St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-06-12
Back TO the Ocean,

The purchase by Mr.. ]. Pierpont Nor
gan of the Leland line of steamers has
frightened Englishmen of imagination
but it is doubtful if even they realize its
full significance. 1t means that America,
after forty years of absorption in affairs
on land, is going back to the sea. 1t
means that the movement which in the
ffties had brought the American mer-
chant marine up to an equality with the
British is to be resumed with all the
tremendous momentum given by our
concentrated capital and twentieth CEN
fury business methods. Americans have
seemed to be land animals so long that
most foreigners have forgotten that we
were ever amphibious. They have as
sumed that we should naturally go on
forever producing goods and hiring for
eign ships to carry them across the sea
for us. But the truth is that Americans
are, and always have been, the most eff
Gent Aquatic race on earth. Whenever
they have had occasion to go to sea they
have distanced all competitors, in COM
MERGE, in war and in sport. 1t has hap
pened to come in their way to control
the navigation of the great lakes, and
they have made their supremacy there
absolute; In colonial times they were
rapidly becoming the builders of the
British marine. In the early part of the
nineteenth century they were bringing
the worlds carrying trade under their
flag. They have given foreigners new
ideas about building and fighting war
ships, and about building and sailing
yachts.
Americans have kept out of the ocean
carrying trade during the past forty
years because they have had more profit
able work to do at home. They have
had vast continent to develop and a
huge and growing protected home mar
ket to supply. They have had nearly
two hundred thousand miles of rail
roads to build. These things have alb
sorbed all their own capital and energy,
and all the capital they could borrow
abroad. They have had no time or
money to waste on the less profitable
ocean carrying trade. But now the
pioneer work in America is DONE the
home market is supplied, the railroads
are built, the foreign capital borrowed
has been paid off, and the enormous
masses of domestic capital are seeking
outlets abroad. What more natural
than that the first point ofattack should
be the nearest one-the shipping trade
that comes to our doors? This is more
promising than any other kind of foreign
trade. When we send ourgoods abroad,
except to England, we have to hoist
them over foreign tariff walls, and these
walls may suddenly be made higher, as
Russia's were the other day. But when
we buy ships we meet foreign COMPETE
ton on equal terms. If we can meet
competition over hostile tariffs, we have
certainly nothing to fear on the open
sea.
1t is customary in England to regard |
British sea power as something colossal,
and unmatchable. The |
truth is that, compared with the Ameri-
can railroad system, it is a very small
affair. II a small part of the capital and |
the teroclous energy heretofore absorbed |
in domestic business be turned upon the
ocean, it will make that marine look like
halt crown, if not like thirty cents.
Heretofore the merchant fleets of the ma
lions have been built up ship by ship.
When American combinations of capital
20 into the business it is natural that
hey should carry American methods
With them and do their buying by whole
sale. 1t we are ready for a merchant
marine we can get one ready made. If
We choose me way again become the
arriers of the world, and the indications
ire that we choose Saturday Evening
Post.