The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-16
The Mereh,n, M M.,ln., !. W.. NoW.

them. 4, 3tta n sy.ii
The Merehan, Matine's Value Now.
The news OF the completion OF the
purchase OF the four grea; ocean grey
hounds, tlf st. Paul. the st. Louis, tic
Paris and The New York, Will be hailed
With considerable satisfaction. Their
conversion into men.of-war will pro-
coed Immediately. These splendid
American liners are among the greatest
on the sea and arc famous for their
speed. This and other purchases Of
merchant ships under tho subsidy act
are adding great strength to our naval
equipment, which Is already greatly au.
perlorNto that OF Spain.
This manner Of building up the navy
In time OF srca. emergency calls at.
tansion to q phase OF the question which
Is worth considering. It Is that while
the navy Is thus being Increased, II Is
donsa the expense OF the merchant ma
rine OF tho United States. which Is limit
ed. The baltimore American. in com-
mentlng on this matter. says that when
the war Is over the merchant ships that
are being purchased viii SO back 10
their owners. but that a number ot their,
VIII undergo such radical changes to ut
them for the navy that they will notibei
desirable for commercial purposes. The
merchant marine, which, above all IN
terests, should be fos.ered, has thus be.
come the victim of war crisis. our
Baltimore contemporary continues:
or course, II there Is to be war, It is ex-.
ceedlngly fortunate thta there IS a NOR.
chant marine TO draw upon. and a matter
OF humiliation that It Is not larger and of,
more service to the nation. But Congress
VIII take notice that the American imcr-s
chant marine Is at this moment horg de
combat. There Is scarcely a good ship left
In IT. The Paris and tho ST. Louis were.
taken yeterday. and Will soon be full
riggcd cruisers. Whether there be war or
not. Congress Will have something else 70,
think about, and 1t may be well for It to,
give some attention TO that neglected.
plank in the Republican platform which
promises the restoration Of the 3Amerlcarl
merchant marine. Not only is the Repub1
Its platform, but the principle embodied III
that document was most cordially endorsed
blythe representatives OF the party during
the campaign. from the President to thtI
humblest congressman.
* The pledge on the Republican plat
form for the restoration OF the merchant;
marine referred to here, is the plank en-
dofsins Senator Elkins' proposition that
discriminating duties shall be placed on
all imports brought to the United Stateg
in Other than American vessels. During.
the. campaign this principle was cordial
~ supported by all Republican leaders
and was farorably received by. the ,peo.E
pie The American Is right. in. regarding
:he. presen. fine az proper one 10; di4
rect the attention OF Congress to the
value of merchant marine, and the
mathoI OF securing one which is so easy
as the one contained in what is general
ly. known as the Elkins bill.
The American also correctly, says that
".she principle has already been enforced
by the greatest statesmen In America
and its enforcement resulted in The
greatest merchant marine on the GLOBE
srea:er eyenstl,ln that OF Great Britain
Congress 9l,as passed a Law for Its en7
foreement.s'E
y This iatserS Statement: refers 10 the
famous twenty-secona section OF the
DinGley tariff law, which, while 1t did !
not 20 far. embraced :he principle. It
Is generally understood that the fact
shat the lar. has remained a dead letter
Is due to the influence of the Canadian
Pacific railroad The point is made
thas in order that the policy. which was
pledged in the platform OF the party in;
power may be enforced, 1t Is only neces-5
sary for Congress to pass a resolution!
This is atimely suggestion. Congress
Is just now having a gaod objecs, lesson
taught ii iE the necessity and the wis
dom. OF fostering the merchant marine
and i. Is one which Is not likely 10 be
lost. When emergencies like the, pres.
ent come, their lessons come with them!