The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-04-22
FOR A

fOR COAST
The speech made by Senator Squire, of
Washington. on Wednesday last, in
which he portrayed the defenseless con-
dition OF the American seaeoast cities
against naval ~bombardment OF high
power guns and the necessity for taking
immediate steps to protect them by bat
teries armed by similar artillery. is an
admirable presentation OF the case.
The senator was especially in earnest
because he represents a state whose cities
on the Pacific and on Puget s~ound-Se-
attic as one-would be utterly at the
mercy of any hostile feet armed with
modern guns.
The senator stated-and he kept within
bounds in his igures-that "a large
amount Of destructible property, esd-
mated at not less thai Sl0,oO,0N,e0 in
value. is exposed to attack. or at least
to heavy assessment for the purpose OF
securing immunity from destruction"
This estimate does not include combusti-
BILE property in Chicago. Milwaukee, De-
troit. Cleveland. Duluth. Buffalo and
other lake cities which would be menaced
in a case OF war with Great Britain.
In New York. Brooklyn and Jersey City
alone property worth $4,000 OOo is sub
ject TO ransom or to destruction for lack
OF coast d~efenses.
And yet" said the senator. while
such Is the p~erilous condition OF affairs
congressman are making fiery speeches
TO enforce the Monroe doctrine me de-
manding that the United States intervene
on behalf OF Venezuela or Cuba, even
though that Intervention should lead to
q war for which they mus; know the
country is utterly l~nprepared. at least
with Great Britain" The people ought
to know hat Senator Squire told the
naked truth when ne said:
Every man who has informed himself
On the subject Of national defen ses knows
that as q nation we are not in con-
dition to undertake war or suffer war.
We can talk loud and long. and profess
sympathy. pass resolutions, and make
believe to ourselves that we are actually
taking a hand in the diplomatic affairs
and International questions OF great mo-
ment. but those who are not self-deceived
by egOtistical glamour and who know the
facts are perfectly aware Of the painful
truth, that this demonstration is mere
talk and buster and vapid sentiment. or
at most 1t is a sympathy that is easily
satisfied with merely verbal expressions"
1t is the business of the Tinted States
Just now TO keep out OF conflicts with
strong laval powers, no matter how just
our cause OF resistance. As a choice Of
evils we are under the necessity Of sub
hitting to wrong and oppression. The
first and highest duty Of this nation is
TO put itself into a condition where no
foreign power can successfully assault it
or lay its cities in ashes or under ccntri-
button.
Senator Squire says correctly hat the
coast cities are not to be defended by
warships. The navy is mainly for ag-
erosion, not for defense Of rorts. To
build a navy powerful enough 10 defend
the seaboard cities effectively would cost
hundreds OF millions Of dollars. A mill
ion invested in forts and high-power guns
will yield better results than five mill
ions spent on war vessels. The cost Of
maintenance Of warships is ten-fold
greater tina for forts-and in times OF
peace fifty times as much.
The senator also called attention to the
fact that England. in spite OF her i'm
mense navy, has not neglected her sea-
coast defenses either at home or in the
colonies. and argued that this govern
ment should pursue the same policy; and
that congress should adopt the pending
bill appropriating $s0.OcO,000 for coast de-
lenses, thus protecting at comparatively
small cost billions Of dollars worth of
public and private property. Said he:
Fabulous wealth lies at the mercy Of
a freebootlng enemy, II such shall at anv
time elude our small and scattered nav.
Our foreign and our coasting
trade are alike without harbors Of refuge
behind land defenses. our great dry
docks and shiDbuilding yards, our arms,
factories and powder mills near the coast
are subject to easy destruction and our
own navy is without protected bases for
receiving supplies and for efecting the
repairs that are constantly required.
AND yet we plume ourselves on our
diplomacy"
The sSO,OCO,OOO fertilization bill should
pass the senate as .he appropriation for
Notifications next Year passed the house,
and that was imousIy