Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-29

feel called upon to carry any dispute
with us to the arbitrament of arms I'M
less driven By the last necessity.
South of us lies Mexico. as well as
Central America AMI the States of
South America.
Those States will never feel disposed
to enter into a conflict with the United
States upon land, because they know
and say it in no boastful spirit-that
in conflict of that character with any
nation On the continent Of America this
country would be absolutely irresist-
ible. We could raise armies as Pom
pey claimed to be able to raise them
In the time Of the Roman Republic
By the stamp of the Presidents foot
an army could be raised sufficient in
numbers to repel any attacks that
might be made by any of the powers
native to this continent. We Go not
need any great army to repel an al
tack from Europe. The distances are
TOO vast. the difficulties of transporta-
ton are too great, and the sources OF
supply too difficult end too uncertain
fer the maintenance of successful
land war with us by any OF the Euro
pean powers. ard it is not probable
that any of them will in the near fut-
ure attempt to wage an offensive war
of that character VITA us.
A small. well-equipped and disci-
plined army has in the past served all
our purposes for defense, and it is
not likely that we shall ever endeavor
to carry on land war anywhere on
the Continent of Europe. This army,
DC a IL
ceus around which to assemble our
volunteers, will answer every need Tor
our defense.
We are under no nescessity to allow
ourselves to be led nto any COMPETE
tion with the warlike powers Of EU-
rope as to the size Of cur army, and
no one would venture to propose such
a competition. | venture to say that
if it was necessary we could surpass
any nation in the world with the re-
sources needful for the support Of a
great army, My friend from Kansas
has not made fair comparison when
he compares this republic with Italy
in the ability to support military ex-
penditure He tells US that Italy is
bankrupt because she maintains a
great regular army and a powerful
navy. 1t is true. italy is to-day, ac-
cCrding to newspaper accounts, on the
verge CT bankruptcy. But what is Rally
compared with the United States?
Italy maintains her 100000 reguisr SOL
diers. and sinks under the burden.
We maintain near 30,CH0, and hardly
feel the weight
Italy maintains a great and power
full navy far beyond her wealth, far
beyond her resources. E~r navy is
greater than any possible demand up
on it. While she has a population Of
100000 600 we have a population Of G5.-
coo, COO While all The real estate aud
all the personal property Of Italy when
put together might probably amount
to the pitiful sum of So coo, C00.0G0 or
S4GC0 goo coo, when this country counts
her wealth and sums up her property
we reach the gigantic total OF nearly
$40, eco, 600, coo, making our people the
richest nation of which history tells,
There is no comparison to be made
between the two countries; America
rich beyond the dreams of avarice. and
Italy poor to the verge Of poverty.
Now, my friend says that wo are
unable to and cannot afford this eX-
penditure at the present. | see no req
son why the country cannot afford the
| expenditure. | see nothing in this that
will indicate any increase in the per-
! manent taxation Of the American peo-
| pie If am rot mistaken in my judg
| ment with reference 10 the new tariff
| bill, | believe that bill is not only going
| to raise far greater amount Of -eve-
nue. than now comes into the Treasury.
! but I believe that it will ultimately.
within the next year or two. be so
productive that the revenues under
| that tariff bill. and without any In
crease in the present rate of taxation.
will far exceed any demand that may
be made upon our Treasury by the
building of these new ships, and will
| yield to the Treasury very handsome
i surplus. There is to-day no real
! great strain upon oar revenues We
| are at peace with the world. If we
| ever intend to become a great naval
power now is our time. We have the
money, and every opportunity in our
! favora1
| am in favor Of an increase of the
Navy for many reasons. | believe it