The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-30
THE DUTY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE.

For little while after the Presidents
recent special message on the Monroe
doctrine. when the situation really
United States and England. our coast
defenses were topic of general discus
sion. OF course, there could be but one
conclusion, and that was that they were
disgracefully weak. In time of peace we
had not prepared for war, and after
more than hundred years Of national
existence we were but little better able
to repel attack or invasion from the
ocean side than we were at the begin
ming. There was universal regret that
this state of things existed. and univer
sal agreement that 1t should be remedied
as soon as practicable.
The late war cloud has blown over and
there is every reason to believe
that the British-venezuelan ques-
ton will be settled by arbitra-
ton or other peaceful means. The
danger of war on that question is proba-
bly, passed, but no one can tell how soon
danger may arise on some other question
or in some other quarter. The recent
danger came as suddenly and unexpect-
ed as clap of thunder from clear sky.
and another one may COME as suddenly.
The duty of preparing for war in time
Of peace still remains. Our coast de-
lenses are still so absurdly weak as to
handicap the government in any attempt
to assert it's rights against foreign pow
ers and almost to invite invasion by any
power that outclasses us on the ocean. If
the United States is to take and main
tain position as a first-class power
and. peace-loving as Americans are. they
would not consent that the Nation
should rank below first-class-it must
greatly strengthen its coast defenses.
And this should be done as soon as pos
sible consistent with efficient work. In
a spirit OF short-sighted wisdom and
false economy 1T has been neglected too
long already. That 1t will cost a large
sum of money counts for nothing.
though for that matter the money need
not all be spent at once. The work
should be begun Immediately and prose-
cuted without interruption to completion.
Washington dispatches indicate that
the subject is receiving attention. In a
statement before the House committee
on coast defenses on Tuesday Major
General Miles said that all our seaboard
cities are practically open to attack by
any country having a large navy, and
that 1t would take years to place them in
! a proper state of defense. He estimated
that the entire cost of coast defenses on
the Atlantic and Pacific sides would be
about $4,000. 900. This is a large sum.
but we would better pay several times
as. much for coast defenses thap have
some foreign navy levy tribute on de-
fenseless American cities. In this mat
ter we should adopt the phrase of revo-
lutionary patriot: Millions for defense,
but not one cent for tribute
Senator Lodge has prepared and will
soon introduce a bill authorizing a loan
to be known as the "coast-defense loan.
1t authorizes and directs the Secretary
of the Treasury to issue 500, 1000, 900 of
twenty-year 3-per-cent. bonds, the pro-
ceeds Of which shall be kept in the
| treasury as a fund apart and used only
| for providing for the defense of the sea
coasts and lakes OF the United States by
| the construction and equipment of forts
and batteries. The bill provides that
! the bonds shall be offered at par to the
people OF the United States. in denomi-
nations ranging from $50 to $1,000. and
that subscriptions shall be received al
! all subtreasurtes and national banks