The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-05-31
FOR MASTERY OF THE SEAS.

FOR MASTERY OF THE SEAS.
America" says the London Tele-
graph, has superseded our agriculture,
beaten our. coal output, left us far be-
hind in 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 we'll as mirth-
provoking about the scare this Ameri-
can fnancier has started in England
1t takes tremendous force, ordinarily,
to move the typical Englishman from
I 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 sub
| jeCt. But there is no doubling the fact
that Johnny Bull is now filled with dis
may over what he conceiVes 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 it had
become a foregone conclusion that,
having made the start, we shall go
right along without difficulty and Sc
cure supremacy in the worlds carry
| ing trade. Many of 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 that 1t will be 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 profitably employ both
in the carrying trade. Accordingly, 1t
| has made large purchases of British
steamers at prices which create a glow
of satisfaction to the shareholders.
Consequently the glory of England has
departed; why, in the name of common
sense. why? Are the lucky shareholders
of the Leylands. perhaps, going to walk
about with bags of gold or use Mr..
\ Morgan's checks to scribble love let
tiers? If they can build good steamers
and manage steamers well and make
a 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 fleet and
making profit out of a new, improved
lconcern?
There is plenty of iron left there are
crowds of sailors and dozens of compe-
tent captains, and the Leyands 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
fthey, afraid when it is in one? You
forget. they; retort, that Congress will
isubsidize, 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
n business which cannot live without
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.
1t 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
1t is to compete with her ships that
great line has been projected by the
Great Northern Railroad. For this line
four steamers OF 900 tons are now un-
der construction. and to handle the
goods which they will carry, the Great
Northern Is building hundreds OF steel
freight cars OF special capacity. An
idea OF the huge size OF these ships may
perhaps be gained In the statement that
II will take twenty miles of freight
cars to relieve one of them OF her cargo,
%-
Dodger-'T wouldn't be In the shoes
OF that New York clergyman who has
married 3012 couples In his life"
codger-"Why7"
DDlRer-"Juat think what he Will