The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-14
ME. c1sE.
Mc Announces that "tbe Adm,n,.tr,,,.
wsuia Have Besu Giaa or 800. 900. Ooo =

vys-la Have Bees G;iaa or 500 900, Ooo |.
To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir. I no.i,.
| to-day in your editorial columns, which I nev.,
allow TO pass unread. an editorial headed "R,,.
rett and Bingham So far as IL refers 10 M :,
suggests that my action In wishing 10 offer a.
| amendment TO the $4,000. 900 defence hin
making 1t $780, 900. 900, and having 1t availabl,
for q period Of two years instead OF less thar
| eight months. indicates that in Mr.. Barrett,,
| Judgment neither the President nor the commit.
tees knew so we'll as himself what is needed "a,
| the national defence"
While not lacking in respect for much wis.,
and older men than myself upon matters OF nuh
lie action. yet, unfortunately, us a Represents.
tive in Congress I am bound to DO governed nv
my W Judgment In tho last resort.
1t is no betrayal OF confidence to say that m.
Administration would have been glad OF Sloo.
900. 600 and Of a longer time in which tina,
amount could DO available than the eivh,
months allowed.
The amount of $4,000, 900 was Appropriated
because that amount OF FREQ gold lies in IN.
Treasury and no bonds need be Issued; at least
that is the reason given. Every one in Wash.
ington admits. so far as / know. that the moral
effect would havo been greater to have npnro.
priated 300, 900. 200. and that so far as inter.
nal politics are concerned. II would have been
wise in tho present unanimity OF sentimcn, IA
have shown that Congress Is willing even to 1.
sue bonds to protect our national interests and
national honor.
II you. sir. were a member OF Congress and
knew the strong pressure and determination
that has been for q long time exercised TO pre.
vent appropriations for the national defence
you would perhaps better appreciate the spirit
question OF raising two additional regiments Of
artillery to man the guns now being placed in
action upon It was only decided by the present
crisis over Cuba; when II has been impossible
for years to get In TIE House even a chance to
solute needs Of the navy in the way of dry docks;
ana when. as only recently. the. fortifcat!on APP
only Increased because of the Cuban situation.
then YOU would appreciate that this is the tins
but also. II possible, to embark on a general sys.
TEN of national defence which would 90 on in
spite OF tho ups and downs at Havana and
We have seen in the last few years several
war scares. The commercial and industrial
situation. in this country has been retarded by
them. They are scares, because whenever any
irritation appears people knew that we arc
am one of>those who believe in preparing
fo- war before war comes. and | would have
been glad on last Tuesday to have seen Congress
give $1oO, 900, 900. and place it in the hands Of
the President for two, years, in order to build
forts. dry docks. and ships. without any rerari
money must be hurriedly spent or not spent at
all. We must buy warships or not have them,
We must act as IL war is imminent, when we
ought to go ahead as q matter of course.
1t was with no disposition TO put myself. as
you suggest, in "ebullient opposition TO older
members of Congress. but simply to put on rec.
ord my own well.defned conviction that encr.
Goncy appropriations and temporary measures
are not what is wanted so much as steady. per.
sistent work on n general system of defence.
Within a few days the Naval Appropriation
bill will be under consideration in the House,
whom the question of moro ships and OF dry
docks for our navy Will be uppcrmost. ! sin.
cerely trust Congress will register then its per.
manent con viction that our defence should no
constructed and the country put in n position
where we shall be able to SNAP our fingers al
any time Mt the threats of war from any such
nation as Spain. w. T.. BARRETT.
WASHINGTON, March 10.