The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-03-31
In Peace Prepare for War.

| DuC very lew people IedllZc now de-
fenceless is this country which we are so
to an interviewer.
consideration to the subject of coast de-
fence; l have talked about it unofficially
and reported on it officially. 1t is sub
Ject OF which the people know less than of
any other great national question. The
first great desire of the nation is for peace
to forget the horrors Of war-and this
desire has lllled the people into feeling
| OF Indifference alike unwarranted and un-
justifable.
1.-The men who know the real truth of
the country hesitate to tell the exact truth
about it; the actual knowledge is possess
ed only by the few who have made study
OF the subject, who have had experience
in warfare, and who know how great is
the progress that has been made in the art
OF war during the last 30 years.
''There are delusions, however, that
seem to the military man almost unac-
countable. The first is the superstition
that there would be plenty of time in
which to prepare for war. All history
proves that many important wars We're de-
clded in few weeks, some in IL few DAYS
and tile great ma jority of them started
| "isiio'tN t'iiN lIotlIil'tltll NlItlSNcl.
In the last 100 years, in less than 10
cases out OF 120 have there been any dec
larations of war preceding actual HOSTILE
ties.
Another delusion is the one that
$4,000, 600 of people, with sixty billions
OF wealth, could depend on their ingenuity
to frlghten great military or naval pow
er away from our frontier. AS a matter
OF facs, the ingenuity of man haS been
taxed for the last 30 years in inventing
new engines of war, and American inven-
tors have carried the creations of their
genius to England, France and Germany,
Russia and even China, to get them adopted.
1.-The third delusion is that we, in the
absence of land batteries, which would
render many positions on our coast as i'm
pregnable as Gibraltar, and in the absence
of even fourth-rate naval power, could de-
fend our great cities and harbors-where
the wealth of 800 years has been accumu-
lating-by sinking hulks of ships and by
the laying OF submarine mines and torpe-
does. If these distractions did not des-
troy our harbors and navigable rivers they
would certainly put an end to our foreign
commerce.
"Another delusion is in the supposition
that mere numbers constitute military and
naval strength. SO many people forget
the fact that steam power, electricity,
dynamite and other high explosives, steel
guns capable of throwing a ton of iron 10
OF II miles, smokeless and noiseless pow
der and machine guns are the engines of
war now used by every civilized nation,
and that 1t requires years to equip any
considerable force with these appliances.
'ln proportion to our wealth and popu
lation the army has been reduced to the
extreme minimum. 1t is small, but it is
most efficient. In intelligence, courage
and patriotism it will compare favorably
with amy military force in the world.
''The same may be said of the national
guard. A more intelligent, brave and
patriotic body of men does not stand ON
the face of the globe under any colors. vet
IN order to have them properly equipped,
and properly prepared, 50 that they may
he one of the pillars Of strength upon
which this great republic rests, one of
two things must be done, either the press
OF the country must tell the plain truth
and educate the public mind up to our
real condition and necessities, or we must
suffer some serious disaster that NAV
check our progress and burden us with a
national debt that would last for another
generation.
ical greatness. our population may soon
be 50 large that the people of the interior
will become Indifferent to the interests of
those dwelling on the frontier, and those
who live on the frontier become careless
to the welfare of those who inhabit the in
terror.
''Too much is expected of our navy 1t
is almost ludicrous to think OF holding the
navy responsible for 1000 miles of from
tier, occupied by 10, 600, 600 of people, the
possessors OF ne-twelfth of the country's
wealth. The most a navy can do is to
protect the commerce of a country and
cope with foreign fleets.
Qualifications will some day receive
from the American people the considera-
ton such defences deserve. Let us trust
they may never be needed before we have
| them.
| Cannot some mobilization of the regu-
lar army and the national guard be brought
about?' asked the reporter
! II believe it will be- replied the gen
eral. 1.-The necessity for such an assembly
must be apparent to every thinking man. .
/ SIN accordance with the arrangements
which We're made at a convention held last
November there will be a national guard
encampment at Chicago in the month of
August 1893. The object OF this encamp-
ment will be to promote the efficiency of
the national guard, to give officers expert
ence in handling large bodies of citizen
troops, and to promote fraternal feeling
between the state troops from all sections
OF the country. Whether Congress fur
nishes the necessary transportation or not
the troops will undoubtedly assemble at
that time for a great national camp and
valuable field maneuvres.
''The matter is not being pressed before
+ Congress Just now because Of the coming
! election, but when the political campaign
is all over the question will be brought up
and pushed to Il conclusion. There will
/ be ample time in which to make the nee
I essary arrangements
=! ''The dedicatory ceremonies Will occur
! in October next, and are expected to last
! about four days. The attendant ceremon-
s les will be imposing, the President of the
United States, his cabinet and the Cover
nors OF all the states are expected to be
there. The World fair is going to be a
great success. 1t will astonish not only
| the people OF our own country, but also
the people of Europe. 1t is an enterprise
of unparalleled magnitude. The buildings
are much larger and equal in architecture
: to any heretofore erected for such pur-
pose. The largest one covers 81 acres of
! ground.
SIN spite of the liberal provision made