The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-23
The British Mercantile Marine.

The British Mercantile Marine.
In the event Of European contest
which should involve Great Britain, IL is
obvious that her share OF the carrying
trade must fall into neutral hands. 1t is
worth while, therefore, to inquire how far
she now monopolizes the commerce OF the
world, aud this may be indicated by
comparison OF her merchant navy with
the Shipping of other countries. A survey
of the facts, moreover, will demonstrate
that the United States are alone qualified
to hll Engiands role of nautical distrlbu-
ton, and that If this country should &C
quire, under present circumstances, a
marked ascendancy upon the ocean, she
would but resume the place from which
she was wronglully ousted during our
civil war.
1t is common 20 attribute Euglandis
maritime supremacy TO the famous navi-
CATION laws decreed by CROMWELL i'll 1861,
and which were repealed less than thirty
years ago. Yet IL is doubtful whether the
Protectors legislation furthered his oapi-
tai purpose OF Gripping the naval power
OF Holland, and IL seems TO be certain that
the British mercantile marine remained
stationary for century afterward. Sir
WILLIAM PETTY. writing in 1895, assigns TO
the merchant fleet of Europe capacity of
two million tons, OF which he allows the
Dutch nearly one-half, and exactly quar-
ter to England. In 1850 an official report
gave about the same proportions TO Brit
| ish shipping, namely, Ave hundred and
| nifty thousand tons, and at the date OF the
| American revolution II SIN fell short OF
| seven hundred thousand. The truth is,
that If statistics can prove any thing. they
show the remarkable expansion of Eng
lands seafaring activity TO have been prin-
cipally determined by the stimulating cir
cumstances of two great wars, in only one
of which she took an overt part. Toward
the close of the long struggle with NAPO-
LEON, we find the capacity of British ship
ping swollen to more than two million OF
| tons, while the maritime strength of HOl-
| land was almost annihiiated, aud France
had fewer vessels under her flag than the
| English colonies. The next half century
was an epoch OF universal progress in
navigation. Nevertheless. when our civll
war began the tonnage OF Great Britain
| was computed at no more than four and n
half millions, but IN the four years of that
| conflict 1t gained twenty-five per cent,
| and the tremendous impetus then secured
has been retained 10 the present hour.
From the battle of Waterloo to the firing
upon Sumter, the United States were a
Formidable, and, ut last, a successful, rival
OF England Our shipping interest, which,
in 1919, controlled only a million OF tons,
had doubled within the next thirty years.
In 1850 we were already abreast of Great
Britain, and Ave years later were nearly
"A million ahead. At the latter epoch we
were indisputably the foremost maritime
power upon the globe, and we maintained
decisive lead until 1861, when we could
show an aggregate tonnage of five and a
half millions against four and three-quar-
ters for England. While the Confederate
cruisers were preying upon our commerce,
Great Britain obtained notable advance.
That this however, might have been sem
sibly diminished but for the reckless mis-
government and rmnous taxation, for
which VIC are indebted to the Republican
party, is evident from the fact that in 1853,
after the surrender OF LEE at Appomattox,
our merchant navy still presented a total
of more than five million tons. As it was,
during the last decade, while every mari.
time state in Europe was going forward,
while the mercantile marine OF Norway
doubled and that of Italy increased seven
ty-hve per cent, the United states actually
refrigerated, returning for lHb II tonnage
of less than four million eight hundred
thousand.
| Among the conspicuous promoters o
navigation we have oontrved to keep the
second place, but the interval is wide a
the present moment between us and GU
victorious competitor. Al the oloso OF Lar
year the united tonnage of tho United
states and the whole Continent of Europe
excluding Russia, Portugal, and Spain
aggregated eleven and a quarter millions
against which Great Britain and her colo
mics could set seven millions, sever
hundred and fifty thousand. or cOurs,
these hgures include sailing craft, bu
British prepondcrauce will be still NOR,
striking II we conhne our glance TO vessel
impclled by steam. Tho steam meroantil,
marine of England, which, at the breaking
out OF the rebellion, oompri.ed only half
million OF tons against nearly double tina
amount registered in this country, ha
now quadrupled, outstripping us by almos
a hundred per cent, and well-nigh bnlano
ing tho combined resources OF the world
II must be noted further that, OF tn
steam tonnage credited to the Unite'
States in 1875, by fur the greater part be
longs to the river and coasting trade, onl.
! eighteen per cent. or less than two hund