The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-02
Our pefenseIe.s Condition.

To the Editor of The Post.
Galveston, Texas. January 81. In today's
issue you say editorially: The refusal to
appropriate the sums asked for the con-
! tlruance Of the Fertilization work under
| this congress is silly piece of economy.
A little brush with foreign power would
cost us more il unprepared for defense in
| three months than three times the whole
estimate for completion OF the coast de-
| lenses"
These be pregnant thoughts concisely ex-
pressed. In hopes that their repetition
may rouse patriotic citizens 70. demand
Immediate congressional a';ion thercol,
pray YOU will re- III oii h them.
| AS the New York Haiali III n late leader
| pointedly said. The National con,e len e
needs stirring. or dist,iroilg as are the
financial problems winch toset rs. these
are nothing in coLrtr'soa with the dan
gers which may follow foreign aggression
Just SO. lust so.
III my memory serves ne right IL Is Lear
ly twenty years stnce .. !. Tilden adj
dressed that lncisivs Letter Il congress- ex-
posing the defensala;J coast OF our country
and urging pronipt actiun throagh proper
plans and a1eqra'a appropriations. Then
there were no disauieting signs visible.
But for the past five years the frightfully
unreasonable Ipgusl Alton by the mon
afchies OF Euroae o. land ali sea arm a
alents are natIral ca'.se fer grave appre-
tensions by this i>a.'cdal government. Yet
there has been hut slight increased pre-
paredness Cor self Il .ss4sG ~ our govern
ment
Urge congress o1. Ir Editor
ANA, besides the limcn,abls condition OF
our Notifications. we nj! know that the reg
i,nents of the regIla- arR,i are, through
assertions merely skrintons. Ana nov
nr,as. " .Setsi .,,.
tary OF the navy, wlo confecses that "tue
navy IN Its present condition IL weak
erin for the sovernl,.at 10 depend urun 4"
Very truthfuliy saws Captain Pavmaster
George De Forest Barton. The fault lies
Win congress. l.arsar appropriations
should he made for ctr navy. This ia,
Is highly appreciated by all who live
along the Atlantic. Pacific, gulf ana lake
shores. but tho people in The interior OF
the country do not appreciate The situa-
ton We need more ships, and we need
ships or the most modern type
captain Barton SAYS the fault lies with |
congress. rather with those n,embsrs OF |
congress who fear to vote for the ursently |
needed appropriations for defense lest IL |
cause their defeat for re-elec,ion
pn this matter permit me to say with en- |
phasis land as an ancient National anti !
monopoly chief: The political party that |
wiifully refuses to place the country In |
. proper state of defense and allows a |
strong. aggressive and Inscriptions power |
IKE the one that has It's eye upon Cuba |
10 descend uron and .ortlty itself as an |
otner tbcrn'or on a principal doorstep of !,
ms country. need not hone 10 be ever
again placed In charge OF the government !,
u this Republic. 1t were far wiser to make
Might mistake in performing clearly
Termed National duty than 10 commit !,
grave, possibly fatal error. by an ohstjnsta
OF that duty.
mighty SOVEREIGN once exclaimed: III
we're easier TO replace slaughtered snldiers
man to restore lost National honer,',
MI Editor. please urge congress !, nc.
lion. Very respectfully. - - ~
John Markham.