The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-02-17

seacoast defenses.s He replied that, .al-
though that is true. the enormous sum
is Insignificant as compares to what
should be DONE Counting our Cana
dian, Mexican, gulf and Pacific and At
lantic boundaries, we have 10, 900 miles
to defend; and that don't count in the
coast of our rich possessions in Alaska,
which must be defended in time of war
with any nation. lssf Eli &.
We are proud of our strength and
vastness, but we are apt to forget that
our very bigness makes US vulnera BILE
and that it will cost almost fabulous
sums to prepare for war. The nations
of Europe have powerful navies, and if
two Of those nations were allied against
US we would be in an unfortunate con-
dition, with our 10000 miles of boun-
daries unprepared for defense. and our
great coast cities at the mercy of for
eign fleets. It would take almost our
entire naval strength to defend New
York alone, and what would become Of
San Francisco. and other important
ports?
Gen. Miles says that before we go to
war with Spain, we must be sure that
Germany and Austria will not join with
Spain and make triple power against
us: The very possibility of such a
contingency makes advanced states
men hesitate. That is what made Pres
ident Cleveland so conservative. That
Is what has made President Mckinley
$50 conservative. We may sheer at dan
ger; but sneers count for nothing in
the presence of q powerful foe. w.. =
There is only one great nation that
really desires to avoid war with US,
and that Is Great Britain; because,
while that power might injure our
coast cities with her powerful navy,
she would lose Canada speedily, and
that she cannot afford to do. Great
Britain might do US harm along our
coasts, from which it would take years
to recover; but we would recover. She
would lose Canada, and from that loss
Great Britain could never recover.
Therefore, there is no danger of war
with Great Britain.
But, if we were overpowered by other
nations, we might naturally expect
Great Britain to swoop down upon us
also, and take part in despoiling us, for
Great Britain is not our friend.
There is another nation which does
not fear to war with u.s., but; does not
intend to have hostilities withyus,, and
that is Russia, which has always been
our friend. It was Russian guns which
compelled Great Britain to keep hands
of, when we were in trouble, among
ourselves in 1876.
The fact stated by Gen. Miles, that we
are unprepared for war, is known to all
Of the nations of the earth. Our forts
and:ships are always open to inspection,
and the agents of foreign nations have
looked us all over.
From an eminent statesman, one who
is acknowledged to be one of our great
est international lawyers, the facts here
presented have been obtained Public
men of prominence are exceedingly
careful OF; their utterances, because they
are very often misquoted by enterpris-
ing young newsgatherers: But in the
privacy and confidence of his own par.
lor a distinguished senator who has
been personal friend of tho writer for
nearly quarter of century said:
Tell your readers to pray for peace.
Tell them that wise counsel prevails in
Washington, and that we are prepar.