The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-18
War In Europo-Oppertunity Of the United


sent junoture Of the worlds affairs ther'
appears the opportunity that, rightly improved
might not only restore to us The maritime
strength that was swept away in our grea
war, but out of which also we might secure
a start that would easily enable US to distance
within few years every rival power. At this
moment there are twenty six German steamers
carrying passengers between ports in Europe
and the United States. All these must stop al
the very mention of the presence outside of .
French cruiser. Sailing from this port also are
all the splendid steamers of the ''Compagnit
Generate Transatlantique, and these mus
| stop, for there il also Prussian man-of-wal
not far away. And this statement Of the case
with regard to the splendid passenger steamers.
many Of which also have fine trade in first
class freight, is the statement of the whole
case with regard to French and German COM
merce. Each nation has naval power enough
to drive the mercantile marine Of the other
from the seas. What shall become of the
numerous trade thus done-and Of the great
number of ships engaged in it that are not at
for war, and ought not to rot in block
AIDED ports? England already has covetous
eyes on this great trade. and in the assumption
that business will fall to neutral flags" the
government is urged to remain neutral despite
every possible complication that may arise.
British neutrality in this war will no doubt
result greatly to the advantage of the British
shipping trade, and for this reason alone every
nerve will lie strained to keep Great Britain
out Of the Continental struggle.
Will this effort be successful? 1t is doubt
full. Already we hear that neutrality will be
inconsistent with the honor of England if the
Low Countries seem to be in danger, and this
reference to the fact that England is one of the
Powers that guarantee the independence Of
Belgium is too plain for misconception.
Again, we hear the intimation that England
morally stands behind Prussia, and that any
sign Of failure on the part of the latter Power
will draw England into the struggle. The
very fact that these things are canvassed rem
ders the neutrality of English ships uncertain.
and 80 unsafe, and the probability is that the
United States alone will have it within it's
power to reap all the harvest of this war.
Indeed. this is change that is justly due us
in the whirligig of time for as one war de-
srroyed our commerce aud built up the mari
time trade of some European ports at our ex-
pense, it is but proper that another war should
build up our trade again at the expense Of the
commerce of Europe.
But il is not only from the effects of our
war that our commerce is PROSTATE. 1t was
stricken down by the war, but it has been
kept down by the inconceivable folly OF GER
tain of our laws-laws like the compact with
Shylock-framed to "protect' certain interests,
to give those interests their pound of flesh,
though this could only be done at the expense
of the whole body from which the flesh must
be cut. Before, therefore, war in Europe can
give us again that of which war in America
deprived US, we IN ust first set aside these
most foolish, villanous, pocket-p picking laws;
these laws framed to enrich ten men and
this great nation shall own no ships except it
can make terms with Mr.. Kelley, Of Pennsyl-
vania, and few more men of his kidney;
laws only second in atrocity to those slave
laws that the nation has recently torn out Of
its life at such frightful cost; laws whose
authors and supporters if the STAKEHOLDER de-
served all the opprobrium cast upon him,
should be stoned in the streets of every city Of
the republic.
The world has not for many generations
Gle of imbecility, of downright inability to
comprehend and grasp simple thought-than
that shown by the United States Congress
when it's attention was properly called to this
subject on Friday last The President by
special message pointed out the Oppor-
tunity, and limited at the way we
could improve 1t, but his words fell
on minds preoccupied with another thought.
What was this grand thought that left no room
even for the proposition to erase the last great
reflection of every member that he had his
ticket in his pocket, that he had made up his
mind to go home, that he did not want to be
delayed and stop for the bother Of any more
legislation, however imperatively necessary
for the interests of the nation; and in this
pitiful haste to get away, and for this puerile
reason, the Congress of the United States
turned deaf ear to one Of the most important
messages that ever came to it from the Execu-
tive. Some members there were who proposed
measure that might have Covered the case !;
but Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, was there,
standing, as one might suppose, bludgeon in
hand, determined that the nearly lifeless body
of American commerce should not rise while he
could strike, and in the criminal Indifference
of the mass of members TO their duty he was
able TO kill the proposition that WAS made.
Such, then, Is the patriotism Of the republican
party, and such is the contrast between it's