The sun., 1900-05-09
rBE oREArER AnsRICA.
Hsw Congress Can Iassrs II sse NV
Seriously Retard the Dsvslepm


Hsw Censrsss Can Iassrs II sne nov
Seriously Rstard the Dsvslspnen'.
To THE EDITOR or THE SuS-S~; five suo
jects are now before Congress. the promp' ~.
satisfactory disposition Of which means -.
deal to our maritime growth and power .,
are First, the defeat OF the Hay-faum.o'o'o
Treaty; secondly. the passage OF "on'o
Doctrine Canal bill thirdly. the enacttnen' "
the Frye Shipping bill: fourthly. law "n'."
will under satisfactory conditions insure no
laying OF the transpacinc cable ano' n,'niy.
the Immediate passage, without conn'c.'ns
amendments. Of the Naval Appropriation o''.
To this list might be added the maintenance OF
n military force ADEQUATE to care for our ne"
and valuable coast Notifications. but the hrs'
five arc ul,r,.necessi,ies in the light OF our iu-
ture sea power. -
The Hav-Pauncefote Treaty. like dereiict
ON ths OCEAN "a menace TO our maritime In
teres,s Und., n. nrovs,ons the Monroe Doc
trine is set aside by an invitation TO all Europe
ito beln ia keop tho canal neutral at all times y
II Is self-evident that II we have the right 70
extend mi. invitation we have the right to
withhold the special benefits. or any part vi
them. for ourselves, n wo so desire
In an article published In tho Nst"' Ame''ed"
Reper Of February. 1881. ten. urah'' a''er
carefully reviewing the successive step" ~mch
had resulted In the Maritime Canal concession.
firmly said: I'm accordance with tne carry anu
later policy Of the Government. In oDeo'ehce 70
the often-expressed will Of the American people.
with due regard to our national dignity ana
power, with watchfnl care for the safetv ana
prosperity OF our interests and Industries on
this continent. and with a determination TO
guard against even the first approach OF rival
powers, whether friendly or hostile. on these
shores I commend an American canal. on
American soil, 10 the American people
No argument has vet been advanced In favor
OF the Hay -Pauncefote Treaty which would
not the more forcibly act as deterrent TO its
ratification Our national proclivities nre Tor
pence, TOO often sitting necessary military and
naval prepara tions br the cry OF "jngo'sm.
but let ns not err in admitting the wolves of
Europe 10 our shecpfold bv the ratification OF
such trenty.
Following the rejection Of the Hay-Paunce-
fote Treaty. should come an act authorizing and
directing the President 10 take the initial STEPS
toward the construction OF the transsthmian
canal. preferably to be in accord with the
recommendations of the present Canal Routes
Commission. IN act which shall reassert the doc
trine Of Monroe which, ms Secretary Root has
declared, I'VE will fight TO maintain"
Even though so near the close of the Congress
session. the Frye Shipping bill should be passed.
That n nation Of such great resources as ours
should rely almost entirely upon other powers
for her carving trade is n national disgrace,
and the only logical method OF rehabilitating
our merchant marine Is in the provisions Of this
act Free ships" will not help our own ship
builders, ms the low wages Of England and Ger
many would mean the purchase OF our ships
from these countries While further. the vnst
difference between the cost OF maintaining
American and foreign ships would necessitate
subsidies 10 mid in their maintenance. On the
other hand. every penny expended In our own
domain means n benefit to American labor, nm
impetus TO American capital. and added glory to
our countrv's flag
The fight for this bin and against II Is only the
old battle OF protection against free trade The
benefits which have accrued 10 the United
States ns a whole from the operation OF protec-
tive tnrirs, however. are sufficient proof OF the
value Of the Frye bill In that future day when
this nation shall have severed the barrier be-
tween the Caribbean and the Pacific. there
will flow from our Atlantic Gulf and Pacific
shores an interminGlng stream Of commerce
which will far outrival the best davs OF the
American clipper ships; the wheat. fruits and
lumber ot the Pacific slope. the cotton andsuRar
Of the South. the grain and meatot the central
States the varied manufactures Of the Eastern
industrial centres combined with the products
of our Atlantic and Pacific islands, will
be spread over all the globe with
comp'ct. nass of which at the pres
ont We have no conception To such
part Of this commercial stream a. has its termini
within our own possessions. We NAV apply our
own coasting laws. but while for our trade with
foreign countries Manila may serve rs good
distributing point We must be prepared 10
meet sharp competition from the European
nations
The need Of a 'ranspacn cable and tho
immediate enlargement Of our Navy are aNio-
matte The dictates Of commerce and national
union require the former: the preservation Of
our national dignity necesstates the latter.
VIII this Congress- throwing aside its oppor-
tnnites relegate 20 some future session.
those duties7 Passed now, those measures
would hasten our maritime and national ad-
yarc,mcnt, but neglected now, that develop
ment may be hnmpered and retarded for
many years JAMES " TERRY.
NFvpIRGU Y Y Nav