The republic., 1851-01-28
The Atlantic Steamers.


The rivalry between the American and Brit
ish lines of steamers is regarded in this country
mainly as contest between COLLINS and Gu
NARp. In England it seems to be viewed as
national conflict, involving the vital interests of
the three kingdoms. We look upon it rather
as race, and feel the natural excitement of
spectators at the course, with lively prefer
ence, indeed, for the American rather than the
British courser. The English contemplate it
as a contest of the ring, in which John Bull,
having challenged and beaten the world, is now
to exchange blows with formidable champion,
and that, too, for life or death. 1t is obvious,
from the notice this subject is receiving from
the British press, that the far-seeing politicians
ofEngland regard the question of superiority in
steam navigation as vitality the old question
of the supremacy of the seas" not merely as
matter of pride, but as one which touches the
fundamental policy and future prospects Of Great
Britain.
Deferring for a moment the inquiry, whether
these portentous considerations actually lie at
the bottom of the subject, we offer a few pre-
liminary observations. From the commence
ment of CUNARD's line, as everybody knows, it
was favored by our whole country. New York
and Boston We'd with each other, at the very
outset, in offering it civilites and facilities
When the first of the line arrived at Boston,
the occasion was celebrated by high festivities,
in which the city authorities and leading men
Of the State participated The officers were
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the hero of the day. From that time to this
the American feeling toward the CUNARp line
has been generous-not to say, magnanimous.
For the first five or six years series of unto
ward accidents occurred, crippling several of
the vessels, and delaying or interrupting their
passages. One ofthem-the Coumbia-was lost
on her way from Boston to Halifax, and the
large number of passengers escaped watery
grave, almost by miracle. But in all these cases
no spirit of hypercriticism was manifested here;
on the contrary, excuse and apology overlooked
every accident, and explained away every fail
ure. No better evidence of the kindly feeling
of our people toward these steamers can be
offered, than that when the Rev. Mr.. BEEcHER
lately brought some disagreeable facts in rela-
ton to one of them before the American pub
lie, he was summarily frowned down by the
press. The same facts in relation to an Ameri-
can line would doubtless have been treated in
very different manner.
When CoLLINs's line commenced operations
this state of things still continued, the rivalry
being regarded here mainly as to its tendency
to improve steam navigation. If our national
pride led us to wish for the triumph of the
American steamers, every man in the country
would have looked with disdaln upon any at
tempt, on our part, to gain an advantage not
due to superiority in skill, courage, or energy.
But how has this liberal spirit been met in
of the most shameful and fraudulent tricks have
been resorted to. there, for the purpose of cut
ting off the patronage of the COLLINS steam
ers, and diverting it TO the Royal Mail line.
This is done by false statements in the news
papers, and injurious rumors spread over the
country in various ways. Some months since,
when the passengers were about to set out from
Paris for Liverpool, TO embark in the Pacific,
a story, utterly without foundation, was put in
circulation, that she had broken her bed plate.
The passengers, deceived by this trick. ofcourse
waited n few days, and took their departure in
the CUNARD steamer, which followed. Insidious
statements, of similar kind, have frequently
been set afoat at the critical moments when
the American vessels were about to depart;
and we are informed that some of these have