The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-07-29
CUR MERCANTILE MARINE---oUR RECENT
... CONGRESS-, .....s

..u CONGRESS-. as
The war in Europe, which finds all our
interests commercial, agricultural and me-
cbanical-on the verge of a magnificent OPP
portunity for advancement, finds unfortu-
nately the greatest interest ofall, 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 war will be to
block up all foreign vessels except those
carrying a neutral flag, and they are very
few outside the merchant marine of England.
But England is determined that, unless for
ced by the most extraordinary circumstances,
she will keep her flag neutral in this war, and
will secure the carrying trade on the ocean.
Her commercial interests are so immense that
she must remain at peace. 1t would not go
very hard with her even to forfeit her plcdg-
ed honor OF to shirk her treaty obligations
provided she could maintain her mercantile
supremacy on the seas. That she will do
this at all hazards we may be assured.
Now, where do we stand the second mari
time nation in name? BY q series of gross
blunders committed by our patriotic" Leg
islature during the war we are left without
a merchant marine. Our ships We're trans
anti-American were the connivances of Con-
gress that we cannot get them back again.
Under the present laws of this loyal and patrl-
otto Congress we are prohibited from pur-
chasing foreign vessel. Not even the ships
that we sold to foreign Powers during 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 ma
terials for shipbuilding are so laden down
with import duties that we cannot afford to
compete with the shipyards of England and
Scotland, 1t is impossible for US to build
iron ships OF steamers, because, forsooth, the
iron interests of Pennsylvania have to be
protected. In fact, the largest industrial in
terest in the country is cramped and crippled
in order that merely local interest may be
fostered. A few years ago our shipyards re-
sounded 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 own dockyards. To-day and
for thela ten years the Stars and Stripes have
been comparatively rare sight greeting the
morning sun upon the ocean OF saluting him
as he dipped into the waves at evening. But
it is nothing rare to see the British flag aloft
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 a
great maritime nation, which has no second
in means and opportunity to be the greatest
shipbulding country in the world And yet
by a miserable system oflegislation our ship
ping interests have been annihilated at home,
and we are left to play the part of paupers
upon the ocean, begging shelter and recogni-
tion 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 OPP
portunity and he promptly called the atten-
ton of Congress to it, begging of them to re-
main 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 on an even
footing with our rivals. But Congress would
not heed the Presidents suggestions. Their
carpetbags were packed to go, and go they
would-these paltry fellows, who, having
made all they could out of their Congression-
al service, were only too glad to let the dear
est interests of their country take care of
themselves. What cared they for the great
ness of the nation? What, in fact, do most
of them know about it ? l.'lHt ..l tiHl
1t will not do, however, to put the whole
blame upon the republican portion of Con-
gress because they were in the majority; the
democratic members could have sustained
the Presidents message ifthey 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 fimsy excuse
that the Presidents suggestions were set
aside upon the pretext of protection to home
cfYfy hot ind. .ofr e Hon
any industry in single shipyard of the
country? TO help native industry would
be to reduce the tariff on shipbuilding mate
rails from their present ruinous rate. To
increase the hustle and healthy trade of our
dockyards and piers and wharves would be
to permit us to buy back the ships we were
compelled to sell during the war For this
purpose the President should call an extra
session of Congress at once, or else the splen
did opportunity offered by the warlike status
in Europe to restore our mercantile marine
to its former vigorous condition will be lost,
shamefully lost.
The above from the New York Herald, as
a journal competent to express intelligent
views upon the situation of our shipping in
terests at this time, We give as of vital inter
est to all classes of the community. The
concluding part ofthe article, however, where
the Democratic members of Congress are so
softly impeached' for not sustaining the
President is rather rich. Well, they ought to
have done so, in fact, and we agree that they
are the only members of that body to whom
the people can look for sustaining any
measures for the real benefit of the country
at large. The only practical difficulty in
the way of their not accomplishing great
deal of good in many ways is the fact of there
not being sufficient number of them there
We sincerely hope to see this trouble re.
moved shortly and the chance given them
to come to the rescue of this Frustrated ma
ton, as they are so earnestly called upon by
the Herald to do.
If it needed anything TO convince the coun-
try at large that the Republican party are
incapable Of dealing with the great interests
of the people successfully, surely the last
days of the late session of Congress has de-
monstrated the fact beyond all doubt
CoMMENDABLE.-Gene Sheridan, so
experienced in savage warfare, has been
ordered to Europe to observe the manner
In which civilized conflicts are conducted.