Rebirth of the Spanish Empire.

Chapter 67 President Grant’s Sense of Crisis

At this time, in the White House of the United States.

President Grant looked at the news in the newspaper angrily.

Their fists were clenched in humiliation, and the newspapers were crushed out of shape.

Now his term is almost over and his eight-year term has been mediocre in terms of political performance.

The Republican government led by him was criticized by the United States for corruption, bribery, and compromise with southern slave owners.

But it is undeniable that he was a Civil War hero and a staunch patriot.

In the original history, he was so poor in his later years that he even had to sell war souvenirs and his most beloved saber to survive.

But even though he couldn't make it through life, he still refused the relief provided to him by the US government.

Struggling to write a memoir despite suffering from throat cancer. In order to pay off his debts and support his family, he raced against death until four days before his death.

Even though his political achievements are always criticized. But after his death, more than one million people still saw him off.

This accounts for almost one-twentieth of the total population of the United States, and his love for the United States cannot be denied.

"Damn the British, damn the Spaniards!!" President Grant angrily tore up the newspaper in his hand and slammed it on the table.

As a patriot, President Grant was naturally extremely angry when he saw the country he loved being blatantly bullied and insulted by other countries.

"Send Benjamin over. I have something to talk to him about."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Benjamin Burris was the successor to President Grant's friend George.

It was this person who discovered the famous Whiskey House Group corruption case, which directly led to the conviction of one hundred and ten people, including the Secretary of the Army of the United States.

After a while, Benjamin hurried over and went directly to President Grant's office.

"Your Excellency, why do you want to see me?"

Benjamin and Grant had an average personal relationship. In this regard, he showed a businesslike attitude.

"Benjamin, have you read today's newspaper? Tell me how you feel." President Grant suppressed his anger, put his hands together and asked in a deep voice.

"Having seen it, I can only say that we underestimated the shamelessness of the European powers, but we in the United States have nothing to do about it."

Yes, the United States in the 70s was, needless to say, comparable in strength to the British Empire. In terms of military strength, it is not even comparable to the current Kingdom of Spain.

It was not until the 90s that the United States became the world's largest economy and had the courage to launch a war against the Kingdom of Spain.

However, at the beginning of the war, a large number of American citizens also expressed opposition to this, fearing that the United States would anger the Kingdom of Spain.

Indeed, even in the 90s. The United States used all its naval power to barely defeat the Kingdom of Spain.

In fact, if the United States had not been in an advantageous position and had started an undeclared war in advance, it would not have been certain who would win and who would lose.

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"The reason I called you here this time is for this matter. I think we in the United States should increase military spending and get out of the environment of being despised by European powers as soon as possible."

President Grant rubbed his head, looking a little troubled. Increasing U.S. military spending is not something that the President and the Secretary of the Treasury can decide. The U.S. Congress cannot get around it.

Moreover, corruption in the U.S. military was revealed not long ago. Now it is extremely difficult to increase military expenditures for the US military.

"Your Excellency, compared with our country's military, the European powers are indeed weaker. With this incident happening, I believe the possibility of convincing Congress will be greatly increased."

“In contrast, our country is now in the reconstruction phase after the Civil War.

If military spending is increased now, it will inevitably have a certain impact on the domestic reconstruction plan. "

Benjamin did not refute President Grant's words.

However, the cost of dealing with this level of threat from two powers at the same time is completely astronomical.

Look at Mexico next door. It was in chaos when it first became independent. But their huge territory and army still make them arrogant.

As a result, in 1838, the French directly declared war on Mexico because of the loss of a French bakery.

The French navy blocked the Gulf of Mexico, and Veracruz was captured after the French army suffered 4 casualties. In the end, it was the British who made adjustments, and Mexico paid 60 pesos in compensation. At that time, ordinary workers in Mexico only earned 1 peso a day.

Although the US military is stronger than Mexico, it is not much stronger.

During the U.S.-Mexico War, more than 100,000 U.S. troops launched an attack on Mexico, which had less than 40,000 troops. The war lasted for about a year, with the two sides fighting back and forth.

Although Mexico was defeated in the end and ceded most of its territory. However, the combat effectiveness of the US military and the combat effectiveness of European powers are reflected in the comparison.

"As long as Congress recognizes our situation, they will not be stingy about increasing military spending.

Unless they want to see the British and Spanish bombardment of New York, and there is nothing we can do to stop it. "

Although the United States Navy has a slightly higher tonnage than the Kingdom of Spain's Navy. But this is only one-fifth of the tonnage of the British Empire and the Royal Navy.

Among them, most are vintage ships from the Civil War period. In this regard, the navy of the Kingdom of Spain has long been updated.

Moreover, coupled with the newly commissioned pre-dreadnoughts, the Kingdom of Spain has officially surpassed the United States in naval tonnage.

In the original history, it was not until the launch of the Indiana in 1893 that the U.S. Navy truly became powerful.

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"The current situation is still very serious. The European powers have completely despised us. We cannot continue to be complacent with the old army and the navy during the Civil War,"

President Grant couldn't help but recall the reduction in tonnage of the U.S. Navy in recent years and the successive retirement of warships during the Civil War.

In just five years, the U.S. Navy has decommissioned nearly 5 tons of warships.

“Your Excellency, if you can convince Congress, that would be the best thing.

We can start immediately to strengthen the navy and army. But the gentlemen in Congress are not so easy to persuade. "

Benjamin did not refute this.

In fact, his position as finance minister is just a temporary replacement.

President Grant's favorite general, William, had to be transferred to serve in the U.S. Senate because of the six-year deadline.

"Well, as long as you can support my decision, the Ministers of the Army and Navy must be our strongest supporters.

As long as the four of us unite and put pressure on Congress, there will be almost no problem. "

A few high-level government officials with real power are enough to make Congress make the right judgment.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Benjamin saluted slightly, indicating that there was no problem.

The battle between the president and Congress will begin again.

President Grant, who was about to step down, wanted to do one last thing for the United States.

In the United States, of course, he is not just a patriot, but also the major newspapers in the United States.

Facing the almost naked contempt of Britain and Spain, major American newspapers have exaggerated the situation in the United States with a full sense of crisis.

There is an atmosphere of humiliation spreading among American people, mixed with disappointment in American power and resentment against European powers.

Of course, this does not include immigrants who have a shorter stay. These new arrivals from England and Spain had mixed feelings about this.

Among them, the reactions of the Spaniards and Italians can be said to be the dullest.

As half of the black population of the Germanic population, Spaniards and Italians have always been at the end of the contempt chain in American society.

At this time, major media outlets in Britain, Spain and the United States. Still, they were fighting with each other like crazy.

This is considered the largest melon in the world in recent times.

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(End of this chapter)