The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-23
LAWSON TAFT.
Eminent English Sur
geon Points a
Remedy
FOR OCEANS PERILS
Wireless Telegraphy a Sub
stitute for Siren and
Lighthouse.

There are indications already, that a
great many people are attaching too
much hope and expectation for the
amelioration and material improvement
of ireland. to the workings of the coun-
ty councils act recently passed by the
British parliament, the first fruits Of
which have just been seen in the re-
suits of the election of the members of
the newly-organiz bodies. 1t is quite
true that the act is an undoubted boon
for the Irish people, in so far as it will
give them q great lift along the road
towards national elf-government and
school them in advance for the respon-
sibilities which national self-govern-
ment will bring in it's train. But aside
from the political and social aspects
of the new situation. there is little in
it to warrant any sanguine forecast
ing of the immediate future.
Ireland has been drained through her
every pore so long and so continuously
by famine, by crop failures, by emil
grafton, by the eXactions of an infa-
will take a clear generation of good
and progressive administration Of her
internal affairs to restore her to any
thing like the position she held before
the world a century ago. 1t is graft
fying to note a decrease in the emf
grafton returns; no brighter augury OF
the coming of a better day could be
looked for. 1t is also pleasing tolearn OF
the quiet, orderly, self -containedmanner
raanvalp
bore themselves during the recent hot
ly contested, and exciting elections. But
there is something more wanted. Ire
land needs now more than anything
else, a revival of her industrial ener-
gy and activity.
Factories and mechanical shops are
what Ireland stands most in need OF
at the present day. She must no longer
depend on agriculture as her chief
support if she would win back her ma
terial prosperity. Foreign competition
level that the native farmer has but
small margin to work on and he sees
his cattle and his produce go in the
market at rates that provide little, II
ANYTHING, more than a bare existence
for himself and his family. So long
as the British and Irish ports are
thrown wide open to the world by the
lever Of free trade, there will be no
cessation of this competition which is
fast spelling ruin for the native agrl-
culturists on both sides of st. George s
channel The greatest good for the
greatest number is all very well for the
economic professor, but the farmer on
the other side ruefully counts himself
among the lesser number as the result
Of free trade.
The London press is fairly mum
dated with letters Ito the editor"
since the fearful disaster to the Chan
mel Island steamer Stella, a few weeks
ago. The management of the owners
of the boat is severely criticized, but
most of all, the unfortunate captain
who went down with the wreck, is be-
rated right and left for his reckless
conduct in running his ship full speed
through a dense bank of fog in order
ito make time"
Nothing fails like failure. If the
hapless Capt. Reeks had only made
the island of Guernsey all we'll and
half-hour ahead of the boat of the
rival company, with which he is now
said to have been racing, how proud
and delighted the passengers would
have beeni How the cheers of triumph
and defiance would have rung out over
the harbor as the beaten boat sailed
into her mooringsl Capt. Reeks would
have been the "jolliest fellow that ever
sailed the seas; ''the bravest and
most able captain that ever walked a
bridge" and all the fair and gallant
holiday makers would be so profuse
in their protestations that they never,
never, never would cross the channel
with any captain but Capt Reeks.
Poor Capt. Reeksl He only did as
scores of others like him and with
similar responsibility are doing every
day, and have been VIGOROUSLY for
-disregarding the dictates of
caution and prudence. throwing to the
winds the rules of the road at sea,
running their ponderous ships like ex-
press trains. wether it be sunshine or
fog, and all to break the record" if
only by a minute, in a voyage of 5000
miles!
Some years ago, a committee of the
British parliament, sitting on this very
subject Of the rapid steaming Of ships
through fog, called before it some Of
tle ablest and most experienced cap
tains Of the merchant marine. Among
the witnesses that testified before the
committee was one Of the most prom
inent commanders that crosses the At
lartic today. In the course of his tes-
timonv he was asked wat he would