The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-12-06

coasts, Of which there are many miles,
has received more or less Of the atten.
tion Of our Legislator for the past ten
years. II woxld hardly be just 10 say
that the deienselsss condition Of the
coasts Of the United States has occupied
much Of the thinking time of our law
makers, or even of our writer's ON
national topics. The calling Of attention
to this subject has been spasmodic and
not regular. 1thas been produced com.
monty from some outside influence.
The recent agitation of the unprotected
condition OF our coasts had its origin In
the condition Of the National Treasury.
A surplus being found in the United
States Treasury, for which there seemed
to be no immediate use, the question
arose. what will be the best use to which
this surplus can be applied? The coast
defenses occurred to some, and so fol.
lowed the agitation both in the leeisla.
tive halls and through the public press.
It should be freely conceoed and insisted
upon that such cities as New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, &C., where .
sudden attack by an enemy would be
destructive Of much property and life,
need protection on account of their ex-
posed condition. But the more com.
mon theory advanced, that Of putting
the hundreds Of miles Of our costs where
harbors exist in condition to resist the
attack OF q foreign foe, is certainly rank
folly. It is needless to offer argument
as to how soon we could vanquish q
foreign foe even II they had footing on
our soil. But the enormous cost OF such
an undertaking with our extensive coast
line, and worse still the very probable
uselessness OF the whole work inside of
twenty-five years should call for caution.
The Minister of War for the Republic Of
France informs his government that all
the forts that have been built in the last
eighteen years are useless as against
modern explosives, and that to put the
frontier Of that Republic in state of
defense against Germany will require
one billion francs. In comparing this
Nation with the monarchical govern.
ments of Europe it is generally to Shot
the simplicity and economic workings OF
our own Republic. If the opposite is
desired we unsparingly criticise and
severely denounce the great yearly out.
lay OF those eastern nations in their
maintenance OF host of armed men
who have to be supplied with life 3
necessaries from the meager earnings OF
an already overburdened people.
What will sufficient coast defenses
mean? 1t will mean thousands OF men
taken from the fields of labor or mer.
chandise, to be trained and kept at pub.
lie expense, in order that the coast de.
fenses may he efficient. The homely
story told OF the American citizen who
pointed out President Washington as he
walked down the street to his British
friend, when the latter required as to
where the body.guard of the President
was, struck on his own breast replying,
here it is. That expression is the true
exposition of our institutions, and more
the perpetuity of this Nation must be
preserved by something grander than
formidable coast defenses.
The tendencies of the age are all
against an increase in military appliances.
In TACT the philosophic school boy will
predict the dismemberment Of the large
military organizations of Europe. Then
why should we follow in their folly and
commit ourselves to a policy that is
likely to become obsolete in the next
quarter OF century. As to the surplus
it is not likely to rust, or would right
away, and it will be quite convenient to
have to discharge the obligations OF the
government in few years when it will
be needed. ~ "3.y'