The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-17
Comparing the United States with Grea

z 4 e tha9lt@ti + ''"' llt r y
Comparing the United States with Great
Britain, it will be seen that in the forty
years, from 1872 to 1861, the former coun-
try advanced her tonnage from about ONE
half that of the latter, to nearly its equal
but since 1861 the United States have lost
nearly aonc-fourth Of their tonnage; while
Great Britain has gained nearly one-fourth
. Comparing the steam tonnage of the two
countries, we fluid that the oversee and
home trade river and lake, steam tonnage
Of the United States nearly doubled the
oversca steam tonnage of Great Britain
in,1 1910, equalled it in 1859, but falls be-
hind Il .l27 900 tons in 1870 |; and compare
son with 1871 will largely increase this diff
ference against us, as Great Britain added
POS, 500 tons to her, oversee steam tonnage
during that year, while it it is probable the
United States barely held her own. $50 S.'
| The commerce of the world is now large
ly controlled by steam transportation, and
comparison between the oversee steam ton
mage, of the two countries shows that the
UnitedStates have allowed themselves to be
distanced entirely by their vigorous rival 7.
lflegislation can effect any thing in the direc-
ton of enabling our merchants to regain
their lost vantage ground, it is to be hoped
the acts of Congress recently passed will
L =, la - lin
crafty to ship-builders.. and ship-owners.
The comparison of tonnage entered and
cleared fromthe United States and British
ports, shows even more forcibly the import
ance of national effort to recover our proper
position as maritime nation. ayH yoyu
While foreign vessels entering and clear.
ing at British ports in 1870 tonned but Is
per cent. Of the entire trade, leaving u
: per cent. for home tonnage foreign YES
sells entering and clearing from United States
ports tonned nearly 81 per cent. of the en-
I tire trade, leaving but. 3S per cent. forhome
tonnage. saitt% ass' pc 'a''.' G NJ S'''"
This is bad showing, and should be
remedied by prompt and energetic action,
not only ofindividuals specially engaged IL
I the commerce of our ports, but of the en-
tire people. m GO ...,y....,',..., nd.
Reference to the foregoing statistics vii
show what was the first cause of our retro
. gresson-ah unholy, wicked, disastrous
j. rebellion-while we were struggling TO-
,, national existence, Great Britain was mo
nopolizing the carrying trade of the work
against us, and she will not part with ou1
fair share of it, until it is won from he
grasp by persistent effort. .gsa31t, q.
Such efforts are now being made in earn
: est as to oversee steamers, and we dthen
, God speed, There 1 is also a slow Blu
, gradual increase of our sailing tonnage, blu
not such as the circumstances demand
Any commercial and financial disturb
: ance will not only postpone the work .
: building up our merchant marine, but vii
t certainly cause further reduction.
: The present administration has lahore
earnestly to redeem our country from tn
!, disasters of war and prosperity crown
d their efforts at home. With a continuing
q of the honest craftsmanship which has &C
/. complished SO much, our flag will agai
+ float on every sea. jsgt.g s,gg s.E
y The bare apprehension of our nation'
r affairs being administered by such a
: ACCOMMODATION OF charlatanry, incou
a petence, and utter lack of principle as
e threatened in Greeley and his motley SUI
o porters, creates uneasiness in the minds
3 sensible, honest men, both Republican
"a and Democrats. I'VE have no fears of IL
Z result in November, for we have abidir
,e faith in The honest intelligence Of the ma
10 of our people; false pretences will N
avail to conceal the motives Of Greeley al
r. his ring-nasters unprincipled ambition
y and selfish greed or spite. Like Henry Cha
u who said, Il would rather he right thi
ID be President, Y every honest Republics
'e and Democrat will say in November
!, would rather be patriotic than partisan,
y and cast his vote against the Chappaql
II egotist, Remaining him ID, his appropria
re place, a wiser if pot better man; so tn
It he may spend the rest Of his busy-bo'
= life in srecanting his political and soc
a heresiss;- and retracting his calumnio
of scribbHngs and utterances against eve
st one who would not look through his spe
q tacles, and say amen to his assertions. I'd