Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-02-07
From the London Athenaum.
nnerienn Steamarx


In m age like this, when the real rivalries and
contests of nations are carried on not much by
regiments and frigates by means of the shuttle.
the railway and the steamboats, is curious and
important to note the progress of different countries
in those practical arts and sciences which INF
medately promote these friendly national contests.
European statesmen have all watched with wonder
aud not few Of them with alarm the tremendous
accession of power which the rapid development OF
railways, tclegraphs and steam navigation in the
United States has given to the people OF North
America An accession of political and materla IN
fuence in the affairs of the world which seems to
stand in almost startling dsproportlon to the mere
weight of the masses of population. The Brazls Dy
nature far richer than the northern States in all the
raw materials of power, have no more voice In de-
terminng the direction of great historical events
than petty German or Italian principailty Bel
GUM, covered with railways and dotted with manu-
factures, has already more active influence in Eu-
rope than the once powerful and magnificent king
dom of Spain. Science multiplies the resources of
nations in extraordinary degree and older games
of ambition are so far gone out of modern fashion,
that statesmen with the true instincts of the future
about them care less and less about drilling regi
ments and moro and more about promoting science
The trials of strength in this noble contest lie at
present chiefly between the two great divisions OF
the Anglo-Saxon race. England by insular position;
and America by her geographical remoteness stand
tolerably free from the of intellect and waste
of material means which are daily seen in the po-
cal struggles of continental Europe and they are,
as regards each other, therefore, equal and fair
terms of competition With the shuttle England
might be conquered,-eve while her hearts of oak
defed the world. French army the coast of
Devonshire Kent might prove passing evil,-but
combination of natural and mechanical advantages
secured to the workshops of the United States would
be utter and rretrevable ruin Thus far, the shut
tie Of Manchester beats the shuttle of Lowell hith-
ero, the steam-vesse of Liverpool has outsped that
of New York But the forces are so nearly matched
to lend all the charm of uncertain issue to the
struggle Especially is this the with the ocean
steamers. In river, lake and coast navi CATION
America has long carried away the palm of victory
The boats the Rhine. the Elbe the Clyde, the
Thames. and the Scheldt are not for moment to be
compared with the I" floating palaces" on the Hud-
son, the Delaware and the Potomac. either for rate
of sailing for magnifcence of fitting up. We
have been credbly told of vessels seamng down the
Mississippi at the rate of twenty-five miles an hour
Bat in ocean navigation. longer practice and equal
enterprise still keep slightly ahead of energet
ie descendants We are proud of our rivals-as they
are proud of our rivalry To the general reader at
home, it is next to impossible to convey adequate
idea of the interest which the contests between the
English and American Mails excite in Boston, New
York and Philadelphia. Each run is carefully noted
and compared fears excited, hopes raised by
every voyage-and half dozen hours in the length
of trip of three thousand miles is thought consd
cradle variation. The struggle for mastery at this
moment lies between the English mail Asia and the
American mail Atlantc,-and the recent voyage OF
the Asia was the quickest ever vet performed. This
passage from New York to Liverpool made in l 0
days, hours and NOTWITHSTANDING hours and Is
minutes less than the best voyage eastward made by
the Atlantic. The New Workers are building still
more powerful vessels for this line of service The
prize is great one The feetest vessels must carry
out letters, orders, news, Government Dispatches
and, having the prestige of scientific excellence and
will generally command choice of the pas
senger traffic In this rivalry the Americans pos
sess great advantage in being less fettered
in their action by Government joboing and mono
poly.