The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-09-09


pacity of our ordnance. Therefore |
think. as l have said before, that, in
view OF these facts, it is extraordinary
that we at this day should 60 on APP
propriating to complete these ships of
more than 100000.
Mr. Loud. You approve of torpedo
boats, 40 you not?
MIR. Simpson. Ii they are necessary
Mr.. Loud. Then you don't know
whether they are necessary or not?
Mr.. Simpson. | do not know. will
direct my attention now to these bat
tie ships.
Mr.. Loud. Now, | would like to ask
the gentleman one question, and have
a fair answer. | would like to ask the
gentleman if his objection is not To the
amount of the appropriation, rather
than an objection to the construction of
a uavv, or rather than to the class of
vessels carried in this bill?
Mr.. Simpson Mr.. Chairman. vii
give this gentleman fair answer, as
he wants a fair answer | always try
to give fair and honest answer to any
question that is asked me, as l see it,
l am opposed both to the appropria-
ton and TO the ships, because, of course.
the ships carry the appropriation
Mr.. Loud. Which do you oppose
the strongest?
Mr.. Simpson. [ oppose them both
equally, because I do not see how
any sensible man can separate the two;
and do not see any necess ty for All
increase of the Navy
Mr.. Loud. That is fair answer.
Mr.. Simpson. l think we have Il
sufficient navy to protect our interests,
both at home and abroad. Now, what
do we want an increased Navy for? Do
you apprehend a foreign war; and if SO,
who with? There is no nation on all
the face of the globe that would have
any pretext or could have any interest
in attacking the greatest nation in the
world, and if we deal fairly. with other
nations we need not fear any war
There is but one country with whom u
war might be had, and that is Great
power on the earth. Her naval power
exceeds that of any navy ever built
She mus necessarily have navy, be-
cause her commerce goes to every port
in the world. She, by the system of
trade she has adopted, has intercourse
with all the world, and so her ships
enier into every port. Therefore she
has been compelled by circumstances
to bull up very large navy to pro-
tect her great ocean carrying trade
We are in different circumstances. We
have no ocean marine worth speaking
Of. Why, the gentleman from Iowa
MIR Hepbnrnl the other day, in
speech here, showed beyond question
that we have to psy many hundreds of
million, every year to foreign ships;
and think he made the statement that
we paid the Germans also an enormous
sum, and that it WAS a rare thing to See
the American flag in any foreign port.
Then why do you need an increase of
the navy?
MIR. Loud When your party comes
into power, in 1896. when you will have
this free trade which you have been
speaking of, will it not be well to an
ticipate it, as it will take longer to
build ships than to pass your free trade
bill?
Mr.. Simpson. Mr.. Chairman, we
are discussing an appropriation bill
which carries an increase of expendi-
lures of S23, 200, 600, and does the gen.
tleman want to divert the discussion
from that to party politics?
Mr.. Loud. You were referring to
England and her free trade.
Mr.. Simpson. 1t is SO, because of the
different conditions of that country
from those of this country, which |
think is perfectly legitimate argu-
ment in this question. England l. con-
fined to small territory. Her people
have been compelled TO take to the
ocean and to trade with all the nations
of the earth; and therefore she, of
course, has built up a large navy to
protect her commerce from the navies
Of the other nations of the world who
ar in 10 Lind of IL.