The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-13
CHI A r L E S T ON.
FRIDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 10, 1868.
Charleston q nd Liverpool

The day which witnessed the triumph o.
party in our Municipal elections, and threat
ened Us with q local administration directed
far more to class beneSt than the common
good, is also memorable as that upon which
was celebrated the arrival of the first steam.
ship of the direct line which, it is hoped,
will permanently connect Charleston with
the marts of Great Britain. With the event
that dealt 30 heavy blow at our growing
prosperity there came to our waters, as
though to teach US courage and fortitude. a
new element of greatness, which may be
made in time to give our people far more
substantial wealth than could be shorn from
our city by even three years of improvident
aud ill-advised local administration.
But the degree of good which is to be de-
rived by our city and State from the Liver
pool and Charleston direct steamship line,
must depend upon the measure Of our own
exertions. The line is 80 far business spec
ulation, and the intelligent mercantile
knowledge of Messrs. Mure & Co the wise
liberality of the South Carolina Railroad
Company, and the good will of our friends
across the Atlantic, cannot make it perma-
nent if it is not profitable.
That the line con be made to pay, and to
pay handsomely, there is no doubt. The
Golden Horn is already nearly full. Cot
ton from the fertile regions Of Alabama
and Tennessee is being brought to our city
for shipment by the Charleston line, and
there is every prospect of full cargo and
quick dispatch for the steamships which are
to follow.
Outward freight, however, is not all that
is required. We must give the line full
freights from Liverpool to Charleston as
well as from Charleston to Liverpool. This
can be done, and done with ease. Many of
our merchants were, before the war, in the
habit of importing direct. Experience
taught them that there was saving of
money and of time in SO doing, and if this
was the case when sailing vessels only were
employed, how much more may be saved
upon valuable and perishable goods when
swift and reliable European steamships dis
charge their cargoes at our doors. Our
merchants should take this matter in hand
at once, and endeavor to recommence their
direct importaticns in the course Of the
present season.
But besides this, there is another impor-
tant means of making the line success
We want white immigrants throughout the
South. There is fertile land in abundance
to be sold for song to the starving millions
of Europe. In this State, in Georgia, in
Alabama, in every Southern State, are
needed the sinew aud strength of the white
immigrant, and these immigrants can be
brought out pia Charleston cheaper than by
any other route The South Carolina Rail-
road has arranged rate of one cent per
mile for immigrants passing over its own
road and connecting roads, and immigrants
going West can be taken to their destina-
tion at less expense ria Charleston than via
Boston, New York or even Baltimore.
We have, therefore, in our own hands the
power of securing to our city regular
semi monthly line of steamships to Europe,
which shall be the haTbingers of increased
trade and better and brighter times. All the
work necessary to make the enterprise COM
plete cannot be done here; but if our mer-
chants and dealers make up their minds at
once to import English goods direct, instead
of buying them in Northern cities and paying
commissions and other expenses, which in
themselves would be fair business profit,
the rest will speedily follow.
Whoever may be Mayor, and whoever
may be Aldermen, we cannot afford to give
up our endeavors to make Charleston as
rich as she once was free; anl one of the
most cheering indications that cur ends can
and will be attained, is the presence in our
harbor of the pioneer steamship of tho line
which we now urge our people to sustain,
encourage and support
rSor1 <re L. Safety