The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-21
roR OUR COAST DEFENSES.
AVG OF THE CONVENTION OF
COAST STATES AT TAMPA.

.,ing duFIiGnOn Makes n
hO" .i,r speech at the Request OF
,,,ant-CoI. EstiII HOnOred
o,a the Delegates to the Com
,,,-Vhere Is Spirit of Earn
.s That Pervades the Meeting
promises Well For Its Eff
,octive work.
INA Bay Hotel, Tampa, Fla.' JAM zV'
ooaet defense convention was called
-.ior at 3 o'clock p. M, with delegates
UT from Alabama, Florida, Georgia.
P,,.,o Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisi-
ana % massachusetts,, Minnesota Nebraska
~. York. North Carolina, North Da-
.. obio pennsylvania, South Carolina,
and from the army and navy.
:. is clear already that the convention
-siob began here to-day, looking to the
..gorization of a movement for the estao-
v.sroert and maintenance of better coast
3,fonses along the water boundaries OF
sbo United States, will be more successtul
.sor anv convention ever had in this coun-
W.. with q kindred purpose in view.
II is evident that the men who came 10
romna TO participate in the deliberations
~ this convention mean business. The
.-orblo has been in the past that there
vss not sufficient interest in similar move
ments 10 carry them through. This is not
the case here.
For the past two years the wars going
m within ninety miles of the United
States coast and the rumors of war run
ming rife all over the confines of the re-
public have conspired to evolve out of the
very force of actual conditions the move
ment which this coast defense convention
stands for and the personel of the gath
erng together with the sanction of every
governor of the various states of the Uni
fed States. to make this meeting such a
ope in point of significance as this coun-
Il try never saw before.
When Gen Schofield, who, until recent
". served as commander-in-chief of the
United States army, was made permanent
chairman of the convention, it could not
be doubted that the American spirit was
behind the movement for better fortifica-
lions along the coast of the United States.
While the proceedings of the first day
consisted chiefly in speech-making, it was
ed are not here for child play.
Gov BloXham of Florida made stirring
speech in bidding welcome to the delegates
giving enthusiastic approval of the scheme
in view. He was followed by representa-
tives of the city of Tampa and they, in
turn by other speakers. The most stirring
speech Of the day was that of Hon. Flem-
ing duBignon OF Georgia MIR. duBignon,
who is famed throughout the south as a
brilliant orator never made a more effec-
tive speech than that which he delivered
here to-day and it has been the talk of the
delegations from all the states ever since
i It was delivered
He had been requested by President H.
3. Plant of the Plant system to respond
III mis- stead, Mr.. Plant having been asked
70 deliver an address to the convention.
Mr. duBignon expressed regret that Mr..
Pant did not himself speak, declaring that
twas too often the case that the builders
O counlrys wealth and the promoters of
eountry's material advancement were
700 muen disposed to insist that they were
moi orators and claimed no part in pub
Hc speaking. He spoke of the value of
slale rights local government as a nur-
tey OF freedom, ana said that it was the
uuy OF all patriots to keep the national
i''ln and honor as free from stain as the
I1ster Of a cloudless sun.
4 MS speech received storms of applause
throughout and was the decided hit of the
nfst day of the session.
.Aatorney General Smith of Indiana, who
lglo"ed Mr.. duBignon, declared that if
1geIslahs could have heard his speech
ue! would have sent him to the United
s'a'es senate, and all Americans would
'Jolce 10 have had him there.
CoL j. II. Estiu of Georgia has been
O3 honored by the convention He
,ta Selected as vice president from the
Von al large Of the permanent organiza-
. avn, Hefe being one vice president from
,F s'ale IN the union. Col. Estill was
so elected as one of the committee on
b,o,uIlohs' which committee will have in
ventOn 'e 'ii0 OOii-
p,rt @tdn'a IN a, has played quite a prominent
H. ]" lne flrst days session 1t fell to
c.r, cJ honorable privilege of Col. Charles
so5 eI ol that city to introduce Gen. SEQ
81 vi tAe United States army as the
t',,."ldh t''-. o. the meeting. Other ATTAIN
lboro.aiaay aaye Hgured prominently in the de-
neoon., n echoHelds address dealt with the
Tbt tE Oh improving the coast defenses.
ev1s.ee "orN' he said. could be done at small
De,oo ana was the best guarantee of
jefsr., ln the race between offensive and
vib r appliances the advantage was
cort,,' lalier' and he believed would
ss.alu.e s,aue to be. At the conclusion of Gen.
ior.1Yei i'eiI address the convention ad-
me- n'sa., until Friday morning. In the
Of TINE Time rs members will visit the site
elk 'posel tortifications, the cruiser Raj
po.gi.oeW "oW iylng in the harbor, and other
Tin 5c.W 5rolIoW the delegates will go on a
psp,1 1o|h Tampa bay as guests of Mr..
rewe., ABOARD the Margaret, one Of his