The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-31
FOR MASTERY OF THE SEAS.

graph, has superseded our agriculture
beaten our coal output, left US far be-
hind ia the production of iron and steel,
and has passed US at last in the vol
ume of exports. She has only COM
menced her onslaught on our carrying
trade, and with these beginnings we
may wonder, If such things are done
In the green tree, what will be done IN
the dry"
The Telegraph, says the Kansas City
Journal, was moved to these remarks
by J. P. Morgan's purchase of the Ley
land line of steamers, and there is
something wonderful. as well as mirth-
provoking about the scare this Ameri-
can financier has started in England.
1t takes a tremendous force, ordinarily,
to move the typical Englishman from
his self-sufficiency. He is vanity in
carnate, and much of the greatness OF
his country is due to the calm egotism
with which he approaches every SUBJ
ject. But there Is no doubling the fact
that Johnny Bull Is now filled with dis
may over what he conceiyes to be an
organized American raid on the carry
ing trade of the world.
In this connection. it may be noted,
says the Journal, that the assurance
held by England with respect to the
impregnable nature of her position up
on the sea, has In some measure been
transplanted to America American
Journals are discussing the Morgan
purchase very much as though 1t had
become a foregone conclusion that.
having made the start, We shall go
right along without difficulty and Sc
cure supfre nfacy In the worlds carry
ing trade Many US do not appre-
ciate the fact that the mere buying up
of line or two of ocean steamers Is
not going to give us the mastery. We
should remember thatrit will be a long
struggle and a hard one, and that the
fright given to England is likely to.
make her redouble her exertions to re-
tain command of the ocean-going trade.
The London Spectator gave expression
to the view in an article from which we.
quote as follows: -
AN American syndicate with large
capital and enormous credit has decid-
ed that it can prof1tably employ both
IN the carrying trade. Accordingly, it
has made large purchases of British
steamers at prices which create glow
Of satisfaction to the shareholders
Consequently the glory of England has
departed; why, in the name Of common
sense, wiiye Afesthe' lucky shareholders
of the Leylands. perhaps, going to- walk
about with bags of gold opsnse Mr..
Morgan's checks to scribble love let
ters? If they cam build good steamers
and manage steamers well and make
profit out of steamers, all of which
must have been true or Mr.. Morgan
would not look for their shares, what
is to stop their building a new feet and
making q profit out of new, improved
concern?
There Is plenty of iron left, there are
crowds of sailors and dozens of compe-
tent captains, and the Leylands share
holders have more money than ever be-
fore. What Is all this weeping that
there will be no room for the British
stuff? But, say the pessimists, Ameri-
can capital is gigantic. Would they
have been afraid If it had been in
twenty hands? And, If not, why are
they afraid when 1t is in one? You
forget, they retort, that Congress will |
subsidize these purchased steamers. So |
does every Government, and that Is one |
OF the main reasons why the English |
beat their competitors at every port in |
subsidy. and would be sure to fail If |
we did not distinguish writer's on ship
ping from shipowners"
And while We may be sure, adds the
Journal. of a hard fight with England |
to regain something of our former |
prominence In the Atlantic Ocean, we
have on hand in the Pacific a contest of |
no mean proportions. In the Iron Age. |
Mr.. Alexander Hume Ford calls our |
attention to the fact that Japan is rap
idly acquiring the supremacy of the |
Western ocean. In her Pacific marine
Japan far excels the United States. In |
the Nippon Yusen Kaisha she has one of |
the finest steamship lines in the world
It maintains one regular line to Lon
don. another to our Pacific Coast, one
to Peru, and others to Australia, India
and the Philippines. At this time Japan
is carrying the most of our commerce
with the Northern Asiatic regions, and
it Is to compete with her ships that a
great line has been projected by the
Great Northern Railroad. For this line
four steamers OF $4,000 tons are now I'M
der construction. and to handle the
goods which they win carry. the Great