The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-06

ProAnAfy ths Strongsst document tnaS
hss hssn presented IN sikhw house during
she currsns session u coagrsss ID ths re-
posf b. Hon. W. T. Chandler. Of Aew
Hsnpshiss, scz The niporisy Of ths Senate
committee On nsssi sasirs- II II straight
forward. brslnsss-ifis and intensely CON-
moussrsscal Ih plain common sense Is
ID cAsef characteristic. striking peculiar
isy by comparison with ordinary congress
ssonai essusions. and therefore makes very
refreshing rssding-
Himself former Secretary OF the Navy.
senator Chandler brings 70 bear on the dis
sussson Of his subject iazgs fund Of
special information His report squarely
asnsagonszes he seasherheaded proposition
OF the majority OF the COMMITTEES 70 com
nsnce . grsnd scheme Of naval expendi-
tass b. sushoriziag the immediate con-
ssrucsion Of eight heavily -srmored Iine-of-
battle ships Ut cost Of Sc.640. go each, or
As.f1.0oo for The lot The senator does
not induIgs In comparison. but submits
Arguments and facts which prove hist this
would be good deal like attempting to
n1434 t04 00kH8 U BAAo1 sAnSsSAS A. -
vance Of laying the foundations.
He roinss out that this country 10 now
A. peace with I'll the world. with no pros
pect or probability Of any interru ption
Of that condition for IN indefinite period.
yesssis Of the kind proposed are Of no use
except in time Of war. for the purpose OF
attacking IN snsmy on the high seas or TO
assail their ports- Thsrs are but few Of
our own hayboss that they could entsr II
constructed. The experience Of our own
and other nations. especially OF late. has
demonstrated that these monster battle
ships - . ruis are becoming obsolete
snd comparatively uselsss before they can
Be completed. 20 great has been the prog
ress Of discovery and invention In the
arts Of attack and defense. The magnih-
cent battls-ships Maine and Texas. de-
signed by the best home and foreign archi-
tscts and smbodying At the time the most
advanced ideas, though commenced only
three years ago. and not Jet finished. are
admitted 10 b practically obsolete II Is
hardly 70 b. doubted that such would be
the fate OF first-class ships ordered now
bsfore there would b any probability of
our having use for them
On the other hand. the construction and
strengthening Of coast defenses is:Aiways
in order. Il IL . Legitimate and . wise
peace policy. II Is . policy which should
only be neglected because Of pecuniary In
ability TO put 1t In execution Not many
- a. ~
funds than In carrying out this policy on Q
scale ~ broad snd liberal - may be. Tbs
extent Of our shore lines. the number and
Importance Of our principal harbors, and
the insdequacy OF present works 70 meet
the requirements Of modern invention,
make this field In which enormous sums
may be judiciously expended. and in
which. ~ matter Of fact. the expenditure
OF enormous sums Ii demanded by every
consideration Of prudence and wise precau-
ton.
An adequate scheme OF coast defsnses,
including 0eets Of monitors and torpedo
hosts. supplemented II need b BY . goodly
number Of swift cruisers, will necessisste
about oil Of the expenditure in this line
that Is demanded or will be approved by
intelligent public opinion Thus guarded,
and grosing in wealth. population and oil
material resources. ~ has been the lot OF
our country of late years. there are few
things more improbable than that within
the lifetime OF this generation any foreign
country win provoke war with the United
sta'es Failing which. the proposed costly
iine-os-batsle ships. huge and unga.nly
monsters. Obsolete In advance OF compile
ton. would be not only useless but vastly
expensive incumhrance.
senator Chandler is certainly right in adj
vsstng that in this matter the work be CON-
mcnced at the bottom on q liberal scale:
that what IL now needed be done now. ard
that expenditures for pnrposes that are of
doubtful sxpsdisney. or certainly not ur-
gent. be postponed 10 . more convenient
season. II the sorty-sivs millions must be
spent. II were better 20 add that 10 the con.
tsmplaied sum TO b expended on coast
descnsea.