St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-31
ITS MEANING IS SERIOUS.
Europeans Want to rrive American
Ships From the Pacific.
OUR POSITION HUMILIATING.
Cen. John B. Sanborn Sees the I'm
mense Danger to the Country's
Carrying Trade.

To the Editor Of the Globe.
The mass of the American people
seem little to comprehend the magnl-
tude of the question and the magnitude
of the interests involved in the Samoan
difficulties. There can be little Ques-
tion that this is movement of one or
all of the European powers to drive our
commerce from the Pacific ocean as it
has been driven from the Atlantic. or
reduce this nation TO third OF fourth
class maritime power. 1t is not eleVat-
ing or inspiring to American citizen
ship to be compelled whenever one de-
Sires to cross the Atlantic ocean TO step
under the protection of foreign flag
whenever he takes single step beyond
our own shores at any port on the At
lantic coast; while it has been a matter
of some pride and national citation that
he could step aboard steamer in the
Bay of San Francisco, in which he
could sail to distant continents under
the protection OF his own flag. The dis
couraged
PRIDE AND PATRIOTISM
of the American people has hitherto lin
gered with some delight upon the
thought that if the nation has been
driven from the Atlantic ocean she still
retained strong hold upon the carry
ing trade of the Pacific ocean, which,
from this time forward, must neceSSa-
rily increase and grow until it becomes
the great carrying trade of the world.
Now these European powers In sub
stance say to the American people: You
shall not reap this harvest, nor ENJOY
with us an equal share of its profit and
glory;" and the question whether we will
submit to this dictation must be met.
The condition of the nation, so far as
meeting this crisis is concerned, is hu-
initiating. Our SeacOaSt fortlilcationS
are inadequate for the emergency; our
navy is inferior to that OF any hrSt-elaSs
power; and if we have some ships, tor
pedoes and gunboats, they can not be at
the same time along 10000 miles OF coast.
Our ocean commerce but little more
than exists in name.
OUR NATIONAL POLICY
has been such that it has protected all
interests but the public interests, and
has left those largely unprotected to the
mercy of our enemies, and the legiSla-
tive and executive departments of the
government seem alike to stand para
lyzed before the impending crisis. Peo-
pie of the most common intelligence
know that ocean voyages of 5000 miles
cannot be made without intermediate
harbors and coaling stations. These
the United States have provided at the
Sandwich and Samoan islands for the
steamers plying between San francisco
and Sydney and Melbourne i'll Aus
tralia. Must the government maintain
and protect these acquired rights
against the aggresSiOnS of any or all
European powers? The people Of this
nation will answer
WITH ONE VOICE
that this must be done without regard
to cost of life or treasure, and that
policy of this nation which has reduced
our tonnage on the sea from 5S,345.009
in 1855 to 9,545.339 in 1856 must be
abandoned at once and forever. Ii it is
the fixed policy of the nation to build
up and encourage many industries
against the few, which as a general
policy is wise within certain limits,
above all things let it be its fixed policy
to build up this industry of the carrying
trade-the largest and most profitable
industry of the word-giving employ
ment to tens of thousands of our young
men. and inducing that feeling of lnde-
pendence and pride on the part of
every citizen of this republic which.
wherever he is, makes him the peer of
any other man Oh the globe. Respect
fully yours, JOHN B. SANBoRN.