The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-01

" lhe present moment but our rulers
seem, IN their blind party spirit and in the
utter selhshness that characterizes their
whole course of procedure to ignore every
rule or prudence and good sense. To the
preservation of peace something besides
diplomacy is necessary. The writing Of
dispatches constitutes a very poor safe
guard Tor the interests of ones nation.
When II is known that behind the de-
spatch there are well-eQuipped forces and
lnuOmltable resolution, then. indeed, our
arguments will carry full conviction and
pI,opuCe the desired erect: II any nation
wishes to secure its due influence in the
councils of the world, if it wishes to Sc
cure respect for its rights and for the
rights OF its citizens under any and all
circumstances, ii must place itself in a pO-
sltlon IN which its well organized forces
VIII enable ii to make its voice heard with
full authority
The victories of the past are somewhat
brought forward as an excuse for the
criminal negligence of the present. I'VE
nave beaten England twice; we were then
a small and insignificant people; we
could DO so much more easily now when
our population and resources are ten to
twenty times greater" Is this a sound
argument? In the war of indeDendence
England stood alone against the world.
Inc United states were assisted by France
both by land and sea. In the war of 1912
when Great Britain was actively engaged
IN the great NapOleonic conflict, there
were defeats and victories on both sides.
No argument can well be deduced from
former wars to warrant us in concluding
ment of the sword would prove an easy
victim Grant that the population and re-
sources of the United States have in
creased ten or twenty fold, England, like
wise, has not been standing still She
also has made an incredible advance, not
only in population but also in power, both
by land and sea The England of to-day
is not the England of a hundred years
ago. She knows and realizes her power.
She knows also that the people which
wishes to defend itself against all agrees
i'm Z no Of is
tory put everything to the hazard, and
she has made her calculations according
ly. She is strong also in the present mo-
ment in the feeling that at the close of
the present financial year she will have a
balance of $50 900 on the right side of
her account, TO be devoted, in case Of ne
cessity, to providing additions to her army
and fleet.
We might also derive a useful lesson from
the recent war between China and Japan.
China relying on the numberless millions
of men she could put into the field and on
her immense resources had anticipated an
easy victory over Japan. Her tiny neigh
Dor was prepared, however, to meet her
gigantic adversary. The result shows, in
these days of scientific warfare, thar a
smaller nation which has advanced with
the times and neglected none of the latest
improvements introduced into warfare, is
more than a match for more powerful
nation. no matter how warlike its people
may be.
characterized by physical bravery. The
experience of Chinese Gordon contradicts
such an assertion. In their overweening
confidence they were simply unprepared
for war, just in the same degree as the
French were in 20; and, under such cir
cumStanceS, the braVeSt nation on earth
must succumb to the well directed attacks
of the enemy. Wealth. at such a time far
from being a means of power, becomes a
source of temptation to the enemy, whose
greed hopes to crafty itself in large war
The United States have 1900 miles of
coast line to defend. along which are sit
uated some of the richest and noblest
cities in the world. Butcher, on visiting
London, exclaimed, What city to sackr'
Would he not make a similar observation
in regard to New York and the cities that
cluster around it. They alone would be
equal to the ransom of kingdom I'm
agine New York and Brooklyn in the pos
session of an enemy for even two days!
What havoc would be wrought! What de-
struction of life and property! And hav-
ing accomplished all this the invaders,
laden with their booty could calmy re-
turn to their ships and sail away where
some other cities almost as inviting await
ed them.
Is it not matter of urgency to prevent
such a dire possibility? 1T is sufficient only
ito mention it to render every patriotic
American alive to the needs of the hour.
There must be an end to the fatuous tor
pOr which, while inviting war, by preten-
sions to which foreign nations do not
willingly lend an ear, does nothing to en-
able us to support with weight the claims
we put forward. Strength must be re-
stored to the American Samson before the
fearful cry is heard boding destruction
and ruin: 1.-THE Philistines be upon thee"
We are a commercial people, accus-
toned to view things in commercial
light 1t would be well for us to initiate
the conduct of the prudent business man,
who insures his property in order to be
prepared for any eventuality. There may
not be one chance of fire out Of one thou
sand; nevertheless, he comes to terms
with an insurance company, and hence
forth he feels easy in his mind. Should
we not consider the preparation of proper
defenses for the approaches to our great
cities as an act of insurance calculated
not only to save our properly, but TO pre-
serve the honor and dignity OF our coun-
try? To think OF the present state OF IN
adequacy of our means of defense makes
us blush In all the arsenals of the United
States there are less than 1900 rifles no
guns, no ammunition whatever. nothing
at ALI This is not only alarming; it af-
fords a positive invitation to a bold and
enterprising enemy: To remedy this state
of things we should require to incur an
expense of some 500, 000, 600, that is to say,
but a small fraction of ! per cent. upon
the property at stake. Why so much de-
to act why do not the cities imperiled
bestir themselves and insist that meas
ures be taken, and at once, to provide ad-
eduate means of security. As matters stand
we can be compared to a wealthy defense
less old man, who would make ostenta-
tious display of his riches to three or four
ruf1ians who are ready to pounce upon
him at the first opportunity.
Let the wealth of the country be freely
expended in placing her in position from
which she can safely defy all enemies.
II is not possible to put it to better use
Often has a man lost his fortune because
he would not submit to hazard a part of
it in defending the all. A very small ex-
penditure in comparison with the inter-
ests at stake will secure from the attacks
of every foe. the honor. the dignity and
Impression that is also widely prevalent
is that the chief function of a feet is TO
defend the coasts of a country, and that
in carrying out this portion of their duty
the ships must hug the coasts and the
approaches to the leading harbors, in or
der 10 bar the entrance of the enemy.
England has but a small coast line and
a gigantic fieet;'but she has long realized
the impossiblity and absurdity Of such a
mode of defence. She has provided with
elaborate and powerful fortifications the
most assailable points along her coasts
Dover Plymouth, Portsmouth, the mouth
of the Mersey, and the mouth Of the