The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-20
bur Mercantile DTarine-Our Recrcau
COngrcsS.


opportunity for advancement finds, unior-
tunately, the greatest interest OF all, the
shipping interest, utterly neglected. How DO
we stand to-day with regard to the carrying
trade? We have not merchant vessels equal
| to the task OF carrying the trade of our own
country The result of the war will be to
| block up all foreign vessels except those
carrying neutral flag, and they are very few
| outside the merchant marine OF England. But
! England is determined that, unless forced by
| the most extraordinary circumstances, she VIII
keep her flag neutral in this war, and will
commercial interests are so immense that she
must remain at peace. II would not go very
| hard with her even TO forfeit her pledged
honor or to shirk her treaty obligations pro-
| vided she could maintain her mercantile
| supremacy on the seas. That she will
| assured. Now, where do We stand,
! the second maritime nation in name
BY series of gross blunders committed by
our patriotic" Legislature during the war we
are left without merchant marine. Our
ships were transferred to foreign flags. and so
ingenously anti-American were the con-
| nivances of Congress that we cannot get them
| back again. Under the present laws Of this
loyal and patriotic Congress we are prohibited
| from purchasing foreign vessel Not even
| the ships that we sold to foreign Powers dur.
! ing the war, when weak policy compelled us
| to put American vessels under the foreign flag
| of Great Britain, can we buy back again.
We cannot build vessels, because The mate
| rails for shipbuiding are SO laden down with
| import duties that we cannot afford to compete
with the shpyards of England aud SEQ tia nd.
II is impossible for us to build iron ships or
steamers because, forsooth, the iron interests
Of Pennsylvania have to be protected. In
fact, the largest industrial interest in the
country is cramped and crippled in order that
a merely local interest may be fostered A
few years ago our shipyards resoundcd with
the busy hum of industry. They are
silent to-day. A few years ago our
flag could be met on every sea,
floating over decks built in our own
dockyards. To-day and for the last ten
years the Stars and Stripes have been com
paratively rare sight greeting the morning
sun upon the ocean saluting him as he
dipped into the waves at evening. But it is
nothing rare to see the British flag aioit
over American ships built in the dockyards
of New York and Boston. They are plenty
enough What pitiful thought What a
humiliating reflection for the people of
great maritime nation, which has no second
in means and opportunity to be the greatest
shipbulding country in the world And yet
by miserable system OF legislation our
shipping interests have been annihilated at
home. and we are left to play the part Of
paupers upon the ocean, begging shelter and
recognition from foreign flags.
All this Congress had done for us during
the war; but now an opportunity is offered
by the disturbances in Europe to retrieve
these blunders. The President saw the oppor-
tunity and he promptly called the attention
Of Congress to it, begging of them to remain
even for one day in session, in order TO
repeal the restrictive laws with regard to
the purchase Of foreign vessels, and
thus enable us to put our merchant
marine an even footing with our
rivals. But Congress would not heed
the Presidents suggestions. Their carpet
bags were packed to 60 and go they would
these paltry fellows who, having made all
they could out Of their Congressional service,
were only too glad to let the dearest interests
of their country take care Of themselves.
What cared they for the greatness of the
nation? What, in fact, DO most of them know
about it?
1t will not do, however, to put the whole
because they were in the majority; the demo-
cratic members could have sustained the
Presidents message if they chose. They had
strength enough, by casting unanimous
vote, to retain Congress in session and give an
opportunity to discuss the Presidents views.
We cannot accept The himsy excuse that the
Presidents suggestions were set aside upon the
pretext Of protection 70 home industry. What
! industry? Where is there any industry in a
single shipyard of the country? To help
native industry would be to reduce the tariff
on shipbuilding materials from their present
ruinous rate To increase the hustle and
healthy trade Of our dockyards and piers and
wharves wonld be to permit us to buy back
tue ships we were compelled to sell during
the war. For this purpose the President
should call an extra session of Congress
al once, or else the splendid opportunity
offered by the warike status in Europe to
restore our mercantile marine TO its former
vigorous condition will be lost, shamcfuly
| lost
Terrible Effects Ot the Heat.
| Upwards Of sixty cases OF sunstroka oc-
CURED il New York city On Mnnday the hni-