New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-12
OUR SEA-COAST. DEFENCES.

III 1t were not too serious matter, there would
be something ludicrous in the manner in which
the defence of the Sea-CoaSt is regarded in this
country. People appear to look upon it a.
costly luxury which it is well enough TO an
ticipate having in the future. but which may
wisely be deferred until the emergency arrives.
The great uprising of thirty years ago has
left profound impression among us of our mill
taiy power, and the conviction is general that
no foreign nation would dare to provoke con-
test. In a certain sense this is perhaps true.
We have little to fear from invasion. The
Atlantic is wet ditch too wide to be crossed,
and the attempt of the last century to land
an army upon our shores, to march through
the country. and finally to haraSs It's into sub
mission, is not likely to he repeated. We have
no need of the vast intrcnchcd camps now con-
structing in Europe, and the crushing burdens
of standing armies are unknown among us.
But have we no heel of Achilles no vulnerable
point where we may be reached? 50 long As
a fleet of armOred ships of war can enter every
port on our coast from Maine 10 Texas and
from San Diego to Puget Sound, capture our
new cruisers. destroy those still on the stocks,
levy contributions to any desired extent, wipe
out what is left of our commercial marine, and
all this without exposing themselves to TcprlslS
to make such an assertion is not the part of
wisdom. However lightly this danger may be re-
gardcd by those whose property lies in the int
rior out of range of hostile cannon, the risk can
not wisely he ignored by the population which
resides on what will he the field of battle. This
great city. especially, should sound the alarm.
When a genuine scare arises, as. for example,
when two years ago the cloud of samoa rose
above the horizon, we become for a moment
panic stricken, and begin to discuss " fighting
fleets with burning fields of petroleum and
falling back upon {" man-of-war fcrryboatS
throwing Ontricd) dynamite bombs from sewer
pipe guns with the aid Of soda fountains but
so soon as the crisis is past we Straightway
sink back into orr slumbers. forgetting that
the rest OF the world is terribly awake. The
pursuit of wealth has become so engroSSinG
that the din OF warlkc preparations abroad
is not heard. l. is unworthy OF the American
people 10 trust interests vital 10 some chance
harlequin with his sword OF lah, who is eX-
pected to appear and save us when the day Of
trial comes.
We overlook the fact that there is one thing
which our wealth cannot buy and that is time.
TO appreciate this il is only necessary TO look
back in our own history about twenty eight
years In 1863 Ncw-lolk STATE became
alarmed by threatened European complications
and by Confederate cruisers and appropriated
81. 600 600 for strengthening the dcfcnccs Of it.,
great pert. The disbursement Of this sum was
intrustcd to three commissioners consisting OF
the Governor, the Controller and senator Edwin
ID. Morgan. They opened communication with
the Federal authorities inspected the works I'M
der construction, and stood ready to cypend the
funds in the manner most conducive to the pub
lie good. But they soon began to appreciate
the fact that space was lacking. The General
Government occupied every site ard was press
ing forward the wOrI; as rapidly aS i could be
done. This was before the system Of defence
by submarine mines had been developed, and
the best field open Ia the commissioners APP
peared to be the preparation Of some kind OF
mechanical distractions which should prevent
hostile feet from running past the batteries
and dIopping anchor of tie Battery. They
entered actively upon the task, advertised for
pans and appointed an Engineer of lIarbor De-
fences Of the state of NewYorli. Fourteen
different plans were presented, and after one
had been selected proposals were called for
constructing the timbcrnoats. But the ma
tcrials were not on hand, and the prices Of tim
Dor and iron had risen 70 50 extraordinary
degree that the appropriation was insufficient,
and the work could not be comp letcd without
the expenditure of Il much larger amount OF
money than the Legislature had authorized.
The report goes on TO state " In the mean
time. the aspect Of our foreign relations had
become so much more pacific and the danger
of any hostile demonstration 50 remote that II
was not deemed cypcdient to proceed with the
work until the Legislature should have OppOr
tunity to determine whether il would spprO-
pirate the further amounts which will he ncccS-
sarv 10 complete it," To make n long story
short the cri SIS passed before the commits SionCrS
had been able 10 spend "a larger sum than
S1.5432l If hostile fleet had arrived. their
million dollars would have done no more good
than if presented to q wretch persbing from
hunger on desert island. Time is as ncces
sary in coast defence as gold, and the commits
sioneis learned the lesson. for among certain
axioms' contained III the appended report
of their engineer is the following :" That prep
arationS for war should be made in time of
peace if possible But this lesson was soon
forgotten. In 1880 the New FORK Legislature
sent a Joint committee, OF which senator Aston
was chairman. to investigate and report on the
condition of the dcfcnceS Of New-YOrIi City.
They visited the forts reported their condition
as anticipated, and recommended that the State
delegation in Congress he requested to urge
the passage of large appropriation TO place
these in proper condition. II appears almost in
credible. but the Legislature failed to pass such
a resolution. Like Pharaoh of old, they lad
hardened their hearts.
Recently Congress appears 10 be awakening
TO sc necessity of action. The appropriations
for rehabilitating the Navy have been large
and some comparatively small sums have been
granted for placing the coast defenccS on
modern footing. The House has already passed
4. 81,