAOClINs lOr to0ScOVo.
DEFENsEs THAT DO NOT DEFEND.
The Fortifcations Board has submitted vo-
luminous report to the President on the sub
.iect Of the in5ufficiency Of our coast defenses,
with very elaborate recommendations for new
| system. The board estimates the cost at Sl20,-
! 100000, and recommends that the present Con-
| gross appropriate $21, 000, 900 as a starter to
| establish works for the manufacture of heavy
guns, aud to begin the projected Notifications
at important points on the sea and lake coast
the Work to be continued from year 10 year Dy
annual appropriations The report has awak-
eDed lively interest in the subject, although
the enormous figures are like a nightmare TO
the violent economists of Congress.
Whether the s?asm that is agitatlng the pub
| lie mind in regard to the condition OF our ma
! tional defenses amounts to anything or not, it
cannot be denied that we are in n bad way in
this respect 1t is true that we are now at
peace with all the world, with no prospect that
! we will have any wars on our hands III the I'M
| mediate future. " In time OF peace prepare for
war" is an old proyerb, to which might be adj
| died. in the phrase of the day, g. for if you don't
| you are liable to get left" 1t is very much
! like the case of the man who was about to start
! for Texas md asked chap who had been there
! whether he had better lake along revolver:
wall" was the reply, yer mgbtn't need
/ one, and then agin Yer might; but when yer
does want one thar Yer wants it mighty bad >.
! With the exceptions Of Fortress Monroe and
/ a few others we haven't any Notifications worth
! speaking of. Those that we pointed TO with
/ pride years ago are now old fashioned and sadly
! ineffective as 10, their ornaments Most OF the
! guns are small and Of patterns that have be-
| come obsolete The total deficiency in heavy
! ordnance would, in case of a foreign war, be
! startling. If peace continues to brood over our
! land we Will be glad and thankful, but it would
/ be worth to orr national pride more than they
1 would cost TO have a few first-claSs ships of
/ war, and some guns that when they "go off 3"
/ can lee heard around the world. schoolboy
/ does not like to be a laughing-stock among his
/ fellows; no more do we, as 4 people, ENJOY
/ appearing ridiculous among the nations OF the
earth.
| The immediate defenses of Washington, on
! the Potomac, are in a most lamentable condl-
! ton. In fact they are almost worthless. Fort
Foote is nearly opposite Alexandria, and two
! or three miles farther down is Fort Washing
! ton. The former is in state OF utter dilapl-
dation and ruin. 1t hardly bears the SEM
! hlance of fertilization. Ali attempts to main
! tain it as such were abandoned long ago. Fort
! Washington is built of solid masonry, and was
| once formidable. 1t was began way back in
! 1916, after the capture OF the Capital by the
| British showed in a very emphatic way the
necessity for such defenses. 1t was q long time
| III building, and for many years thereafter 1t
WAS kept up in good order, with plenty Of guns
that were first class at that time, and gunners
! TO work them effectively if necessary. OF late
! it has been suffered TO fall into a state OF
| chronic decay, and has been virtually aban-
! doned. A dozen or two old cannon are scat
/ tered about upon the ground, and a few rusty
| guns peer idly down from the high parapet /;
! bnt there are no soldiers. the buildings are in
ruins. and the grounds are oyergrown with
! shrubs and weeds. Il was named i'll honor Of
! the Father Of his Country, but its condition Is
enough to make thc very bones of Washington
rise up in their mausoleum, few miles below
Whatever may be the outcome Of the present
| movement. the idea is daily growing that this
important subject must ere long receive serious
attention.
THE CIyIL RIGHTS QUESTION.
The old and vexing question of civil rights
| for the negro continues to make its appearance
! from time to time. As theory, absolute
equality for all men, irrespective of race color
/ or previous condition of servitude," is alto
! sether lovely thing to contemplate. 1t is a
/ fayorite theme for the political esSayist and
! text for the campaign orator. Bat somehow 1t
/ doesn't ok so well in actual practice. In
| Washington, where more than a third of the
! people are coloTed, the race prejudice is prob
/ ably as mild as III any place in the country !;
! but even here there is occasional friction, in
/ oae form or another. The civil rights legiSa-
/ ton OF Congress does not seem 10 have fully
met the case, either from its defective character
/ or from lack Of its enforcement.
Last week petition signed by a large num-
/ Der OF the most respectable cOored citizens of
/ Washington, was presented to the Senate, set
| ting forth the grievances of the petitioners and
| asking that they may have redress. The petit
ton SAYS that in considering a bill to regulate
| licenses in the District Congress should also
consider 80 the unjust determinations existing
! against a large portion OF this community on
| account OF color in places of public entertain
ment, such as restaurants, lunch-Tooms, ice
| cream saloons, theaters, steamboats,, etc; that
! such discrimination is of wide notoriety and of
! daily occurrence, and is within the personal
experience OF almost every reputable colored
! citizen. These Insults aud offenseS," the petit
! ton SAYS, are degrading to our manhood and
+ work positive injury to the community, for
/ no part Of the community can be unjusty dis
eliminated against without affecting the whole"
I The petitioners ask that clause be inserted i'll
/ the license bill 10 prohibit and prevent such
! Determinations. In presenting the document,
/ Senator ingalls, said it was signed by men OF
/ the highest responsibility, aud he thought the
! evils complained OF should be corrected.
THE EIGHT-HoCR LAW.
! A few days ago the Chairman of the House
Committee on Labor had an interview with
! the President, relative TO the statements made
( that the spirit OF the eight hour law was ig-
/ norai ia certain Government Departments.
| The President said he believed the law was a
! the letter. lie had no information regarding
! instances OF its violation or evasion but if such
/ were presented to him he would see that the
abuse was remedied and the full spirit Of the
! law enforced. This he understood to be to pay
woIkmeu in Government employ for eight
hours work daily what is paid outside Of Gov
eminent employ for a full days work. The
! Government could not afford to set the example
/ Of non-enforcement and non observance of its
own enaetments The President further said
! 50 appreciate the effect upon the mechanics of
I the country of the constantly increasing use Of
labor saving machinery, and can think Of no
more practical relief for the unemployed sur
plus labor than the occupation by it of the
| public iaads. do not hesitate to say that l am
heartily in favor of any feasible plan for the
/ encouragement and assistance, if need be, of
. prospective American settlers upon the public
domain by the General Government" In this
connection the President expressed some very
radical views upon the subject OF the occupa-
ton Of vast tracts Of public lands By foreign
capitalists.
SHORT OF LEGS.
South Carolina has but two genuine legs in
the Senate, Balicr&nd Hampton having but one
apiece. Batter lost one OF his in The cavalry fight
at Brandy Station, Va. Hampton was thrown
from a horse few years after the war, and one
Of his legs so badly injured that anrutatioll
was found necessary TO save his life. Hampton
Is one Of the most expert anglers and best story
tel;eEs IN Congress. Arkansas is Oae leg short