The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1891-11-28
A PLEA FOR D~EFENSES.

UNITED STATES SENATOR DOLPH, OF
Oregon, makes a strong plea for adequate
coast defenseS, a matter which recent
circumstances have induced the people
of the country to take greater interest in
than ever before. SENATOR DORM has
given very close attention and study to
this subject, and when he urges its cora
handing importance it is with a full
knowledge Of the facts and a just appre-
citation of the dangers. In order to real
ize these it is sufficient to know that 1000
miles of sea coast, with numerous harbOrs
and important seaboard cities and an ex-
~tensive and valuable commerce upon the
great lakes, are practically defenseless.
Property to the value of $4,000, OOO, 900
would be exposed to destruction in case
OF a war with a naval power.
SENATOR DoLPH is one of those who
wisely believe that the time has not yet
arrived when it is practicable to settle
all national disputes by arbitration, and
that it is not safe to act Upon the theory
a foreign war. Neither the history of
our own country, he remarks, ror that of
other nations gives promise of perpetual
peace. He believes, also, that the best
means of preserving an honorable peace
IS preparation for war. The knowledge
that an adversary is prepared to resent
an insult or take redress for a wrong will
make a nation careful to avoid cause for
otfense. While preparation for war
might make us more tenacious of our
rights it would make other nations more
ready to accord them to US. A PRINCIPAL
of congressional inactiOn in this
Of coast defenses has been the an
athy OF some OF the representatives in
both branches of congress of the interior
SENATOR DOLPH very properlv
regards it as a mistake to suppose that
every part of the union is not interested
IN this question. The injury caused bv
an attack upon any one of our great sea
coast cities would not be merely local.
They are the depots at which are stored
N S"A + PlONOClS VI uuIldu ldDOf IN
every branch Of industry. They
the termini of the great transporta-
ION systems Of the country. They are
he centers of wealth and trade. In case
u the destruction or blockade of one of
hem commerce, foreign and internal
transportation, and the financial business
u the country would be demoralized and
he Whole country would suffer. The
would be felt throughout the ma
IONS financial and commercial system !
nd the continuance of the demoraliza- |
ION for a period of thirty DAYS would re- 8
ut IN loss to the country at large greater !
han the cost of fortifying our entire r
cast. ,
his subject promises to have promi- c
ence in the deliberations of the Fifty .
econd congress, and it is reasonably to Y
e expected that there will be much less d
than heretofore to a liberal
Obey regarding coast defenses. The
ecessity of such protection has been I
impressed upon the country, and it has |
egun to be understood, moreover, that
great commercial nation like the United 7
tates, constantly reaching out for larger 2
arketS and extending its relations with G
countries, cannot be perpetually e.
cure against controversies and compli- p
'tlonS that it may not always be posi-
e TO settle by peaceful means. o.
in