The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-02
yU4Y WAX MEANS.

AIR Ioseph Modnl. the distinguished eol-
TOR of the Chicago Tribune. was in WASH
inrton last week, and he said TO news
papor reporter there:
.,rbere are many great problems press
inc upon the American people lol so,"-
,ton lint paramount TO aii, in my jH9s-
mont. H. the question of defending our
coast and lake fronts from the lhNasio"
of "a foreign foe The nocd lol prepare"
,to, te ,-ital and immediate ] am amazed
at the apathy and seeming ih"i"tft"'' ~
CONGRESS lin neelcctine matter mat con-
Germs the temporal welfare oil mlliioli' VI
neonio their property and their lives.
t,.t.rt authority should Doe given the
president 10 issue Si0O0000oo of longtime
I,,da hearing 8 per cent. interest, with
,sbirb 10 fortily our soaboard from Port
isrl ia Galveston and from san Diego To
Seattle. and to put every town ana city
ON the Great Lakes I'm a condition OF
defence.
..rbe yearly interest on this would be
only s. 0l0uW What a small sum Tor ma
tonal Insurance, The total fire insurance
of tho United States amounts to s2o@,oV0-
900 annually. and yet Congress sleeps as
sereneN As old Rip Van Wrinkle among
nho highlands Of the HUDSON as though "a
lions that America should be sacred from
assault.
what is there TO defend the capital il
self should British ships of war steam up
the Potmac? What is there 10 Keep hos
ION. Philadelphia. and Baltimore from de-
struction hv these modern long range
,-,ins. and what Is TO save New York from
having To pay a ransom of millions should
the flying squadron demand the money as
am alternative of pillage. IRE. and devas-
tauOn2
we are totally al the mercy, so Tar as
our coast rs concerned. of any great pow
or. We know our helplessness. and the
strong governments across the water
know that We must be cognizant Of their
appreciation Of our impotency. Yet we
20 on from year 10 year taking no steps
for self-preservation. These dcfences
cannot be improvlsed. they are not re
work OF a week, a month. or a year. War
may come i'm a moment and find ms to-
tally without equipment. Then the ma
ton would touch The bitter depths OF
humiliation: then the masses would curse
the legislators. who. with blind folly, re-
fused TO expend n few millions for life
and homes and honor: then history would
record the greatest disgrace that ever
bcfell n people"
we are AZ Il lN9S W hiDN Ni'Ai'i VIC
would Ike to see our harbors and coasts
defended or whether we would not. We
have no business having wars with for
eign powers. If we would only be mind
ful Of Washington's advice TO his country
men we would keep our attention fixed
exclusively upon our own affairs. and we
should never then become embroiled
abroad for no power is going to do US a
wanton injury We may be never 50 un-
prepared, but all the world knows the
latent power OF the country. and no for
eiyn country is going willingly to arouse
IL and direct II against itself But If our
coast was thoroughly fortified and we
had powerful navy we fear our jingoes
would always have the best OF II, and
would always be cmbroilng US In quar-
rels, the very worst fate that could befall
the country.
But nevertheless, II we are resolved to