Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-28

ment Of the public revenues, the subject
involves the questions whether we shall
extinguish the surplus by reducing the
revenue; or whether we shall apply the
surplus to payments or the public debt;
or whether we shall seize the occasion to
provide for our sescoast defences, which
have been long neglected. ! am Of the
opinion that the latter is a paramount
necessity, which ought to precede the re-
duction of the revenue, ard ought also TO
prectde an excessive rapidity In the pay
ment OF the public DEBT
The property exposed 10 destruction
in the twelve seaports- Portland, Ports
mouth, Boston, Newport. New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston.
Savannah, New Orleans, Galveston, and
San Francisco-cannot be less in value
than five thousand millions OF dollars.
To this must be added a vast amount of
property dependent for its Use on these
sesports. Nor does this statement afford
"A true measure of the damage which
might be caused to the property and busi-
mes. Of the country by a failure to protect
these seaports from hostile naval
attacks. They are the centres, not only
of foreign commerce, but Of most OF the
bf6ut anu tAtualECs VI ec-1fN~N'S
| products.
| 70 provide effeotual defences would be
the work of years It would take much
| time to construct permanent fortliica-
tions. A small provision Of the best
modern guns would take several years
Neither of these works can be extempor-
lied In presence of emergent danger. A
million Of soldiers, with the best equip
ments, on the heights surrounding New
York, in Cur present state OF preparation,
or rathertn our total want of prepara-
ton, wotld be powerless to resist small
squadron of WIZ steamers. This state of
things ia.dscrcditable to our foresight and
to our prtdeAcc,
at Is now more than sixty years since
we announced to the world that We
should resist airy attempts, frah whatev er
quarter they might come, ~ make any
new combinations on any part Of the
American continent; that while we should
respect the status quo, we should protect
the people of the different nations inhab-
iting this continent from every attempt to
subject them to the dominion of any
European power or to interfere with
their undisturbed exercise of the rights of
self government. This announcement
was formally madp by President Monroe
after consultation with Mr.. Madison and
Mr.. jefferson. 1t was formulated by
John Quincy Adams. Our government
has firmly adhered TO the Monroe doc
trinc, and, even SO late as 1865, it warned
Napoleon Ill out of Mexico. 1t is inn
possible to fOrescc, in the recent scramble
of the European powers for acquisition OF
colonies, how soon an occasion may arise
for our putting in practice the Monroe
doctrine 1t Is clear that there ought to
be some relation bet tween our assertion of
that doctrine and our preparation to
maintain 1t. y
This was the uttcrance of a statesman.
But unfortunately the man from Buffalo
was at the helm. His plan was to de
stroy the surplus. How well he has
carried 1t ont let the country attest, The
Monroe doctrine enforced means small
standing army but it also means elabor-
ate coast Notifications and a receptacle
navy. The expenditure is chiefly one Of
time ard money. 1T is not an expen-
diture Of the producing strength of the
ing armies of Europe. Not to make the
necessary expenditure is to rely for de
Tense upon our extent of territory and
population. China did that in her war
with Japan. 1t Is difficult TO understand
why longer delay in the matter of coast
Notifications should be countenanced, and
it is gratifying to note that this congress
appears disposed to do something