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MTL - Restart Spain-Chapter 64 US military spending
Inside the White House, President Grant looked at the news in the newspaper angrily.
The fists were clenched tightly because of humiliation, and the newspaper had been pinched and deformed.
His tenure is almost over, his eight-year tenure has been mediocre, and the government has been criticized for corruption, bribery, and compromise with southern slave owners.
But it is undeniable that he was a hero of the Civil War and a staunch patriot. In his later years, he was so poor that he even had to sell war memorabilia and his most beloved saber to get by.
But even if he couldn't make it through, he still refused the US government's relief. In the case of throat cancer, he struggled to write a memoir to pay off his debts and support his family. He raced against death until he died in the top four Japan is done.
Even though his political achievements were always criticized, more than one million people still saw him off after his death, which almost accounted for one-twentieth of the total population of the United States. His love for the United States cannot be denied.
"Damn English, **** Spaniard!!" Grant tore up the newspaper in his hand angrily and slapped it on the table.
Grant, as a patriot, was naturally very angry when he saw the country he loved being bullied and insulted blatantly by others.
"Let Benjamin come over, I have something to talk to him about."
U.S. Treasury Secretary Benjamin Brice, the successor of President Grant’s friend George, was the one who discovered the embezzlement case of the famous whisky distillery group, which directly led to the conviction of 110 people, including the U.S. Secretary of the Army.
After a while, Benjamin arrived in a hurry and went directly to the President's Office.
"Your Excellency, I don't know why you are here with me?"
Benjamin and Grant had an average personal relationship, with a business-like attitude.
"Benjamin, have you read today's newspaper? Tell me how you feel." President Grant suppressed his anger and asked in a deep voice with his hands together.
"I have seen it, and I can only say that we underestimated the shamelessness of the European powers, and we have nothing to do about it."
That's right, in the 1880s, the United States, needless to say, compared to the United Kingdom, even Spain, was somewhat lacking in strength.
"I called you here this time for this matter. I think we should increase military spending and get out of the despised environment as soon as possible."
President Grant rubbed his head, showing some trouble. Increasing military spending is not something that can be decided by the president and the Secretary of the Treasury. The U.S. Congress cannot get around the hurdle.
"Your Excellency, our army is indeed weaker than the European powers. With this incident, I believe the possibility of convincing Congress will be greatly improved."
"In contrast, our country is now in the reconstruction stage after the end of the Civil War. If the military expenditure is increased, it is bound to have a certain impact on the domestic reconstruction plan."
Benjamin did not refute President Grant's words, but the level of being threatened by two powers at the same time, the price to be paid to deal with it is completely astronomical.
Next door to Mexico, although the internal chaos was chaotic when it became independent, its huge territory and army still made them invincible.
As a result, in 1838, the French declared war directly on Mexico because of the loss of a French bakery. The navy blocked the Gulf of Mexico, and Veracruz was captured after the French suffered 4 casualties.
In the end, it was the British who adjusted it, and Mexico compensated 600,000 pesos, while the average worker in Mexico at that time was only paid 1 pesos a day.
The strength of the US military is stronger than that of Mexico, but it is not much stronger. During the US-Mexico War, more than 100,000 US troops launched an attack on Mexico, which had less than 40,000 people. The war lasted for about a year. I go.
Although in the end, Mexico was defeated and ceded most of its territory, the combat effectiveness of the U.S. military and the combat effectiveness of the European powers is reflected in the comparison.
"As long as the Congress can recognize our situation, they will not be stingy to increase military spending, unless they want to see the British and Western forces shelling New York, and we are powerless to stop it."
The U.S. Navy is slightly larger than the Spanish, but only one-fifth the size of the British Empire, and most of them are grandfather ships from the Civil War.
It was not until 1893, when the USS Indiana was launched, that the U.S. Navy's dumplings really began.
"The current situation is still very serious. The European powers completely despise us. We can't hold the old army and continue to rest on our laurels with the navy during the Civil War."
Grant couldn't help recalling the reduction in tonnage of the U.S. Navy in recent years, and the successive retirements of warships during the Civil War. In just five years, the U.S. Navy retired its 40,000-ton warships.
"Your Excellency, if you can convince Congress, then we can start to strengthen the navy and army immediately, but the gentlemen of Congress are not so easy to convince."
Benjamin did not object. In fact, his position as Secretary of the Treasury was only a temporary replacement. Grant's favorite William had to be deployed to the U.S. Senate because of the six-year deadline.
"Well, as long as you can support me, the Minister of the Army and Navy must be our most staunch supporter~www.novelbuddy.com~ As long as the four of us put pressure on Congress, there is almost no problem."
A few executives with real power are enough for Congress to make a correct judgment.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Benjamin saluted slightly, indicating that there is no problem.
The battle between the president and Congress will start again. He is about to step down and wants to do one last thing for the United States.
Of course, the United States is not just a patriot, such as major American newspapers.
In the face of almost blatant contempt from Britain and Spain, major American newspapers have rendered the situation in the United States with a sense of crisis.
An atmosphere of humiliation spread among the people, mixed with disappointment with the strength of the United States and resentment against the European powers.
Of course, this does not include the younger immigrants, the new English and Spaniards who have mixed feelings about this.
Among them, the response of the Spaniards can be said to be the most bland. As half of the black people in the Germanic population, the Spaniards and Italians have always been at the end of the chain of contempt in American society.
The people of the two countries are still arguing, this is one of the largest melons in the world recently.
In July 1876, the Ottoman Empire broke out in a great uprising that shocked the world.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria even took up guns and started fighting against the Ottoman government at the same time.
Countless things have happened in this once mighty empire in just two years.
Financial collapse, great famine, palace coup, national uprising, Russian revenge, this great empire seems to be on the verge of collapse, and the sick man of West Asia ridiculed by Europeans is ready to appear in this great era.
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