The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-02
Tho Direct Trade idea.

! unsuccesSIully, 10 get the Atlanta JOufNh
to tell the public something about the prop
osition, which, it says, it originated 20
/ establish steamship lines between southern
ports aud the ports Of Europe, with the view
of bringing about direct trade between the
south and Europe. Why the journal hest
tates to discuss the proposition freely it is
difficult to understand, unless it is that it
cannot do so with satisfaction to itself
The proposition being its own it
ought to be able to show that it is a feasible
! one. When asked to do so, however, it
takes refuge in attacks upon these who ask
it questions for one purpose only, and that
is TO get the information desired.
The MORNING NEWS has stated that it
would like TO see a line of steamships from
Savannah or Brunswick TO European ports,
aud it has expressed doubt that such
line could be sustained. 1t has reasons for
such doubt, and it has frankly stated
them. The Journal has failed not only TO
support its proposition, but it has attacked
the MORNING News, asserting, among other
things, that the MORNING News is in
fluenced in expressing doubts Of the FEAST
bility of the direct trade scheme by the fear
that direct trade would injure the business
of Savannah's cotton factors and draw
business away from her coistwise steam
ship lines; also, that the MORNING NEWS
has not posed as the "friendly counselor of
the farmers"
The MORNING NEWS hastens to assure
the Journal that it is not influenced in the
least by any consideration for Savannah's
coastwise steamship lines and Savannah's
cotton factors. There is no danger that
these lines of steamers would suffer any loss
of business because of the establishment of
direct trade with Europe. or that Savan-
nah's cotton factors would have the han
ling Of any less cotton. But Savannah
would be greatly benefited if the south sue
ceeded in establishing direct trade with
Europe, because she would very soon have
the benefit Of large importing business.
Therefore it cannot be that the MORNING
NEWS expresses doubts about the direct
trade proposition because of the fear of in
jury to her established interests.
But is not the Jour nal mistaken in assert
ing that the MORNING NEWS has not, up to
this time, been friendly counselor of the
farmersw On what does it base this asser-
tiona On anything that it has seen in the
columns Of the MORNING NEws9 If so,
perhaps the Journal will quote something
from the MORNING NEWS which sustains its
assertion. If it cannot do so must it not
stand convicted of trying, without reason,
to injure Il contemporary, and that, too,
simply because it got the worst of an argu-
ment! That is not a very pleasant position
for journal that pretends to be fair and
honest to occupy.
Does the Journal think that the MORN
ING News is not friendly to the farmers be-
cause it expresses a doubt about the feast
bility of establishing a steamship line from
Savannah or Brunswick to Europe? Would
the Journal urge the farmers to put their
money in such an undertaking if it thought
it very risky onel The MORNING NEWS,
from all the light it now has on the subject,
does not see how a steamship line from this
port or Brunswick to a European port
could be made to pay, and it frankly says
SO. Is 1t not much more of friend of the
farmers than if it encouraged them to in
vest their money in such line, believing
that they would meet with disappointment
and loss9
But the MORNING NEWS has not advised
the farmers against the direct traGe propo-
sition. 1t has expressed doubts about its
feasibility, and called upon the Atlanta
Journal, the alleged originator of the prop
osition, to explain why it thinks direct
trade would be successful and profitable.
Does the Journal, that pretends to be the
friendly counselor of the farmers,
furnish the desired explanation.
1t does not. 1t simply follows
the example of the clam, so far as
any information is concerned. Can it be
possible that it wants the farmers to engage
in an enterprise in support of which it can
say nothing? That does net look very much
as if it were such a great friend of the
farmers. AS matter of fact, is it not the
Journal which, thus far, has not shown
itself to be a safe or friendly counselor of
the farmerss