The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-23


COMPETITION BETWEEN ENGLAND
AND THE UNITED STATES ON THE
OCEAN.
II very common for English statesmen to
pass compliments upon the energy, enterprise
and ingenuity of this country in Parliament
Tor the English press to repeat those compli'
ments. and for literary men of all descriptions
TO join in with the press aud the politicians.--
Yet there cannot be doubt, that there exists
in the minds of Englishmen, Of oil classes, to-
wards this country, spirit of deep aud IN
tense rivalry, rivalry as strong and as bitter
as though we were actually engaged IN war.
Its fortunate for both parties, that war is not
considered quite so trifing matter as it seems
to have been one hundred years ago, or we
sbou Id now be engaged in mutual destruction,
both by sea and land, instead of a peaceful
struggle, which can injure nobody, and mus,
be beneficial to the whole world.
Ii seems to be, in modern times, a sort of
axiom, that the nation which rules the sea can
rule the world. From the day of the battle of
La Hogue in 1899, down to our own time, Eng
land may be literally said to have "ruled the
waves" according to the words of one of her
own poets. The Dutch had already surren def-
ed fs trident, forty years before, and the French
were beaten out of all hopes of obtaining it
from that moment. True it is, they made many
gallant struggle afterwards, but from La
Hogue to Trafalgar, from 1899 to 1905. their
naval history is the history Of series of disas
tiers, such as can hardly be found on record
any where else. 1t was not until the United
States "set up for themselves" that the avail
supremacy of England was shaken-that she
could be taught to believe that there might be
il TO younger and more vigorous rival. Paul
Jones, and Biddie, and several others, had
taught her in the revolutionary war, that it
was much easier to beat the French at
sea, than it was to beat the Americans
but she had forgotten the lesson until it was
recalled 10 her mind by our brilliant naval VIC
tories of lSl2-13-l4. Now within the last few
years this contest for naval supremacy has as
sumed another shape, and il lie at this moment
going on, with an intensity of excitement far
exceeding any which usually attends upon ac-
tuai war. We allude, of course, TO the contest
for supremacy on the ocean, in pIogress, be-
tween the English and American steam ves-
sells, and particularly between the Collins and
Cunard lines OF steamers. The English had
the advantage of fair start-they had no RE
valry for more than ten years-they enjoyed
monopoly of all the benefits which could be
derived from ocean steam navigation-and it
was not until Mr.. Collins entered the field that
they had the slightest shadow of competition.
Hecam in suddenly and quietly, and he out.
stripped their whole fleet at once.
Never was there more intense excitement in
England, not even while Wellington was gain
ing bis victories in Spain, nor while we were
beating their frgates and sloops at sea, and
capturing their fleets on the lakes. Statesmen
OF Great Britain evidently look upon this con :.
test as struggle for the command of the seas ,
and they believe that whoever shall succeed
will be mistress of the ocean. This is proved
from The vast amount of money which has been
spent upon the Cunard line of steamers, by
act of Parliament, and from the unusual facili.
ties Cd every description which have been Of:
torded them. Inferences not less decided may
be drawn from the numerous obstacles which
the British authorities on both sides of the wa
ter have thrown in the way Ofthe Collins line.
Plans have been resorted to, under the patron
age OF the British government, to monopolise
not only the mails, but rile freight also, and
these plans have been conducted with so
much secrecy, so much forethought, and so
much energy, that it is paying the highest
compliment to the proprietors of the Collins
line TO say that they have not succeeded.
Such is the character Of the contest at pre-.
sent. Eng land, through all classes of her pop.
ulation, from the sovereign on the throne to
the peasant in his hut, is alive on this subject,
while on this side of the water, we are abso.
iutely Indifferent to the issue. The Congress
of the United States-that body to which are
entrusted the honor and the interests of the
United States-is perfectly apathetic. En-.
gagged in President making, or in disgraceful
scramble fer Office, the members of Congress-
know not, and care not, for the all impor-
tant issue involved in the tremendous struggle
going on before their eyes. They see not that
the sovereignty OF the seas is to be the reward
oithe party that succeeds, or if they do it gives
them no concern. To them it is of far more i'm.
ponance that some favorile, from whom they
may expect iavors, should succeed to the DUR
pie, than that America should be mistress of
the seas! This we regard as truly deplorable,
Tor should the American line be forced to 90
down, we may consider the contest as decided
IN favor OF Great Britain, henceforih forever.
RAILROAD BETWEEN ALEXANDRIA
AND CAIRO.
we published the other day a paragraph
from The English newspapers to the effect that
'ne fasha OF Egypt was about to construct