infantry and light artillery,--that is, large in the aggregate,--
in the event of war with even a second- or third-class naval power:
To protect our long lines of open coast and small unfortified
harbors from destruction from the guns and landing-parties of the
enemy's light-draft cruisers. This would require a "picket-line"
with considerable "reserves," several thousand miles in length.
The national pride, if not the material interests involved, would
not permit the government to submit to such destruction or spoilation
without making every possible effort to prevent it. In short,
unless the government and the people of the United States are
willing to prepare in advance for putting into the field at a
moment's notice a very large and effective army, as well as to
fortify all important seaports, they may as well make up their
minds to submit, at least for a time, to whatever indignity any
considerable naval power may see fit to inflict upon them. No half-
way measures will do any good. Fortifications without an army
would be worth no more, against any country having a considerable
army and navy, than an army without fortifications.

CHAPTER XXX
The Financial Lesson of the Civil War--Approaching Bankruptcy of
the Government near the Close of the War--The Legal-Tender Notes
an Injury to the Public Credit--A Vicious Clause in the Constitution
--No Prejudice in the Army Against Officers Not Educated at West
Point--The Need of a Law Reforming the Relations Between the
President and the Commander of the Army--Devotion to the Chosen
Leader in Times of Public Peril.

Another great lesson taught by our Civil War, perhaps even more
important than any other, is the financial lesson. An established
government which has a place to maintain among the commercial
nations of the world must maintain its credit. It must purchase
its supplies and munitions of war and pay its troops in _money_.
In a great and prolonged war it is not possible for the people to
contribute all the means required at the time. The amount of
taxation would be greater than any people could bear. Hence the
government must borrow the necessary money. This cannot be done
without national credit. If credit declines, rates of interest
and discount on securities increase until the national debt reaches
its limit and no more money can be borrowed. In short, the nation
becomes bankrupt. This was the condition of the United States
before the close of the