New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-23
BUILD Up THE MERCHANT N.RfNE.

THE NEED OF A MORE SPIRITED NAVAL POLICY
IN TIE UNITED STATES.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: The dispute between the Government OF the
United States and that OF Great Britain az 10 the ap-
plication OF the provisions Of the Monroe Doctrine
APPLY shows. notwithstanding all that may Justly be
said in favor of arbitration. how absolutely n"ccs-
sary becomes the United States should be In
position TO demonstrate TO any foreign Power that
It Is fully prepared 10 resort to the use OF arms 10
force the principle which It's Government cnnnciates
The question arises is the United States in that posi-
ton at the present time? submit that 1t il not
and venture to say that there is not person
prepared TO answer in the affirmative.
Great Britain. with her magnificent navy. controls
the Apart from this. there are vessels in
cluded in her mercantile marine which could. In a
short time. be converted into a formidable fleet OF
armed cruisers. swift and dangerous vessels which
would deal destruction vessels OF the mercantile
marine OF any power with which she may be at war.
Why. therefore, should not this be made hitting OPP
portunity for the beginning Of a spirited policy
by the Government OF the United States with regard
TO its Navy? Set apart OF money say not
less than 10000 900 annually. for at least ten years
for the building OF such additional vessels TO tho
Navy would prove the most effective for naval
warfare. The Government should also endeavor to
develop the mercantile marine Of the country. by
encouraging the building. by private enterprise. Of
vessels capable Of being converted into arm.
cruisers. and. Ike the Government Of Great Britain
pay to the OF such vessels for the privilege
appropriating them In time OF such sums Of
money may he mutually agreed upon. So far |
am there at present only few vessels o.!
this class in the American mercantile marine viz /:
The Ne"- ork. the Paris the St. Louis and the ST
Paul. These vessels certainly capable of being
made effective commerce dostroyers. and they are
Il credit to the company which owns them would
mention that it used to he a common saying the
9TH eid NJ no "A Ann
pany could successfully compete with its English
rivals in the Atlantic trade. II Is to be hoped that
the company referred To- will prove the falacy OF this
assertion and that 1t will meet with such success a.
Will require the building In the future OF four or
more additional vessels Of the type OF those abov,
named Every effort that IL possible IL being made
by It's two powerful Liverpool rivals assisted by the
local authority at that port to divert The passenger
traffic from southampton to Liverpool and thus
bring disaster upon the American company. When
it Is remembered that great majority Of the pas
sengers travelling to and fro across tho Atlantic
Americans no such catastrophe possibly happen
to the said company II it is properly patronized by
the people OF the country and IL will indeed he sad
day for American patriotism when they fail to do
this
How humiliatng it must surely be to the patriotic
thinking American when he the endless re-
sources of his country being carried from his
own shores places beyond the sea by vessels flying
an alien flag 1t certainly does not encourage within
his bosom any admiration for his country when he
observes the many foreign flags flying tauntingly
before his eyes from vessels in the principal sea
ports of his native land To add to his chagrin If he
will but travel abroad he cannot help but notice how
seldom the flag of his country is to be met with
That II did to be is his sole consolat ton
Had the United States been In possession OF a
powerful navy at the time OF the late Civil War the
Government would have been able to protect the
commerce of the country and prevent the thousands
of of its shipping from being transferred to the
flag of another country. Were the United States to
become involved In war with q nation powerful
on the sea, how much more disastrous to Its COM
merce would be such "A catastrophe at the present
time.
/ think 1t will be admitted that my remarks tend
to show how desirable IL Is that an effort should he
made on the part Of the Government to encourage
the building up Of the merchant marine OF the cOun
try, that its people may at least be able TO say
that ,ae foreign carrying trade OF the United States
Is entirely controlled by vessels flying the flag
of n foreign country
The necessity of the United States being In Dos
session OF an efficient and powerful navy Will be-
come the apparent not only for the protection
of it's commerce. but likewise for the proper
ton OF the numerous ports and places skirtng the
extensive coast line OF the country on the Atlantic
and the Pacific.
Granted that this country has developed by won
derful strides: this great development Ia chiefly
apparent TO its own people When foreign countries
the actual extent OF the growth OF the country
represented upon the In all parts OF the world.
then will the greatness OF the country show Itself