The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1869-11-05
VOLUME Ii
The Kew Commercial Era Move
,..,,4 - TrsSa e-or, Feet 4o West

course of empire takes its va" ls
true 10 commercial as we'll sc a po-
liticaI sense. Indeed. in modern
times political power and natioual
greatness generally 60 with CONNER
cial Influence and wealth. It was
commeacs or trade that made Tyre
and Carthage great in. ancient times;
this that made Venice and the Italian
republics rich and powerful at later
period; this that gave Spain her pow
er in the time OF her greatness; this
that made Holland small State in
Europe Of the mightiest Coun-
tries on the globe; this that gave
England her wonderful wealth. great
power. and an empire larger than any
that ever existed in the world, and
this which has contributed largely
to the surprising growth and grand
eur of the Arletican republic.
If look back to history we shall
see that commerce and empire have
followed the course Of the sun from
east 10 west. From Asia. bordering
,he Mediterranean and the coast Of
Africa. they passed over to Europe
on the westward side Of that sea, and
from thence to the westward mari
time States of the European Cont
nent. Finally. the course Of empire
has taken its way across the Atlantic.
The American republic is marching
with apid strides to point Of great
ness that will eclipse ali preceding or
existing nations. Had it net been
for the war we should be now the
frst maritime nation on the globe
We hadP just before that event, more
tonnage than Great Britain, and far
more than any other country. Al
though We have been compelled to
take the second place, it cannot be
long before we must take the first
The decline Of American tonnagesand
shipping interests. resulting prima-
riiy from the war, must and will be
arrested by suitable Legislation, by
the complete restoration of the re-
public and cur national finances, and
by the rapid material progress of the
country. The necessity of doing
something TO this end Immediately
is seen both by Cos ress and the
people. The Congressional commit
tee who have been sitting in this city
for the past week for the purpose of
investigating the cause ofthe decline
of American shipbuilding and ship
ping interests and to provide a reme-
dy, as we'll as the mass of valuable
information ELECTED, show that the
public mind is alive TO this subject.
and that we are approaching the
turning point. Gloomy as the state
of things regarding cur mercantile
marine has been the last fe " years. it
ia impossible that this great, rich and
progressive country can long occupy
the second position as 3 maritime ma
tion.
Before the year I9oO-yes, in 25
years-Our pressn! population Of for
y millions will be increased proba-
bly, TO p hundred millions. And what
is not such an ambitious. industrious,
inventive and energetic population
capable of accomplishing? Then
look at our vast coast, over ten thou
sand miles in extent. on the Atlantic.
Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, with its
numberless harbors; at the inexhaust-
ible forests Of the finest timber and
illimitabIs deposits of the best iron
and coal; at the wonderful variety Of
products that enter into commerce,
and at the aptitude of the American
people for trade, enterprise and mar
itime pursuits. Is it possible for
such a people and country to occupy
long q second rate maritime position?
The British and the people of some
other nations are looking to the Suez
Canal as destined to change the cur
rents oftrads, and 20 doubt that will
produce great effect, as far as the
trade of Europe with India aud the
East generally goes. To some extent
and in = certain sense this great work
of modern times may turn the course
oftTads from the West to the East,
and may establish An empire again on
the eastern shore OF the MediterrAne-
an. But even then the ultimate des-
tination and concentration of the trade
between Asia and Europe will be
westward still France, Italy. Aus
tria, and other countries on the Euro
pesn Continent, will get share. and
receive great benefit, but large pOr-
ton will go to England. all this,
however, will not inte rfers with the
increasing tendency of commerce fur
ther west still, across the Atlantic,
nor retsrd the progress toward COM
mercial supremacy and "a overshad-
owing republican empire in America.
Though the course Of trade has
besR throughout history from east to