Washington sentinel., 1898-05-28
Unwarranted Criticism .
Boston HeekN Zranseriek.


trates this better than the criticism
lately passed upon the Hamburg Ameri-
can line. the German steamship COM
pany which, several weeks before the
war was declared, sold two ofits steam
ers, through an English firm, to the
Spanish Campania Transatlantica.
For this the German company is
severely taken to task, and some people
think they are patriotic in showing
a resentment which actually has no
basis in tact.
Now what are the facts concerning
the Hamburg American liner We have
taken pains to ascertain them, and find
that this company arriving at the con-
cuslon that this years passenger busi-
ness would be unsatisfactory on account
OF the political situation and also that
no great Improvement was to be
expected for the following year, because
many tourists would be likely to post
pone their visit to Europe until 1900,
resolved to dispose of, if possible, two
ofits big passenger steamers. These
ships were then. at the beginning of
April, offered to the United States
Govern ment at reasonable prices; the
offer was considered and finally declined,
our Government Off ials declaring that
the ships were not suitable for our
requirements. Alter that a London
firm bid on them. obtained them, il is
stat d, at a larger figure than we could
have had the m tor, and turned them
over to the Spanish line. But even If
they had been sold direct to Spanish
interests, no blame could attach to the
German company. Spain was a worlds
market at that time as much as the
United States, aud before declaration
of war it is asking altogether too much
Of the business corporations of any
country that they shall refuse an excep-
tional bargain, especially af,er offering
us thefirst and best chance. in order to
make us favored nation. Crit cism like
charity, should begin at home. Our
mentors frown upon the entirely busI
nesslIke proceeding Of a foreign company
and have not a word to say in disappro.
baton Of our own manufacturers and
merchants who sold great quantities of
arms, ammunitions, provisions, ETC.,
direct to the Spanish until the lat day
before war was declared, and of the
American steamship lines that tor
wardeo all thisl And what Of the
American mule trust that doubled prices
when the American Government nee ded
mules?
The Hamburg American line has
never been patronized by Americans
because OF any friendship for Germany,
bat simply for the admirable service It
gave to travellers from this country
abroad. ANY who were dissatisfied with
the service have not continued it just to
show good will to the line itself or the
country undtr whose protection It oper-
ates, and having had our pick OF the
! m5 rket before war was declared, II
seems TO be dog-n the he-manger posi-
tion that Spanish interests should be
debarred from purchasing what we
refused.
The relations of American ports and
the American people with the Hamburg
American line have always rested upon
a purely commercial basis, and that
basis has not been in any way aft cted
by what has occurred. There has nevt
been a particle OF sentiment about it.
If we have afforded good terminal faciI'
tiles, It is because we have found it profit.
able to do so. 1t was in the way OF
business and not a matter of courtesy,
and the company has done nothing that
should cause it to forfeit the patronage i!
has enjoyed. 1t is expecting altogether
too much that it should make financial
sacrifices not required by either interna-
tional law or international comfy
The same ignorance of the facts has
dictated the statement repeatedly made,
that the Hamburg American. line has
grown rich on the patronage of Ameri-
can passengers. Even if this were true,
it does not alter the facts as shown
above, but anyone who knows anything
OF the steamship business is aware that
the assertion is ridiculous
No steamship line grows rich on the
patronage OF its passenger boats. The
fast steamers are built and maintained
| % al aAFNiAio~AAlGAlg anu a very GApcL-
sive one 1t is. 1t is fierce competition
that creates the fast passenger boats,
but the freight steamers, whose names
are hardly known to the public at large,
and that come and go unheralded, pro.
vide the greatest part of the means to
maintain the fast passenger service, The
great railroads with their limited express
trains illustrate the same experience.
They are costly advertisement.
The Hamharg American line, as lately
shown in the London shipping paper.
FaiyoIay. is one Oi the gre attest steam
ship companies in the world, with fleet
OF some seventy ocean steamers, with
which over twenty services from Ham.
burg to all parts of the world are main
tanned. The company is thus able to
afford an admirable first class passenger
service on the north Atlantic.
There is a good deal OF business
rivalry among the steamship lines and
this, no doubt, also accounts to some
extent Tor the utterances published
against the Hamburg American Com
panY. The jealousy Of competitors is at
the bottom oft. Let us be fair!