The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-26
THE CHIP WE CARRY
With England's Forces Biv-
ouacked on the Frontier.
A MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.
The Trustees of the Chamber OF Com.
merce Discuss Coast Defenses
and Other Subjects.

The trustees of the Chamber OF Com
merce, at their meeting on Tuesday after
noon. discussed number OF pressing pub
lie questions, including the necessity OF
fortifications on the Sound the Alaskan
boundary question, and the establishment
or a Chicago bureau OF immigration for
this state.
On the subject OF coast defenses Thomas
W. PFosch, who had been appointed a
committee Of one 10 draw a suitable me-
mortal TO congress on the needs OF the
Sound In this regard, reported as follows:
ITO the United States Senate and House
OF Representatives In Congress Assembled:
THE Chamber Of Commerce Of the city OF
Seattle respectfully and earnestly calls to
the attention OF your honorable congress
the defenseless condition OF the sea coast
OF the state of Washington, embracing
some 1900 miles. and incidentally OF the
like unhappy condition of the other coast
states OF the American Union. The situa-
ton here is more dangerous and threaten
ing than in any other part OF the country,
and for that reason our people are. per-
hapS, more disturbed than those of other
parts. Within eighty miles Of this city Is
a great naval and military establishment,
including a stone craving dock, arsenal.
numerous ships OF war and modern FORTH
cations OF powerful and approved charac-
nation on the face OF the earth. and areC
maintained as a menace 20 the United /
States. and held at all times In condition
for offensive use.k The men and guns off
that government have gone from that es-
tablishment into our own waters and upon
our own lands, and have been turned
against our own people within the present
generation, in an arbitrary and long-con-
tinued effort TO aggrandize the empire by
n a.sTf H., IL ~
same empire is endeavoring TO deprive us
OF valuable territory in defenseless Alas
ka, setting up a claim thereto that is now
unfounded and absurd. but which our peo-
pie are bound 10 stoutly resist and repel
Should your honorable congress will ii,
such unfriendly acts must come to naught.
but they can only so come by the ability
and determination of the American people
TO protect themselves and maintain their
rights.
With Not a single Gun.
Though placed in this threatened posi-
ton, the coast OF our state has not sin
gle fertilization, a single gun or a single
man TO defend IL, nor has it a vessel OF
any description belonging to the navy OF
the United States. The stake is OF untold
value. Seattle alone Is city of over 81, coo
people. There are numerous other cities.
the entire coast population exposed 10 at
over 1000 These people are essentially
commercial. and are possessed of enor-
nous interests liable 10 destruction in time
OF war. Their foreign commerce is eX-
ceeded only by that of the ports of New
York and San Francisco. Its destruction
would affect inturiously the whole coun-
try. and there certainly would be nothing
10 prevent its destruction, with the posi-
BILE destruction OF Seattle and the other
cities. in the event of hostilities with the
aggressive. warlike and thoroughly pre-
pared empire before referred TO.
Our people are not possessed with tho
desire for war, but on the contrary desire
peace sincerely. They are. however, thor
oughly imbued with the idea that in being
prepared for war they are most surely
guaranteed peace. In peace alone can we
prosper and be content. The exposed, neg
lected. defenseless condition of our coast
has prevented the location OF great enter
priSes here in the past, and has retarded
progress visibly. The general government
itself is enormously interested in the coun-
try about Puget sound, on account Of It's
own properties, on account Of coal sup
plies. and on account OF the superiority OF
the position as base for the great opera
lions OF the world. This chamber there
fore petitions and memorialiZes your hon
orable congress 10 take such action as may
be necessary to further strengthen the
naval and military arms OF the govern
ment. and particularly to enact senate bill
S34. TO provide for Notifications and other
sea coast defenses.'"
The bill referred 10 calls for an appro-
priation OF SS7.000.coo. and section reads:
THAT said appropriations shall be avail
able only as follows: For the fiscal year
ending June 80 1896. 8, 500 900: for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1897, s.. 500 900, and for
each fiscal year thereafter for the period
OF ten years s. 0oo. 900. all OF said appropria-
ton TO be available until expended
The CHIP on Our shoulder.
Senator Squire. when introducing this
bin in the United States senate. said: I'VE
are proposing. / understand, 10 hear dis
cussions of the Monroe doctrine and the
Importance OF maintaining high stand as
to our national honor and the interests OF
our country relative TO the continents OF
America. We are asked TO consider dues-
tons relative TO the recognition OF Cuba
and to take a firm stand as 10 the settle
ment OF the Venezuela boundary dispute
by arbitration. the Alaska boundary con-
tention. and other great international
questions affecting the two American con-
tinents: and at the same time we go along
dreamily. in blissful ignorance or disre-
gard of the fact that We have no adequate
protection az our sea coast cities sufficient
TO withstand the attack Of any nation
with a respectable navy. our much-boast-
ed new navy is probably not more than
one-third the size of the navy OF Great
Britain. We are talking about these mat
ters as If we were able 10 carry a chip on
our shoulder. so 20 speak.
Il do not think II good policy 20 longer
defer appropriations on a scale comport-
ing with the magnitude Of the work. The
expenditures should be apportioned fairly
among all these different ports. according
20 the consolidated estimates. and the
work should commence as near as may be
az the same time al each OF them. so that
all parts OF the United states may have
their proportional benefits contempora-
neously."
The trustees adopted the report. and it
Will be forwarded 70 congress.
boundary feIplexIties Wiped Ont.