The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-10
tween our assertion OF that doctrine and
our preparation to maintain It,

tween our assertion OF that doctrine and
our preparation to maintain 1t.
I'm constructing permanent fortifca-
tons and in providing an ample supply Of
the best modern artillery, the annual cost
OF maintenance Is inconsiderable. Nearly
the whole expenditure Is in the original
outlay for construction. II we do not
make the expenditure neco ary 10 pro-
vide for our seacoast defences when we
have a surplus and have no need TO levy
new taxes, we certainly will not make
these expenditures when We have no
longer a surplus in the Treasury. To leave
our vast interests defenceless in order to
reduce the cost OF whiskey to its con-
sumers would be solecism.
THE present time Is peculiarly favor
able for providing for this great national
necessity. too long neglected. Not only
does the surplus In the Treasury supply
ample means TO meet this great public
want without laying new burdens upon
tho people. but the work can now be done
at much lower cost than has ever be-
fore been possible. The defensive works
would consist almost entirely OF steel and
iron These materials can now be had
at an unprecedentedly low price. a vast
supply OF machinery and OF labor called
into existence by a great vicissltude In
tho steel and iron industries offers itself
to our service. We should have the salts
faction of knowing that. while we are
awaiting ourselves OF the supplies which
would ordinarily be unobtainable. we
were setting in motion important indus
tries and giving employment to labor In a
period OF depression. with encouragement
by the guarantee OF work, or perhaps by
the Government itself furnishing the
plant. the inventive genius OF our people
would be applied to the creation of new
means and improved machinery. and es-
adjustments would spring into existence
capable OF supplying all OF the national
wants and rendering us completely lndc-
pendent OF all other countries In respect
to the means OF national defence"
Impressed by the obvious lessons of
the great European war, II few patriotic
Americans like Representative GARD
NER OF Massachusetts and Mr.. GEORGE
Won l.. MEYER. formerly Secretary of the
"
the public mind to the fact that the
situation Is practically the same as
that which prompted the foregoing
warning from Mr.. TILDEN almost Il
generation ago. The items of deficiency,
the details of unpreparedness, may DIFF
fer somewhat from those which ex-
listed when he pointed out the weak
ness OF our coast defences and the
possible consequences OF successful as
sault by foreign enemy. The prop
erty open to seizure and subject to de
struction or ransom has increased enor-
mousy since 1885; perhaps 1t now
even doubles In value Mr.. TILDEN's es-
innate, huge as that was. The para
mount necessity OF adequate provision.
according to the latest Developments OF
scientific warfare on land and sea. for
the protection OF these five, seven or
ten billions OF seacoast property Is
precisely the same now as IL was then.
The subject Is of the very first impor-
lance 10 the American nation.
\ few days before the election
Colonel ROOSEVELT made II speech AT
Princeton which excited general inter
est. lie declared that he himself had
seen the definite plans of two of the
countries now engaged in the Euro
pean war for the capture and ransom
ing Of New York ana san Francisco.
Questioned later, Colonel ROOSEVELT
reafiirmed this statement, saying II
cannot take time TO ampllfy II at pres
ent In week or two, however. l
hope to make that statement the sub
ject Of more exact explanation"
We do not doubt that Colonel RoosE-
WELT will return to the subject, accord
ing TO his promise. His knowledge Is
exact and his judgment sound and ex-
pert in matters of this kind. What
ever he has to say about the para
mount necessity of measures for the
defence of our coast cities and for
the protective insurance of the vast
properties now naked 10 destruction
or blackmail by successful asSalant
will command universal attention. lie
can do more than any other man in the
United States to bring the country to "A
full understanding of the supremacy
important fact which Mr.. TuDEN pre-
sented so effectively twenty-nine years
ago. THEODORE ROOSEVELT will not be
THEODORE ROOSEVELT II he fails TO en-
brace this great opportunity for patrl-
otto service.