The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-03-04


posed works assumed an attack with
high explosives aud are planned to re-
sit such an attack. The guns were
heavier than any mounted on any ship
abroad except few Goa t defense yes
sels (uotaby the " Italian y, which no
one even suggests can cross the Atlantic
ocean; yet even these were matched by
those estimated for our defense. Since
the date for The estimates for land de-
feuses the guns on shipboard have ex-
hibiied a constant tendency to decrease
in relative power
These points Senator Proctor en-
forced by extracts from reports of the
British military and naval operations
against Alexandria, and from testi-
mony derived from the recent war be-
tween China and Japan. The senator
argued strongly for increased appropri-
atoms for Qualifications. A stronger
navy, he said, is not indispensable.
In the building of this new navy we
have accomplished already all that it
was originally designed to do when this
work was begun. The question now
pressing for an answer is, Shall the
next step be in the direction of fur
Their increase of the naval strength, or
in the completion Of the land coast de-
fenses2 Ii the latter, We may know TO
cent the expenditures o which we com
nit ourselves and exactly what we will
get for our money; if the former, we
enter on an expenditure to which there
is literally no end.
These facts now bring US face TO face
with an all-imp )rtant consideration.
In our expenditure of money hereto
fore we have had tolerably definite
idea as to what we were spending it for.
We could not brook the idea that our
coast might be plundered by power
like Spain or Chill. We may assume
that we have now guarded against any
possible humiliation of that sort. But
what is the next step that we will take?
1t ought not to be step in the dark.
From this time on any expenditure
Of money which we are prepared to
make on naval increase will merely
make us stronger than we need be with
refe ence to powers that are weaker
than ourselves, while leaving us still
hopelessly inferior TO the five great
naval powers that are now so much
stronger than ourselves. Whether we
look backward or forward, further eX-
penditure OF money in this directi N
Except for the purpose of maintaining
our present relative position) will be
money sadly misapproprated unless it
be expended with he deliberate pur-
pose of pursuing this course to lis log
ical end and of competing with aud ex-
ceiling the great powers of Europe in
naval streng h.
Thu expense of maintaining a navy,
the necessity for England's having a
large and powerful navy and the folly
of the United States bu lding and main
tanning, or undertaking to build and
maintain a navy of equal size and
power, were links in the senator's ar
gument against any material enlarge
ment of the navy beyond the size con-
templated by existing plans, and in
favor of now devoling an adequate sum
for land defenses. Ga the subject Of
terrifying the harbors Senator Proctor
said, in conclusion, aud the force of
his conclusions cannot be gainsad:
Our desires and our traditions are for
the maintenance of peace, and nothing
will tend 10 the maintenance of peace
more than an undoubted ability on our
part to successfully withstand attacks
from the sea. This is our weakest point,
for our military resources are such that
no hostile force is likely to seek an en-
counter with us on our own soil
The question of coast defenses is nc
local question. The honor of the ma.
ion is as dear to an American citizen
on the prairies of the West as to one in
the rush of Broadway. Nor is the ma.
TONS honor only lat stake. Any tinan-
cial misfortune that befalls a seacOast
city has its direct effect on the male.
rial interests of every inland city and
every inland community.
The needs of the country appeal to
congress for action in this direction
the boundless capital represented in
property that could be destroyed by
bombardment appeals to us; the ma
terial interests of the whole nation thai
would be affected by that destruction
appeal to us; the universal editorial
etublulcnI VI bhC SOuhliy hPpCoio W no
our common sense appeals t. US. We
can effect the purpose more cheaply
now than hereafter. Let us provide
suitable Notifications and render oul
harbors impregnable. We have oul
solid coasts to build upon. They viii
sustain any weight of earthworks, the
best material for fertilization, without
the danger of ripping decks ant
unstable ships. Moreover, whatever
works ire made will be such that add
ditons can from time to time be made
to them to make them equal to with
stand the advances of science If W.
do this, we will receive the commenda
ton of the whole country.
The eloquent senator from Colorado
has spoken of the aft iations of bloot
between the United States and Eng
land, and the consideration and affec
ton which should be an outcome o
such relations. We, as a nation, hav'