The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-03
DEFENSE OF OUR PORTS.
A WAR DEBATE OVER THE AP-
PRECIPITATION BILL

Amendment to Reduce the ApprO-
nriation for Gun and Mortar Batter
ias-Mr. Cockrel Regards a Coast
Defense Outlay as Utterly Worth
less.
WASHINGTON, Feb. AIN the Senate this
afternoon the fortifcation appropriation
hill was taken up. An amendment re-
ported By the committee TO reduce the
appropriation for gun and mortar batteries
for the defense of the harbors of Boston,
New York, San Francisco. Hampton Roads
and washington from 100000 to $3.50, 900
gave rise to discussion, Mr. Dolph opposing
the amendment and speaking at much
Ienpth on the necessity of gun factory on
the Pacific coast
Mr.. Cockren favored the amendment.
and only regretted that the proposed reduc-
ton was not greater. He regarded system
of coast defenses (which would involve an
outlay OF S125, 200 900 as utterly worthless
and an absolute waste Of money. Isolated
as the United States is, it could resist the
combined powers of the entire earth. Let
the nations of Europe, he said, combined
bring their armies and fleets uniredly and
attempt to find lodgment on our soil; and
they will be driven back in confusion. We
have no risk to run.
HAwLEY LESS FEARLESS.
Mr.. Hawlsy ridiculed the pretension that
the United States can whip any other peo-
ole on the face of the earth. He asked Mr..
Cockrell how he would feel standing stark
naked against a man with a magazine rifle,
revolver and bowie knifes Wonld he rely
on the moral strength OF his cause and his
superior phySiques There was population
of 63, ,0O0, 900 in the United States, capable of
supplying the finest troops that the world
had even seen, but in case of an immediate
and unexpected declaration of war they
would be what Wellington called carrion
for powder. What, he asked, would the
British nation care for a square mile of
such troops armed with rifles that would
not shoot over 200 yards?
OUR NAKEDNEss KNOWN.
He did not want to show the nakedness of
his country, but it so happened that the
whole world knew of it already. Every
foreign nation had usually some bright
young man travelling over the United
States and reading all the reports of the
Secretary Of War, Secretary of the Navy
and ordnance bureau, and making reports,
which were all filed aud tabulated at home;
and they knew as well as he that the United
States was absolutely helpless. The gov
ernment could not negotiate to-day with
advantage. That was the Bible truth.
ENGLAND's READINESS.
Great Britain, on the contrary, had a
magnificent harbor at Halifax, projected by
nCble batteries and noble fieet-the best in
the world. There she could collect grad-
ually ships of war to be seat against
American ports She had another great
naval station at Bermuda, and another on
tne northwestern coast, SO close to the
United States that vessels in that hsrbor
could throw shots across the line.
Mr.. Allen-The firing of guns from Van.
couver can be heard distinctly on the
American side.
Mr.. Plumb-Along the Canadian border
whistLing can be heard on the other side.
WARS COME LIKE EXPLOSIONS.
Mr.: Hawley-That is very funny; but it
does not at all disturb what I have said.
Wars do not come after years agreement
In advance. They explode without notice.
But you say that Great Britain will not
fight; that she cannot afford to 90
to war with the United States :
that we are of the same blood. same
language; that we have the same
Shakespeare and all that sort of thing, but
John Bull is very much like other people.
-. ~ Soto LIlau ana makes an ass or himself,
ike other people. He fights against rob.
oery and sometimes he fights for the sake
of robbery.
DANGER OF THE CITIES.
In twelve or eighteen hours Great Brit.
am could assemble feet at Portland. in
eighteen or twenty hours at Boston and in
tEWenty-four hours, perhaps, at New York.
Wnat are you going to do whea you find
british war vessels in the harbor of New
York; They could levy tribute of $5O.-
VUV,0UO or $lOO, ,O00, GOO on the city of New
York, and New York would be compelled
70 pay it. In the meantime, these
gallant sons of liberty" by the
IoO,V0o, or 100000 are arming; bat they
h;.diC Modiu not be worth single last years
piros nest. You cannat defend the harbors
OF 0t boston, Portland, Charleston, New
orleans or San Francisco. You have no
modern guns.
BLAIR NOT A FIGHTING MAN.
4, Mr.. Blair criticised with some sarcasm
1ne speeches of Messrs. Dolph and Hewley,
anu rldlculed their fears of war with any
nnatlon. What motive, he asked, had Great
o. DL4taln TO make war against the United
states; she had no conceivable motive to do
~ de had o objection to see Portsmouth,
~ ~. d., fortified; and he thought that was
we pest port to be selected for Fertilization
POAiSy MOulu D9 10 put 1ntelll-
gehce into the bayonet, and IF the Senate
oJula not pass the elections bill( to pass the
educational bill. He offered an amendment
..IoKIhg TO an international conference for
.ne suppression of the slave trade and of
sn5 sr9 trade In Intoxicating liquors, firearms
~uu gunpowder on the continent of Africa.
THE PAN-AMERICAN CoNFERENCE.
Mr. Cockrell read the report of the
SSonierence of American nations on the SUBJ
!ecI OF International arbitration, and urged
auat appropriations for war preparations
light. ''- '-''''a AZ Aa''o
M Mr. Dawes stated the reason why re-
coUaa cucslon OF the appropriation had been re-
N,o'llnended. 1t was that there was an
une1pended balance on hand for the same
r morKs of 81, ,22l. 600, which, with the sum
s9 s99eoOdlnomended, ON would make within "a 900 of
SS1,V,UO,OO0 to be expended.
1I NE amendment was agrred to.
,v;.. ;W.ltnout making any further progress
s.cl "a.n the bill the Senate went into executive
session, and at $50 o'clock adjourned.