The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-14
HOUSTON. MONDAY. MARCH -, So
orr COAST DECREASES.

Thu fact Tat al lchnt onc rlo lea fc-t
DAYS TO &. END the pfincipil RAPPORT OF
Tests. VII create some feeling of security
amon., tie people of this stare in the
event OF hostilities between tie uhltod
States and Spain. but we should all be
better satisfied II Sabine, Corpus ana Vo-
lasco were equally protected. The demand.
therefore. for more Notifications on tho
Texas coast is timely aud natural.
The fact however that we have our
coasts In such condition of defense as we
now find them recalls The debt of grail
tude that the country owes to that peerless
statesman and patriot, Samuel J. Tilden,
who more than ten wears ago sounded the
note OF alarm MS to our defenseless con-
dition and succeeded In arousing the Ma
tional government to an appreciation of
the duties of the hour and the inauguration
OF policy of National defense, About
the first OF the YEAR 1886 Mr. Tlden wrote
to Mr. Carlisle. the prospective speaker OF
the house. that ringing and memorable let
ter which startled aud awoko the Nation
from its Indifference AMI brought about
the work that has since been ACCOMPLISHED
In the way OF coast defense.
But what has been done in the premises
has not been done without much dlffl-
Guilty and ill-advlsed opposition from quar-
ters where no opposition should have been
expected. much less eXperlenced-thr lega-
lativo chambers charged with the care of
the National interests, The representa-
tives from the interior OF the country have
not always shown that broad regard for
the safety of the coast communities that
a common nationality would seem to hive
Dictated and the APPROPRIATIONS for the
coast Notifications have come slowly and
grudgingly. too ofton. II the present war
scare has no other object than TO fan into
strong flame once more n martial spirit
and call attention to tho necessity OF put-
uns the Nation In II perfect state OF de-
Tense 1t VIII have been worth all the extra
expenditure we are undergoing.
Aside from the dictates of tho Instinct
OF common self defense. 1t is the highest
aeYa'opment OF peace policy to let others
Know that We are prepared for war So
huoh has been said abroad about our de-
iehseless condition for wears past that the
spahlarda. In common with other European
nations, imagine that we are really more
neipiess than our actual condition win b., |
found. All tho world recognizes our grcat
wealth and matchless resources. but The
majority OF Europeans fancy that this re. |
serve power has not been drawn unon =,
A''e purposes' DID Spain only imagine
'nht the United States We're fully nyo.
tecteu aeainst attack and thar our n,,,,
"ah largely superior 10 It's own, we sbo,,d
heAr iittic talk OF war from that ouartor
- wo had spent 500, 900 900 mor, ,.,,h,
'ne past hve Years on onr naval ..,.,
lsnmnnt and our coast defensos 49,, 49,,
ooo Aa'e 20 spend, possibly. $500. 600
w OF sooo'ooo.ooo ana lose thousands =,
ou. soiuiers and sailors. Had tho m,i,,or.
ana naval arms OF the United states No.
ior inc nast three years on n footins M.
mensufatc with our size md ros,,,.
Npa'h w2sild have offered no i,su,,a
porpetrated outrages thar have hra,,as,i
affairs. attitude OF
p'oparatlon. however is far b.t,o, |
' s,s,. uoas ana as We contemplate our mas.
s'p'e cohnict with Spain we mus, NJ.
'o'xet % return thanks 10 The srna, 1
ss'a. wno more than any other mar o ~" ,
.ueu me Nation 70 It's duty bo.ore 80
~ ,atc' The present lesson sbo,,a 80. "a
u !, 'nst tne time to prepare far ~, ~
''iqes or psace ana That /, 500. ""t 70 IN
s' = most likely to escape war /