The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-04-18
SENATOR SQUIRE TELLS THE SEN
Ate UNPLEASANT TRUTHS.
Our cities on the Seaboards at the
Mercy of Any Foreign Ma
val Power.


senator as hale in body and clear, sound
and vigorous in intellect, esteemed by
his brother-senators, by his state and
by the whole country. At the conclu-
sion of the prayer, Senator Morrill, re-
ceived congratulations from many of
his associates. Shortly after the session
opened Senator Morrill, announced that
Thursday next he would speak on the
necessity of additional quarters for the
national museum.
Senator Squire of Washington was
recognized for speech on coast de-
lenses
The National DeIenses" was the sub
ject of Senator Squire's speech, and as a |
preliminary to a more detailed discussion |
of the topic the senator said in part:
What an absurd spectacle has the CON |
gress of the United States presented dur
ing the present session by its persistent
talk of the intervention of the United
States in behalf of Cuba and Venezuela
How cheap is all this talk. sincere though
it may be on many occasions. Every man
who has informed himself on the subject
of national defense, knows that as ma
ton we are not in condition to undertake
war or suffer war. We can talk loud ana
long and profess sympathy, pass resolu-
tions and make believe to ourselves that
we are actually taking nand in the
diplomatic affairs and international
questions of great momen-, but those
who are not deceived by egotistical CLAM
or and who know the facts are perfectly
aware of the painful truth that this dem
onstration is mere talk and buster and
vapid sentiment or at most sympathy
that is easily satisfied with merely verbal
/ expressions.
THE people did not know how shame
fully their interests are being banded
and played with by. these who represent
them in the halls of congress. They dc
not know that the great sea coast cities,
teeming with wealth. are exposed and
defenseless against attack by foreign
navies with vessels far outnumbering
ours in strength. They do not know that
our navy itself may be hopelessly Grip
pied by the destruction of our undefended
navy yards. depots of supplies, dock
yards, powder mills and arsenals."
The senator said all the evidence taken
by the committee on coast defenses had
gone 10 show that the condition of our
coast defenses is lamentable in the ex-
treme. The defensive works are of a
character incapable of resisting modern
artillery The evidence is overwhelming
that in case of war. our whole people
would suffer UNNECESSARILY.
Prom such investigation as has been
practicable, it is evident that a large
amount of destructible property estmat-
ed at not less than ten billion dollars in
value, is exposed to attack or at least TO
heavy assessment for the purpose of Sc
curing immunity from destruction The
president of the chamber of commerce of
New York has informed me that he has
4 given careful attention to the question
of the property risks that would at pres
ent be sustained in the cities of New
York Brooklyn and Jersey City. He has
consulted with many of his colleagues in
the great business institutions of New
York and he estimates that property val
ued at four billion dollars in those cities
is subject to destruction or 10 imposition
of a ransom in case of capture of the
port of New York by a hostile fleet"
At this point the senator presented a
statement showing a comparison of our
navy with that of England and also a
statement of all the steel vessels in the
American navy, including those author
lied by law; also some data as to the
naval fighting strength of other nations
He then said:
This summary is believed to be the
most favorable to the United States thai
can be made from the records and still II
shows this country to be far behind the
great nations of the world in nava
strength Moreover. 1t leaves out of sigh
our deficiency in torpedo boats and tor
pedo boat destroyers. of which latter WI
have today one small vessel in commits
sion whereas Great Britain has 13l, Ger
man 116 France 10S, Italy l06. Russia u
and even Spain has 10 torpedo vessels, al
in the list / have given being lis feet il
length and over. Sixty-two Of the Brit
ish vessels are torpedo boat destroyers
having superior tonnage and speed"
And in this connection he said: so /
is we are encircled as a nation with
cnain of foreign fortresses and coalinl
stations impervious to attack, while on
rich sea coast cities and ports, commenc
ing at Portland. Maine near to the for
titled Halifax in Canada, continuing dow
the east TO Portsmouth. Boston, New
Beford Providence and Naraganset
Bay. New London, Bridgeport. New Yori
Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware, Nor
folk. Wilmington. N. c., Charleston. Por
Royal. Savannah, Key West. Mobile an
New Orleans and Galveston within a fey
hours rapid steaming from the foreign for
titled ports of Bermuda, Nassau, Havan
and Kingston, and again on the Pacih
coast San Diego, San Francisco, Portland
Oregon, and Puget sound, with it's Unite
States dry dock. coaling places and cities
some of them within sound of the Bri
ish cannon at Esquimalt. all lay expose
and helpless at the attack of any foreig
power that possesses navy.
FABULOUS wealth lies at the mercy
q freebooting enemy, If such shall at an
time elude our small and scattered nav,
/Our foreign commerce and our Goa