Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-13
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
Speech Of Hon. Seth [. MiI|iken Of
Maine,
In the House Of Representatives, Saturday.
February l6. 1895.

In the House Of Representatives, Saturday.
February l6. 1895.
Following is the speech of Hon. S. l..
Milliken of Maine, in the House of Repre-
sentatives, Feb. 16, on the naval appro-
priation bill:
The House being in committee OF the
whole on the state Of the Union, and hay-
ing under consideration the bill III. X.
S665) making appropriations for the naval
service for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1896, and for other purposes
Mr.. Milliken said:
Mr.. Chairman: do not purpose to dis
cuss at length the merits of this ques-
ton. Iwlsh to say word. however, IN
favor OF the battle ships. We are weak
only upon the ocean. No nation upon the
globe would think of attacking us on the
land, or if they should do so, the result
would be such as to discover to them that
they had made a serious mistake.
I was interested yesterday while listen
ing to the gentleman from Kansas MI.
SlmDSOuJ-tuu L ddtc 1lotChSN w
same kind of arguments from others
urging that we are so great, SO strong,
and so imposing that no one would dare
attack US upon the ocean even though we
had no navy at all.
This is a foolish assumption, unwar-
ranted by all that may be learned from
the lessons taught in the history OF nations
and the character of mankind.
Why, Mr.. Chairman, when the lion S
claws are clipped and his teeth are drawn
the fox may dare attack him. However
great, strong and imposing we may De-
we could not risk an issue even Win
japan if she have a navy and we have
none; our great strength would be use
less without the means to make 1t avail
able. BY falling to provide ourselves
with such ships of war as our country
with its immense and diversified interests
demands, we invite attacks that would
never be made were we prepared to meet
them.
Strong in our geographical position, IN
the energy and bravery of our people, IL IS
hardly less than disgrace that we should
be nearly defenseless upon the sea. why
England will build this year more ton
mage of armored ships, carrying more and
larger guns, than all we have in our navy,
and this. too, with our extended coast
line, upon two oceans, which is now al
most entirely unprotected against attack.
An efficient navy is necessary to our lnde-
pendence and respectable standing among
the nations of the earth. 1t has been SO
always, and there is nothing more gallant
in the history of nations than the Part
which the American navy has acted in the
past. No American heart inspired by
patriotic feeling can fail to swell with
pride while recounting the exploits OF our
countrymen upon the ocean in the wars
of the Revolution and of 1912.
We were the first to meet and vanquish
Englishmen upon the sea. Inferior as
were our vessels in numbers and size, our
countrymen made record so honorable
in its character and SO conclusive OF the su-
periority of our sailors in skill and gal
lantry, that it is today source OF patriotic
ic inspiration to every true American
soul. Applause on the Republican side. }
Give us an adequate navy and if occa-
sion shall require it the illustrious deeds
of our countrymen upon the sea will be
repeated. Our sailors are the best on
the globe, our gunners can not be excelled.
No people ever have produced, and be-
lieve no people ever can produce officers
who can handle ships in action with the
skill of Americans.
Let the battle ships be built. would
not have such an enormous navy as Eng
land has. We do not need it. We have
not patches of territory all around the
globe to defend as she has. But our own
protection, our honor, and our dignity de-
mand that we should have navy suffc-
lent to defend our coast and guard our in
terests wherever they may be menaced.
(Applause.)
But the gentleman from Kansas (Mr.
Simpson, has run this debate into an ar
gument for free ships. Possibly he was an
ticipating the consideration of the free
ship bill of the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr Fithian).
This would seem to settle the question
which has hitherto existed in our minds,
whether there is any industry of our PEG
pie which the Bourbon leaders OF the
Democratic party have not determined to
destroy Having already blasted our
land with its legislation in favor of for
eign nations it now seeks to go down to
the shores of the sea and make havoc and
desolation there.
The Scriptures say there are three things
which are Unsuitable, the sea, the grave,
and barren woman. Had the Bible re-
manned to be written in these times the
inspired writer would have added a
fourth, more Unsuitable than all the
others, the destructive mania of modern
Democracy, when it rests its eyes upon any
profitable avocation of our countrymen in
which they may achieve for themselves
the comforts of life, contribute to the
general welfare, and advance the dignity,
the honor, and the greatness of their
country. Applause on the Republican
side.)
Whatever is calculated to develop the
rich resources of our land, employ and
Justly remunerate it's labor, add to our
common store of wealth, hasten our pro
gress in all that is most desirable to a
brave, energetic, aspiring people, and re
spond to the national yearning for high
er plane of living and a strong, indepen
dent position among the nations of the
earth, appears to be regarded by the ma
jority party in this Congress as a red rag
| is looked upon by mad bull, and no less
| likely to receive furious attack from it.