The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1895-12-19
AN UNPLEASANT sIrUAr1oN.

The situation regarding the foreign
complications of the United States is
serious. From mere jingo, used by
bombastic politicians seeking to create
popular enthusiasm, thereby hoping to
masses, war talk has passed to stage
when each word has direct meaning,
and a halt or misstep would be either
diegraceful or ruinous. England's reply
to the demands of President Cleveland
was not in the least satisfactory, though
couched in pleasant and diplomatic Ian
guage, and our chief executive has COM
municated to congress a message which
places upon that body the necessity of
taking some decided action-either of
declaring that all our talk about the
Monroe doctrine was a large-sized bluff,
or that we meant every word that was
said, and intend to follow it up with
vigorous measures. There is no such
thing as dodging the issue. The United
States is on trial before the eyes of the
world. and every nation is watching our
procedure in this juncture with view
to regulating its future course of dealing
with US.
The condition that confronts congress
is critical. A backing down from the
position taken by President Cleveland
n ms an impairment of national dig
nifty; and yet too decided action may
precipitate war for which we are total
ly unprepared. The condition of our
army and navy is not unknown to Eng
land. The fact that we have only few
first-clas ships, and for these such diff
Guilty has been found in manning them
that the naval authorities are wonder
ing from where the marines for ships
now in process of construction will come
Our army is no better. Twenty-Five
thousand men represent the full enlist
ment of our land forces, and with the
exception of a few available regiments
of militia, are the military force
which could be depended upon for i'm
mediate action. What such a force on
land and sea could accomplish against
the navy and army of England is prob
1ematIc; but the chances are that for
long time the showing made would be
small one. There is the great body of
volunteers, which upon a call to war
would rush in throngs to the defense o.
of the country; but these could neither
be drilled nor armed till many months
should pass. In the meantime England.
with her far-fring guns, would be exact
ing tributes from our eastern cities.
England is always ready for war; the
United States never is. The policy of
this country is peace-courting one. 1t
has held aloof from the entanglements
of European politics, and given little
attention to the maintenance of a mill
tary force commensurate with possible
needs. Our coast defenses are practi-
cally nothing. A few cannons placed in
scattered positions would avail nothing
against foreign foe.
Any one who looks at the question
fairly will see that we are in no cond1-
tion for war with England, and yet
present events indicate that only shrewd
diplomacy or a back down from Eng
land can save what may result in con-
flict. If this country gets out of the
Venezuela difficulty satisfactory, no
time should be lost in making our army
and navy able to compare with those
which the countries of the Old World
could send against Us. If the Monroe
doctrine is to be the policy of the United
States, it must be backed up by ships
and men.