Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-12
DAILY POST lHfgLIIaBHCER
or FLAG o. TnE OCEAN.

DAHL IUOA AN A0AAAe ASAs~As
oCR FLAG On TaE OCEAN.
Hon. Perry Belmont, n. C.. OF New
York. son OF the distinguished banker,
August Belmont, does not seem to WISH
to RELY upon his name. or his wealth, for
distinction. Educated Ia the best
schools, he evidently considers himself
bound by the duties Of citizen. and
takes an active and prominent part 10
discussing the issues of the dag and de-
veloping the resources of the country.
He is making a name for himself which
the "eilded youths" Of the metropolis
world do well to emulate.
Quite recently Mr.. Belmont addressed
a letter to Mr. James Parker, Secretary
OF the American Shipmasters' Associa-
ton, in which he discusses the impor-
tsnt question OF tho restoration OF our
commercial flag TO the waters Of the
great deep. What he has to say dis
closes creditabie familiarity with the
subject. Let US hope that what he sug-
asst. will soon become accomplished
facts.
Mr. Belmont alludes 10 tbs onercus
taxes levied in 1861 and afterwards on
tho coas:wiss commerce OF the several
States, which," he Gays, I" it vas able
70 endure By the exclusion OF foreign
flags" az factor il the decadenes OF
our ship-building interests. and recon-
msnds Congressional inquiry into tbs
subject. He expresses the opinion that
" the problem of internal transportation
has received 80 much attention and r.
80 far advanced that tho problem of sx
tsrn,l transportation ought to receive
some attention"
Thrss questions, Mr.. Belmont thinks,
stand at tho threshold Of the proposed
Congressional inquiry into this subject.
These questions the New York T,res
slmmarizea ~ follows: Twill it he
u ,eful, in an industrial ~ well "a in q
military sense, to the National welfare
TO promote the re-establishment OF M
American commercial marine p "Cap
Congress do anything to hasten or bring
about that result, either by the enact
ment of wise laws or by tho repeal Of
bad ones, or in any other way r If
II not worth while for Congress to max.
an effort now in that direction p
Mr.. Belmont looks into tho future
not perhaps like the Laureate. far AZ
human eye can sse," but with the pres
eience Of a statesman. and propounds
the suggestive query ~ to whether II 10
not we'll for the people of tho West aud
Southwest to "rsflsct in good time, and
prepare for n possibls condition Of
things when, in general war between
the great commercial powers Of Europe,
the American flag may DO respected b,
all the combatants, and American yes
ssls may be the only vehicles for the
safe ocean transportation Of American
merchandise under the immunity Of
international law, which would give &C.
ourity to neutral cargo not contraband
Of war, under a neutral flag ~
Take Mr.. Belmont's letter rs whole,
and it il n valuable contribution TO the
preliminary discussion Of this subject.
We have referred TO il, not with view
to epitomizing the article. for IL would
lose too much Of its strength in under
going such a process at our hands. bot
with view OF again calling the atten.
ton OF Puget Sound ship builders and
lumbermen to the largo interests which
they have in the solution Of "ths prob.
lem Of external transportation"
A healthy revival Of the ship Building
industry Of America means great deal
moro than appears at glance for this
great tidal basin. Mr.. Belmont realizes
this, for lie says that these "are matters
which now concern not merely the States
On the Atlantic Coast, but those on that
other shore which looks out toward ia
pam" With the revival Of ship. build
lag sought to be- brought about, instead
Of the two hundred--possibly few
more--men now engaged in that work
In the yards on Puget Sound. it is no,
too much to say that ten times tina: num-
Der. il not more, would ply the adzs
and caulking hammer fiom January to
December. both months included From
tho kindly climate which makes labor
posaibls almost every day in the year,
to the oakum which fills the seams and
the ter that flxes il in its place, the ma
terials are here to furnish ships for ths
world.