The times., 1898-01-24


their usefulness ends. Twenty years
ago the Sioux Indians. armed with
Winchesters. used to make fun Of them.
Now one might as we'll equip an army
with hand organs and hymn books as
to stand soldiers up with Springfield
rifles against a force armed with pieces
which are deadly, and effectively so
in trained hands, at e,5o0 or even 5000
yards
We are more than surprised that the
ordnance office has not kept track of the
decadence of private arms manufacture
during the pest twenty years. For
some time after the civil war the in
terest was a aourishing one, but it
ceased to keep pace with the times,
and has fa,,en badly from it's former
estate. Many foreign states used to be
liberal customers for our Remingtons
and arms of that class which now
make their own, continually striving to
find better weapon than any in pos
session of their rivals. Therefore, the
decayed estate OF the American arms
industry should have been known to
the army staff, Perhaps it was. and
the newspapo. reports may be incor-'
rect. We hope 50.
a serious condition faces us. The
question of national defense should be
taken up without delay We wonder
if it Will have to be made a party ques-
ton. like Cuba? In general way it is
not to be forgotten that the influences
which control the Republican party in
its Spanish policy would be very act
i've in opposing measures calculated TO
place America in defensible condition
against Great Britain. That foreign
influence has already been freely and
industriously used TO defeat necessary
appropriations for military purposes. If
it must be a party question. of course.
it must be, but there is no reason why
so dangerous a hole III our armor
should not be mended as fast as possi-
ble
1t is stated that our military authori-
ties regard an army of $4,000 men as
necessary in case of war with nation
of the power of either England or Ger
many OF course, none of these facts
or arguments has any bearing upon
hostilities with governments of the
rank of Chile, Peru or Spain. The latter,
armed with the Mauser rife, which
kills at a mile, has been completely
thrashed by the Cubans, whose rifles,
where they had any, were American
Winchesters and other private types;
but the whipping has been done most
ly with the native machete. The old
Springfields are plenty good enough for
Spain.
We may say. however. that the Span
ish government has made one contribu-
tion to the military problem that is
worth something at the present time.
1t has shown that, under modern con-
ditions of steam and big boats 100000
men can be transported across the At
lantic in a very short time and with
little stir being made. And the fact
is the more remarkable because the
Spanish transport service is notoriously
rotten and rascally. Yet its results are
startling compared with the ocean pos
sibilities of a generation ago. What
might be done in the same line by
highly organized scientific service, un-
limited as to means. coal, and bottoms,
is worth thinking about.
Applications TO Congress for rifles,
guns. ammunition, and all things in
that line are met by the cry that we
must paralyze every interest. and even
the common safety of the nation, in or
der to offset the necessary deficiencies
caused by the Dingley trust and mo-
nopoly tariff From a Republican
standpoint there is something in the
argument: but, in view of the manifest
necessity for some defensive prepara-
tions. ii is not insuperable. Suspend
the river and harbor appropriations for
awhile and buy rifles. Ten million dol
lars would buy nearly all we should be
able to get out in year. Then purge
the pension list of fraud. Competent
persons estimate that such a course
would cut down that appropriation not
less than s50. 1000, 600, Use that for the
fortifications, naval extension and such
objects.
More power to men of the Mcclellan
stampi This country needs a vigorous