The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-07-21

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great profit to this country aud would
build up our commerce aud our ship
ping interests in a remarkable degree
But they are not in such a condition
We have no boats; the tariff upon all
articles which enter Into their construc-
ton is SO high that we cannot build
with profit, aud we are not permitted to
buy, because foreign bottoms will not
be admitted to registry. This law was
enacted through spite towards those
who built the Floridas and the Alaba.
mas to prey upon our commerce in the
late war; but this legislation has reacted
upon ourselves. Being unable to build
or buy, we are without commercial
marine, and 10 no condition to profit by
the state of things likely to spring up
10 Europe. President Grant called the
attention of Congress to this subject,
Pust at the close Of its late session, but
nothing could be done, at that late hour,
aud the matter went over. The fault
lies in not curing this state of things
before, and putting our commerce in
condition to recover the ground it had
lost. Had Congress prolonged its ses-
siou aud taken up this subject for legis-
latiOn, it would probably have produced
some measure crude, hasty, and made
quate. 1t is impossible to extemporise
a commercial marine aud an adequate
navy; it is the work of years. The de-
cay Of our shipping and the ineficiency
OF our naval vessels is the consequence
of years of neglect and Encouragement,
and years will be necessary to regain
our lost strength aud prestige on the
ocean. Had Congress set about the
work at the close OF the war, instead of
wasting its time upon the maliguancy
Of reconstruction" we might now have
been in a position to reap the harvest
which is offered to us But no; such
measures did not suit the temper of
shortsighted, vindictive Radicalism.
| The New York World has INDUCED
in some reflections on this subject 10
which We fully concur. That journal,
of Saturday last, says:
General Grant is clearly correct in his
feeling that the country is in no state Of
preparation for the exigeneies incident to a
great European war. We, ofcourse do not
expect to be drawn into the struggle. Our
policy is strict neutrality and in til is view
the crazy inefficiency Of our navy is of little
immediate consequence. But we are in no
condition to reap the advantages Of neutral.
| ity. II we held the same maritime rank
which we did in 1880, the abundance of our
shipping would render European war be.
tween two maritime nations great harvest
for American commerce. The merchant
vessels Of France and Prussia are exposed
to capture and confiseation by the ships of
war of their enemy The war, BY crippline
the commerce ndraising rates of INSURANCE.,
will throw great amount of business into
the hands Of such neutral nations as possess
the means OF transportation. In former
wars, we have enjoyed the full advantages
of our neutral position, and have been
among the chief carriers of the commerce of
the world. In the great Nopoleonic wars
in the early part of this century, we laid the
foundations of our subsequent maritime
greatness By the profitable employment
given to assfrican merchant vessels by the
interruption OF European commerce. In
the present war, Great Britain will monop-
Ollie the advantages which we should share
with her IT our governh ent had not blindly
ruined our shipping and Sduced us to abect
dependence on foreign vessels even for our
own trade. Without ships ar transporta.
ton OF our own merchandise, nc .-e Of
course in no condition to profit By our neu.
trality, and grow rich as enterprising car
. riers for other nations. While we have been
+ occupied in expressing and humilialing the
South and keeping alive the exasperating
controversies which ought to have closed
with the civil war, our maritime importance
has dwindled under the blighting effects az
bad legislation, until our improyident gov.
eminent is suddenly awakened to a sense
of national loss and insignfcance by the
shock Of great European war.
Our navy is in state of dilapidation al.
most rs humiliating as the destruction OF
our mercantile marine. 1t has recently
been confessed in Congress, by committees
who have investigated the subject, that the
money lavished on our navy for the last
seven or eight years has been misapplied
and wasted, and that we have very few
ships of war fit for ocean service. When