The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-21
sPxR1x OF TEE PRnss.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topios-CompiIed Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
OUR MERCANTILE MARINE-OUR RE-
CREANT CONGRESS.

OUR MERCANIllIE MARlNE-OUR RE-
CREANT CONGRESS.
From the NJ Y. Herald.
The war in Europe, which finds all our in
terests-c commercial, agricultural, aud me-
Chameleon the verge of magnificent op.
portunity for advancement, finds, unfortu-
natey the greatest interest of all the ship
ping 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 coun-
try. The result of the war will be to block
up all foreign vessels except those carrying
a neutral flag, and there are very few outside
the merchant marine of England. But Eng
land is determined that, unless forced by the
most extraordinary circumstances, she will
keep her flag neutral in this war, and will
secure the carrying tradeion 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 pledged
honor or to shirk her treaty obligations pro-
vided 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 maritime
nation in name? BY series of gross blum
ders committed by our patriotic" Legisla-
ture during the war we are left without
merchant marine. Our ships were trans
ferred to foreign flags, and so ingeniously
anti-American were the connivances of Con
gress that we cannot get them back again.
Under the present laws of this loyal and
patriotic Congress we are prohibited from
purchasing a 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 sAips or 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. 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 or saluting him as he
dipped into the waves at evening. But it is
nothing to see the British flag aloft over
American ships built in the dockyards of
New York and Boston. They are plenty
enough. What a pitiful thought What
humiliating reflection for the people of
great maritime nation which has no second in
means and opportunities to be the greatest
sbipbuilding country in the world And vet
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.
ALI 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 op-
portunity and he promptly called the atten-
ton of Congress to it, begging of them to
remain even 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 carpet-bags were packed to go, 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 them
selves. 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
blame upon the Republican portion of Con-
gress because they were in the majority; the
Democratic members could have sustained
the Presidents message if they chose
lhey haa stfengtn enough, Dy castlng
unanimous vote, to retain Congress in ses-
sion 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 protec-
ton to home industry. What industry?
Where is there any industry in single ship
yard 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 would be to
permit us to buy back the ships we were CON-
PEELED to sell during the war. For this pur-
pose the President should call an extra ses-
sion of Congress at once, or else the splendid
opportunity offered by the warlike status in
Europe to restore our mercantile marine to
its former vigorous condition viii be- lost,
shamefully lost.
WHAT CAN PRUSSIA DO?
From the N. Y. Times.
II muat ha vary avidant In thnsa who haua