The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-17

ton from March to April q was appar-
entity thrown away under the direct author
ity of the President" This does the Presi-
dent great injustice. as, of course. it was
intended to do.
The record shows that. so far from any
time having been lost after the national de-
Tense appropriation was made. its effective
use was pushed with great rapidly. The
title of the bin shows that the appropria-
ton was not made for the prosecution Of
war. but for the national defense At that
time, March 9, almost everybody still be-
lieved that war could be averted. The ma
tional defense appropriation was spoken Ct
as peace measure, not as a war measure
Members of Congress so termed it and de-
clared that 1t would facilitate the preserva-
ton of peace. The President was author
lied to use the fund in his discretion as
the emergency might require, but only for
the national defense. Congress alone has
authority TO declare war and authorize the
calling out Of troops 1t passed bill au-
thorizing the calling out of volunteers on
April D. and on April % made a formal
declaration of war. Not until then did the
national defense fund become available for
actual war purposes. But, meanwhile, great
energy had been shown in providing for the
national coast defense, which was then re-
garded as our vulnerable point, and in pur-
chasing war ships, which was understood to
be the main purpose OF the national defense
fund when the bill was passed. An Asso-
ciated Press dispatch from Washington on
March 9, the day after the bill passed. said:
AS the ships are to be first choice in the
steps for defense, until their cost is ascer-
tanned it is not possible to divide the re-
mainder Of the appropriation among the
other branches of the military and naval
services" The President, in his annual
message of December last, said of the ma
tional defense fund.-
That this act of provision came none too
soon was disclosed when the application of
the fund was undertaken. Our coasts were
practically undefended. Our navy needed
large provision for increased ammunition
and supplies and even numbers to cope with
any sudden attack from the navy of Spain,
which comprised modern vessels of the
highest type of continental perfection. our
army also required enlargement OF men ana
munitions The details of the hurried prepa-
ration for the dreaded contingency are told
navy, and need no, be repeated here. 1t is
sufficient to say That the outbreak of the
war when it did come, found our Nation
not unprepaTed for the conflict.
This shows that while the coast defenses
and the navy were the first points looked
after, nothing was neglected in the way of
preparing for the beginning of hostilities,
which, it was still hoped might be averted.
The equpping and modifying of troops
could not take place until Congress author
lied them to be called out, but everything
else was done that could be in so short a
time 1t was the concurrent testimony Of
all competent judges that no government
ever accomplished much in the way of
preparation for war in the same length of
time. as this government did between March
8 and April "a, 1898. The charge that Presi-
dent Mckinley wasted the time either pur-
posely or otherwise is false, unpatriotic and
contemptible.