, 1879-01-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. d. c., Dee. y. ISIS


ETY. that with proper shipping iaclII'
ties the producers and manutactur
ers of the United States might fur
nish almost the whole demand of the
South American States and thus pro
mote our national and individual
welfare beyond the most promising
dream. But as it is now we are a
fifth rate nation in the South Ameri-
can trade, and the European mon.
opolists are moving every Influence
to bl eak down the little trade we
have. IN view of these facts the
President and Sec'y. Evarts strongly
recomend Congressional aid in pro-
noting American commerce and in
dustrial development. The British
monopolists at the same time have
once more taken the alarm lest Con-
gress should do something for the
maintenance Of our one solitary
steamship line to South America, and
are here in force, armed with the
subsidies with which their Govern
ment feeds them. Besides they are
renewing their contemplate warfare
upon the American line in order to
break it down. Let me show you
how that warfare is carried on. New,
er until Mr.. Roach and other Ameri-
cans began to negotiate with Brazil
tor a mail contract did .hese British
ship owners dream of running ships
from New York to Brazil direct.
bnl chen, in 1877, they put on three
inferior steamers, in order to show
that they were willing to run line
without subsidy. They made but
four trips, however, during the year.
la 1878 Congress was considering
the propriety of heI ping to make the
American line permanent, and of es.
;abIishing another from New Orleans
TO Brazil, when the British people
ran their steamers starting from New
York as follows: GlensanDox, Jan.
10; Glenlogsn, Feb. 2S; GIensan,
nox, April 25; Cassina, Feb. II;
Casino, Marco 10; G enIogan, June
7. The Congress adjourned and by
il remarkable coincidence the British
line was Withdrawn. Now that Con.
gress hns come they are running
again. having made two departures
this winter. The American line W S
begun last May, making departures
on the 9Th of that month, June,
July and August, and tho 9th of
Sept, Oct, Nov. and Dec, being
confined TO those dates by the Brazil.
ian Governmt Of course the lit
tie guerrilla feet of the British mo
nopolists has it in its power to time
its departure SO as to cut into the
freight list ruinously, but it does
this chiefly to stave off action by
Congress. Should the United States
give our line contract TO carry the
mails as Brazil has done, these little
vessels would be Withdrawn and the
British Agents would find their oc-
eupa,ion gone, for the whole cam
paign is instituted to prevent Amer
lean competition in South America.
1t is well understood that if our line
is once made permanent by Govern
ment aid and recognition, our mer
chants and those of Brazil will go
ahead with confidence to make con-
tracts for trade which will tend 70
promote our prosperity in every
branch of business and draw the
profitable trade from Great Britain.
Congress has heen too long deluded
by the tricks of foreign ship owners
and lobbyists, and all parties are
awakening to that fact. Every coun
try in South America stands ready
to pay half the expense of regular
steam mail service to connect them
II