Evening star., 1898-06-21
NEEDS OF THE COUNTRY
A Larger Navy and Heavy Reserve Of
Arms and Ammunition.
Lessons to Be Learned From Our
Present War With Spain-COlOnia1
Possessions Inevitable.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Now, when even the lesser nations of the
earth are supplied with the latest and most
approved. arms for their soldiers and with
vessels of modern type and appliances,
capable of competing with the most for
midable of the vessels of greater nations, 1t
behooves us, a nation, to consider the
necessity of preparation of like nature,
comparative in strength and effectiveness
with our standing and the Importance of
our affairs.
1t is a fact that Spain, with her ships,
succumbed to forces in Manila, and
that her West Indian fleet evaded conflict
and has been bottled up" and that the
other vessels of her navy will be likewise
disposed of, but this state of affairs, these
comparatively bloodless victories, would
hardly have happened had some of the
of the Spaniard.
Invasion from without we need not fear,
but we should be prepared to repel it; be
supplied with the best and most approved
arms, and our volunteers will take care of
all invaders.
1t is fact. apparent-to the public. that
We are unable to properly arm and equip
the men now called into service as volun-
teers What if We should need to supply
double or treble the number? Arms and
equipments. which should include all the
necessary auxiliaries for hurry service,
should be purchased and kept in our ma
tional armories ready for immediate use.
| The pattern should be uniform and the CALI
Der the same-.o prevent mistakes which
might otherwise arise in issuing the neces-
Sary ammunition. The guns and ammunl-
tion On hand could be apportioned
among the different states for use of the
militia.
Even In times of peace We have only a
war vessel here and there-while the dignity
of our nation and the interests of our peo-
pie demand that We should be represented
by our ships in every part of the globe.
such provision enge1ders respect, and we
can liken its effect unto ''the ounce of pre-
vention.''
A Nation of Producers.
Ours is a nation of producers. From our
surplus we can supply the world with
staple articles of food, clothing for the
naked, besides many of the luxuriss; this,
too, with great part of our producing ter
ritory lying idle for want of a market and
OF facilities for carrying our productions to
would-be purchasers.
The people of our country are progressive,
excel as producers in svery respect, are also
born traders. There is scarcely a spot on
this green earth where you cannot find one
of our indomitable citizens, seeking to fur
nlsh to others the goods the gods send US
for a consideration. These merchants make
our country and its products known to civil
are
not yet awakened to the benefits and trials
of enlightened life. We can build as good
shlps as any other people, and when built,
man them with sailors whose superiors can
not be found.
We should encourage, by legislation and
every other way, the increase of our mer-
chant marine until the cotton duck and he
smoke tunnels of ships under the American
nag can be seen coursing every part of the
great oceans and minor SeaS-until every
habor. large and small, should be the goal
OF American-built and American-owned
ships, manned by our seamen and carrying
the products of our country, with warships
and our own bluejackets ready and willing
to insure fair play. 1t is true we could build
a wall around our vast expanse of coun-
try and keep the world and its natural and
manufactured products within our inclo-
sure, and still we would be provided with
all the necessaries and luxuries requisite
for comfort, ease and existence, and vet
nave surplus sufficient to feed and clothe
all the rest of created mankind.
All the nations of this earth should be
made to know and feel that our people are
quick to resent any injurious treatment of
our citizens. They realize that we are slow
in overt acts. We hesitate with the remedy
until the claim is stals because we are to a
great extent unable to support q peremp-
tory demand of redress.
Just give us time and We work miracles;
but occasion for immediate use may arrive.
Aladdin's lamps don't exist in our day, and
and the men on board of them prepared to
do what is necessary to uphold our country,
right and anyhow.
A Navy Second to None.
Our navy should be second to none Our
people are not niggard of the cost and will
cheerfully contribute the necessary support
The wisdom Of our naval constructors is
great, and the only reason why we should
hesitate to build more ships and make our
navy equal to the demand Is the grave
question as to the class of ships needed.
Had Cervera with his --latest modern
ships but stood his ground and fought our
fleet We should, in all probability, have
been somewhat wiser as to greater utility
of the huge battle ship or the advisability
OF investing our money in smaller and
quicker craft. The Chilean-Peruvian and
the Chinese-Japanese encounters on the
sea have not assured us whether some
other style of war vessels would not be
preferable to the heavy ironclad-a ques-
| tion which will hardly be solved until after
combat between vessels of equal fighting
capacity and whose crews are matched in
courage and efficiency. There Is no suffi-
cfent reason why we should delay placing
our navy on footing equal to that of any
other country. We can stand the cost of
the experiment. / am told that in Texas
man does not always need a gun, but
when he does want, it he wants it quick
and for that reason he keeps 1t convenient.
| 1t has not been the policy OF our nation
| to acquire and maintain colonies, but that
| mighty engine of prosperity called COM
merce, the outlet for the industries of Our
people, cannot and must not be controlled
as to Its scope and space.
Our citizens are acqufsitive, and, as in
dividuals, can be found In every quarter of
| the globe, engaged In introducing the
| results of our energy. .forethought- and care
| which rebounds not only to the great credit
| of our country, but increases its wealth
| and Importance.
| The sympathy which we feel for our
| friends, the Cuban insurgents and the "re-
| concentrates, is proper enough, but we
/ must not disguise the fact that when this
difference with Spain 9s"eoncInded we will
| not only have expended billions of our
| money, but have Instituted a continuous
| responsibility and promise of reward to
| the gallant men who fought our battles
! rewards for the living heroes and provision
| for the loved ones of those who have been
done to death. -
Must Retain Conquered Territory.
Generally. the loser pays all the winner
| exacts. Spain is about at the last end OF
her tether, and If not so now, will shortly
be in pawn as an unredeemable bankrupt
| utterly unable to pay our just demands for
| expenses, etc. Hence we must take the
bull by the horns, and retain the territory
\ we will OCCUPY at the cessation of hosffii-