The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-23
AMERICAS STRENGTH.
From the Philadelphia Record.

FROM the Philadelphia Record
1t is generally true that the citizens Of
one country know practically but little
of another country. Each country has an
atmosphere. politically. financially and
morally, Of its own, as well as traditions.
habits of life and point Of view which
must be learned and studied, II they ever
can be learned and studied, without ac-
tually breathing the one or becoming per-
sonally cognizant of the other Detached,
naked facts are not to -be misleading.
They need to be considered in relation 10
other facts and circumstances before their
just weight and real significance can be
ascertained.
A writer in the Nineteenth Century for
June affords an illustration of the truth
of these remarks. In an article on Amer
lea as Power he endeavors to show how
weak we should be as a belligerent. We
have no merchant marine! But in case Of
war a merchant marine becomes the
first and most vulnerable point Of at
tack. In our latest war with England that
power was seriously crippled by the rapid
and surprising capture OF her vessels
Our privateers haunted every sea, and
produced veritable panics in the seats Of
British commerce. During the continu-
ance of this short war $500 vessels all
told were captured from the British. 1t
was the wholesale destruction OF their
shipping that led the commercial inter-
ests of Great Britain to demand peace,
and brought the war to speedy close.
No doubt mercantile marine IL In peace
a source Of national wealth, and an in
terest that should be fostered; but In war
1t becomes prey to bold and enterpriS-
ing enemy. Instead of being an element OF
belligernt strength, II is an element OF Del
ligerent weakness. The navy. instead OF
being free to concentrate against the nos
tile navy and the vulnerable points along
the hostile coasts, Is necessarily divided
and detached to convoy merchantmen anu
guard the pathways of commerce.
But our navy IL insignificant! As con.
trasted with the British navy, yes; and In
the war of 1872 II was still more insignlf-
icant. At that time Great Britain has q
thousand ships OF war; and ours were so
few that 1t was supposed they would seek
security by remaining in port. Our coasts
were to be blockaded and kept closed by
the overwhelming naval superiority OF the
enemy; and yet our p-ivateers scorned the
blockade. and, quitting our own coasts,
swarmea In the Irish sea and the English
channel And our ships OF war were vic-
torous in three-fourths Of the naval en-
gagements that wers fought. Michael
Scott, the author Of "Tom Cringle's Log"
who served in the war, and who cordially
hated the Americans, writes thus as a
result Of his experiences: "In the field or
graphing in mortal combat on the blood
slippery quarterback Of an enemy's ves-
sci British soldier or sailor is the bravest
of the brave. No soldier or sailor of any
other country, saving and excepting those
damned Yankees, can stand against them"
The United States have never been 50
strong at sea as now; and though their
ships are comparatively few in number,
yet in case OF war (which heaven fore
fendD we might confidently rely upon
the hone that hey wouls give as good an
account of themselves as did their prede-
| cessors in 1872 Moreover, says the writer
in the Nineteenth, Century, we have an
army of unemployed, which in case of war
would be immensely increased. The cX-
perience of the country during our late
civil war was that the ranks of the un-
employed were rapidly depleted to fill the
| ranks of the regiments going to the front.
| Not only our own unemployed but the in-
| employed Of our northern neghbor, the
| Dominion OF Canada, came forward to
enlist for the war. Instead of war increas-
ing the number of the unemployed, It en-
ploys them, and immensely stimulates the
| demand IOr laDOr. moreover, 100, says
this writer. we have an immense alien
| population which affects our national
solidity. We have not found this to be
| the case. The Germans, Scandinavians
and Irish who have immigrated to our
| shores are attracted to our country and
| It's Institutions; and in the second genera
! ton they become assirlilated with the ma
| tive population and possessed Of Its aspira-
tlons and hopes, and would march with
| the same alacrity to tho defense OF the
common flag. OF other nationalities We
have not probably a greater proportion
than have sought the shores Of Great
Britain; and we have no reason to 0oabt
that In days of war, or days OF disaster,
they would be true to the country that
has sheltered and protected them.
Il H
This writer refers, among other things,
to our unsound currency, and to our de-
pendence upon British markets, as show
ing "the weakness of America as bel
ligerent." An unsound currency, wher-
ever 1t exists. Is n misfortune and a thing
to be remedied. 1t leaves untouched, how
ever, the sources OF national wealth; and
when It's impediments and inconveniences
are gotten rid of the rock Of the nations
resources remains uniinpaifed. Questions
of currency are always seiious. but their
effects are not vital, and when settled on
. safe basis prosperity II apt to revive