Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-13

lSDe0, WOuiu DC ueiu itSpon'A"-'i' ~ 1900
Certainly the statements made in this
! pamphlet are specific. OF one captain IT
SAYS be Is one of the most notorious brutes
| in charge of an American ship; also that
well sustained charges Of murder have
| been made against BIN, but he has gone
scot free every time Particulars are
given Indeed it should not be forgotten
that a commission under the direction of
the United States treasury department has
made Investigations and has reported the
urgent need Of some legislation, which
may prevent brutality aboard ship. One
member OF it says the commission found
/ il tn Re only too true that American
sesmcn are underpaid, underfed, over
worked and generally driven about like
slaves A"
Criticism of this has been made TO the
effect that it is another blow aimed by
the administration at American shipping
cuch q conclusion is not borne out by the
facts. That American shipping interests
need sll the proper encouragement they
can receive is evident. That it is neces-
sary TO treat a sailor worse than most
men treat their dogs is not evident. In
deed the contrary has been amply lemon
strated. There are not few Maine YES
sells, and officers whose names have never
been dragged before the public on any
| such charges who never have any serious
| trouble with their men. And yet they
are exposed to the difficulties arising from
moor crews and bad men among them.
Nevertheless they maintain order aboard
ship. have the respect of their men, get as
much work out of them and earn as much
money for their owners, apparently, as
do those sailing masters and mates, whose
names are Justly or otherwise implicated
in charges Of brutality. The instances
where sailors receive decent treatment are
not rare enough to be regarded as cxcep-
| tions. 1t is very gratifying, after having
f, ones Indignation aroused to the degree of
boiling by reading the Red Record to
reflect on the fact that no more humane
owners and sailing masters in the
world are to be found than among those
from Maine Moreover this humancncss
| is all the more noticeable because
under existing conditions the sea
captain is dcspot with more irrcs-
ponsible power than the Gar of all
| the Russias possesses Any attempt to
| oppose it on board ship would be mutiny.
A crime which il committed on
land would be hunted down, being
done on the high seas usually goes
unpublished. Very many of the charges
are dismissed because of "lack OF
evidence " Those at all acquainted with
| the characteristics Of the common sailor
may easily understand why. For the
average sailor sufficient unto the day is
| the evil thereof. There seldom is more
than one of them personally interested in
pushing the case and he practically in
capable Of doing so. He must have the
testimony of his shipmates at time when
| they are ndulging in convivialitics with
what few of their hard earnings are left
| from the inroads of the slop chest; or
may be have shipped again. Perhaps,
too, the captain may have been surpris-
ingly generous with them. Their presence
in court might be embarrassing to him.
A 81 h., Ia ba hind of
nor have they the means to exert any
great influence This feature is different
when the ship owners and officers are
considered. None know this better than
the officers. They know full well that if
in a fit of natural temper or drunken rage
they knock man overheard the chances
of their getting clear of punishment are
decidedly in their favor. They know that
if they happen to take a dislike to IA sailor
they can prosecute him all they care to
without ever receiving their deserts for it.
They know that if some shftlcsS fellow
falls overheard they need not make great
cxcrtions to save him. And it would
surprise many people to know what little
value some officers, who on shore are re
spccted, place upon the lives of the human
slaves under them. In the days Of slavery
at the South the slaves life represented
pccuniary value to the owner. This saw
ing feature does not relieve the bondage
of the sailor. The practically irrespon-
sible authority of the officers and sur
rounding conditions are brutaliling. We
frequently hear much said about our
merchant vessels as a training school for
our navy. But the experience of ages
has convinced the world that men habit
ually driven about like dogs do not make
the best warriors.
We have touched upon the worst feat
urcs of the subject. There are brighter
sides but the disease must be recognized
before the remedy can be applied. In do
ing this it should not be forgotten that
there is much to be said in behalf of ship
| owners and officers. They are capable of