The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-19
sEATTLD, THURSDAY, APRIL 10.


Inc naval appropriation bill Ia now
before the house and as there is no
time limit on the debate there is
splendid opportunity for the Democratic
members OF the house to All the Con-
eresstonal Record full of campaign ma
terfal which can be distributed at the
cost OF the country. Their apparent pro.
gramme. at present, is to confine their
arguments against the bill TO the pro-
visions for the purchase OF armor plate.
BY these tactics they have already sue
ceeded in delaying the construction OF
number Of vessels. which is In itself
distinct Democratic triumph. Any
thing which could by any possibility
cripple any department OF the govern
ment II IL Of necessity good Democratic
policy to support: for the government
ana the Republican party have become
so closely identified in the Democratic
mind that any opportunity TO injure the
government is seized greedily as an OPP
portunity to iniure the Republican
party.
But why should they devote their en-
tire attention 10 this one portion of the
subject. when there Is so much else that
can he said. all logically in the line
with other Democratic arguments? For
example. the Democrats in and out of
congress have had much TO say about
the dangers Of a great standing army.
Mr.. Bryan, almost tearfully. called at
tention OF the people of the Pacific coast
particularly TO the great dangers which
are before them when their sons and
neighbors. now engaged i'm hunting the
Filipino Democrats through the noun
tains and swsmpa of Luzon. return
home with the lust of blood upon them
and promptly proceed to prod Their rel
atives full of bayonet holes. I.urid pie
lures have been drawn of the frightful
consequences which will follow II the
regular army should be increased 50
that there would be one armed and
disciplined American citizen with
government gun In his hands to each
thousand of the other inhabitants Of
the country. Democratic orators are
stu assuring the people that this one
man win terrorize the thousand, will
inaugurate military despotlsm. and
ton bow-wows n there should be one
soldier 10 every few hundred square
miles Of territory.
Now, why do not these timid orators.
with the materials at their command.
draw the companion picture 10 thisl II
seventy five or eighty thousand soldiers.
scattered all over the United states.
and manning the Isolated coast defepses
OF the country. are menace to the lih-
critics 81 the people what will be the
effect u We have navy built according
10 the present programme Why. one
" the existing hattleships VI the navy.
In the present condition OF the coast de-
fenses. could lay In ruins any one OF the
great cities ~ the seatoass. or place "
under tribute. suppose that Admiral
Dewey should become desperately at
frcuted at the Democratic refusal Go
accept him as standard beaver in the
coming eampaignf As admiral OF the
navy. what Is 20 prevent him from or
dsFins out the feet, SELLING the scacuast
towns. and pgoclaiming himself dlcta-
tori Why should millions be spent for
the building OF more warships which
In the hands OF desperate and uuscru-
puious men could readily upset the gov
ernment. capture cur richest cities de-
stroy our commerce, and Do all kinds
Of things Is Il not possible that be-
hind all the proposals for The uphulId-
ing az the navy lie Mark Hanna and
the Standard OH Company, eagerly
waiting for the completion Of the naval
programme. that these warships may
be used by them for piratieai cruises
against not only the people Of the Unit
ed states. but all those OF Europe be-.
sides
These are grave considerations, Tae
arauments are almost identical With
those which are urged against the In