Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-13
THE STRICKEN NATION"
a Note OF Warning on the Defeneeless
Condition OF Our Coasts.

n Note OF warning on Ntit
Condition of Our Coasts.
The Stricken Nation" IS the title of
a ten-ccnt brochure Just issued by ChaS.
4. Baker. publisher, New York. 1t i
"A work which Is certain 90 create wide
spread comment, and 90 cause a decided
sensation The author. who concealS
his identity under the uOm-de-plume,
Scholastic. mas given his imaginative
powers fullest sway in his attempt 20
forecast the happenings OF the next two
wears. in So far as they shall affect the
United States in the not impOssible-or
as it looks now, I'm view of the BehrlnS
Sea imbroglio-nOt altogether imprOb-
able event of war with England. The
scope aud purpose OF the work are
readily discerned from its Illuminated
covers. which are vivid pictures OF the
bOnhartlment of New York City and the
FAN OF Washington. Within the limits
Of the eight stirring chapters OF the
book the author has summarized the POI
itical events Of the past aud the dipl0-
matte difficulties OF the present. and has
blended with them the perilouS posi-
bilities of the future in a manner a.
clever aS il is original.
Chapters / aud II are devoted to a
summary of the political and material
conditions of the country, aud 90 a brief
resume oi the diplomatic differences eX-
listing between Great Britain and the
United States prior 10 the present year.
The prcparatiOnS for war which had
been made for years by the far-seeing
and sacaciOus English statesmen are
pointed out. and the continued aggreS-
Sious of European nations on the con-
tinent briefly noted. Tho otUs,tS bcittiS
found be- an unproVOkcd attack ON an
American fishing vessel by Canadian
cruiser. and the subsequent capture OF
the latter by "a United states guuOoat,
which brings her prize into Portland,
Maine. The excitement which naturally
followed the capture; the prompt and
imperative demands of the British GOv-
erhment for an abject apology aud an
extravagent reparatiou; the indignant
protest Of the American people; the Gu
thuSissm in the nations cause, and the
comments Of the press are the topics
treated OF ia Chapter Ill, which ends
with the startling announcement Eng
land has declared war.
But it is in Chapter ~. that readers
will lind food for serious reflection. The
totally unprepared condition OF the Uni
ted states for such crisis - mas now
arrived: the efforts 20 obtain by every
meaus-shOrt OF war-a settlement OF
the difficulty; the stern and unyielding
ultimatum OF the British Foreign VI.
fre. and the digniied and patriotic pO-
sition taken by the American people,
furnish subjects that are happily treat
ed But il is ON the utterly detenSelcSs
condition of all the great cities ON our
seabord that the author dwellS-the
absence OF modern guns, mod
ern ships and modern NUM-
lions of war is commented upon,
aud DER contra, Eugiand'> complete
preparatiou for an event which her
statesmen had anticipated for years ana
which had now occurred, are brought
ont Inn the strongest light. II Is shown
that while the United states had been
resting in faucied security. England had
been drawing cOrdon-llaliiaN' Ber-
n,uda and KingStOn-arOund our coasts
and that these great citadelS were ROW
amply coalcd and provisioncd and sup
plied with vast stores Of materials TO
supply che great fleets Of powerful ron
clads that had reported in readiness lor