The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-12
srAns AND STRIPES AFLoAT.

There Is a widespread feeling of hope
fulness respecting the American mer-
chant marine. During the year there have
! occurred several events that have open
ed the eyes of the world-of Americans
! hardly less than others-to the powers
and possibilities of the United States as
a maritime nation Forty or fifty years
ago there was no question Of the prestige
OF our merchant navy, but for thirty years
! the Stars and Stripes have cut poor
figure in the commerce of the nations
We had, indeed almost reached the con-
clusion among ourselves that some other
nations were superior to us in the mat
ter of building and sailing ships, and we
hopelessly looked on while British, Sean
dinavian. German, and even Spanish ships
took freights from our shores to those Of
our customers.
The feat of the Oregon. however, at
tracted attention to what we can do as
shipbuiders, and the feats of Dewey,
Sampson and Schley illustrated what we
can do in the way of handling first-class
ships after we have built them. Along the
full construction of magnificent vessels for
the American transatlantic line, and the
successful operation of those ships. These
things have shown us, and others, our
powers.
During the past commercial year ac
cordIng to carefully compiled statistics and
comparisons, New York has forged ahead
of London as an import and export city,
and Philadelphia has gone ahead of Liv-
erpool as a wheat port. AS a conse-
quence of the war We have acquired
Porto Rico and shall acquire the Philip
pine Islands besides predominating in
huence in Cuba. During the year also
we have acquired Hawaii. These new
fields of trade will open up new bus.-
ness for American ships. These facts in
dictate our opportunities.
Iron and steel are now produced and
sold in this country cheaper than in any
other. Andrew Carnegie says he can fur
nish shlpbuilding iron and steel for con-
sideraby less money than any manufac-
turing establishment in Europe can sup
ply similar materials. Mr.. Cramp of Phil
adelphia has lately secured several con-
tracts from foreign governments, In com
petition, for building great warships. He
says that he can build better merchant
ships than foreign makers for the same
amount of money that they charge, or
less. Mr.. Griscom, a leading ship own
er, says the United States have now
splendid opportunity to force to the front
in the carrying trade, and that he expects
to see them do 1t. Englishmen evidently
entertain similar views, for many of them
are trying to get their vessels registered
under the Hawaiian laws, so that when
Hawaii formally becomes a part of the
United States by the PRONUNCIATION of the
system of government adopted by the
Hawaii commission the vessels will come
under the United States flag by virtue of
their Hawaiian registry.
All along the line there is a more buoy
ant feeling than has existed for a num-
Der of years. 1t only remains now to be
seen what the government is going to do
In the matter BY the adoption of a wise
and liberal system of maritime regula~
tons, the American merchant marine
would be stimulated and its growth would
be rapid If, on the other hand, there
should be continued the Anticipated POI
icy which has nearly driven the American
flag from the high seas as deep-sea car
riers, our new territory and our natural
advantages at home would not be sufii-
Client to bring the American merchant ma
riue I'D to the position OccuDied nv IT.
forty years ago.