The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-04-24
SSSQ'UIRES ON DEFENSE
SAYS OUR COAST DEFENSE
rs WEAK.
Are In no Shape for War-Billions Of Dol
ars Worth Of Property Declared to he
Virtually q tho Mercy Of 1-o.tiis For
eicn Nation.

WASHINGTON, April l5.-Mr. Morrill,
OF Vermont, reached the age of 81
years to-day, and the event was re.
ferred to in the opening prayer of the
chaplain, the Rev. DIR. Millburn, who
spoke of the white haired Senator as
hale in body, clear, sound and vigor-
GUS IN intellect, and honored by his
brother Senators, his State and by the
country.
Mr.. Squire of Washington, was then
recognized for a speech on the need of
defenses. In opening he said:
What an absurd spectacle has the
Congress of the United States pre-
scented during the present session by
its persis,epttalk in favor, Of the in-
teryenlion by the United States in be-
half OF Cuba and Venezuela. How
cheap is all this talk, sincere though
1T may be on many occasions. Every
man who has informed himself on the
subject of National defenses knows
that, as q nation, we are not in condi-
ton to undertake war or suffer war.
we ear talk loud and long and pro-
TESS sympathy, pass resolutions and
make believe to ourselves that we are
actually taking a hand in the diplom-
attic affairs and international ques-
tions of great moment; but those who
are NJ self-dece.ved by cgotistical
glamor 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 it is q sympathy that is
easily satisfied with merely verbal
expressions"
The senator said that all Of the evil
dence taken by the committee on
coast defenses had gone to show that
the condition of the coast defenses
was lamentable in the extreme. The
works were of a character
incapable of resisting modern artil-
iery. The evidence was overwhelm-
ing that in case of wal the whole PEG.
pie would suffer immeasurably, and
property. estimated at o less than
$lO.Ooo, 600, 600 in value, was exposed
"a attack or at least to heavy assess
ment for the purpose Of securing i'm
munit.y from destruction.
The president of the Chamber Of
Commerce of New York; Mr.. Squire
went or ''has informed me that he
has given careful attention to the
question OF the property risks that
Wonld at present be sustained in the
cities of New York, Brooklyn and Jer-
sey City. He has consulted with many
OF ms colleagues in the great business
institutions OF New York and he esti-
mates that property valued at 81. OOO,-
100000 in those cities is subject to de-
structlon or to the imposition of a
ransom in case of capture of the port
OF New York by a hostile fleet
MIR. Squire referred to the ~seacoast
defenses OF European powers and to
the reports from time % time that
England was increasing her fortifca-
lions and heavy ornaments in Canada
on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
and said: I'VE are encircled as a ma
ton with a chain of foreign fortresses
n coaling stations impervious to
attack while our rich seacoast cities
and ports, commencing al Portland.
Maine. near to fortified Halifax in
Canada, continuing down the coast.
Portsmouth, Boston, New Bedford.
Providence and Narragansett Bay.
New London. New Haven and Bridge
port, New York, Philadelphia, Ralt,-
more, Wilmington, Del, Norfolk, Will
mington, N. G., Charleston, Port ROYAL.
Savannah, Pensacola, Key West, Mo-
bile, New, Orleans and Galveston.
within a few hours rapid steam
ing from the foreign fortified
ports of Bermuda, Nassau. havana
n Kingston. and again the Pacific
coast, San Diego, San Francisco.
Portland, Ore. and Puget Sound,
where is the United States dry docl,
coaling places and cities, some of
them within sounds of British cannon
at Esquimalt, all lay dominated, ex-
posed and. helpless against the attack
OF any foreign power that possesses u
navy. Fabulous wealth lies at the
mercy OF a freebooting neny, il such
shall at any time elEde our small and
scattered navy. Our foreign com
merce and our coasting trade are alike
without harbors of refuge behind land
defenses. Our great dry docks and
shipbuilding powder mills near the
coast are subject to easy destruction
and our navy is without protected
bases for receiving supplies and for
erecting the repairs that are con-
stantly required. And yet we plume
ourselves on u diplomacy"
In closing. the senator expressed
the hope that the bill providing for
the expenditure of $50. 900, 600 for sea
q dcfenses would be adopted with
out serious modification.
A TRIPLE SHOOTING.