Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-26

z f the damage Raphael semmes did
90 the commerce Of the United
states could bee measured by tine
value of the ships De burned and
the cargoes he destroyed. five or seven
or ten millions OF dollars would cover
H. But that only Was part "a very
small plrt. Of the total cost. cost that
grows greater and greater each year.
for the damage semmes did lived after
him. He more than any other ono
man paralyzed she occan-carryins
trade OF the nation. Primarily he
hurt the north. Today the south, too,
suffers
Before the civil war the Stars and
Stripes were known in every sea ana
I'm every harbor. Next 20 Great Brit
ain the United states had the largest
share OF the commerce Of the world,
and it seemed only "a question OF umt'
and not a long time, either when this
country would rank first. Today Amer
ica. the greatest nation in the world.
commands no sea traffic except that
between its own ports, and 10 COM
lnauds that only because the ships oI
other countries are excluded from
sharing I'm the coastwise business. 9th
en- agencies have contributed 90 the
long-continued paralysis but the nr7t
great blow the one that brought the
stagnation that led 20 ruin, was struck
by semmoa.
Halter OF YANKEES.
An odd man was Raphael semmes.
IIHffIuI.
mind I'm International and admiralty
law ne probably was as well Nersed as
any officer lon any OF the navics Of tho
world He was a bit ot scientist too,
and natural phenomena were On iascl-
mating study for him The sea, the
tides. the winds uniplded wonders @"
him that other mariners never dreamt
of. he could spend hours absorbed
in contemplating the chemical cnaHs'
ia ID drop of sea- water, ana hc uD-
lighted iu writing reports of his me-
neurological observations. From the
calm philosophy OF nature hc could
turn without batting am eyolaah 60 the
pursuit OF "a gallant clipper ship ana
after taking of the crow of Ode doomed
vessel and making bonfire ot the
ship and cargo he could return to OBJ
serve the drop of sea water ur 90 watch
the work OF the queer little creatures
that build the coral beds that line SO
much OF the ocean floor.
And how he hated Yankee 9TH"
Yankee" he is on record as declaring.
els % remarkable specimen of the genus
homo lie ls az once duck ANA "a
chicken. and takes To- the water or the
land with equal facility Providence
has certainly designed him for some
useful purpose. BE is ambitious. rest
less. scheming, energetic, and has no
announcement moral nature 90 restrain
him from the pursuit of his Interests,
be the path 90 those never $50 crooked.
In the development OF material wealth
he is unsurpassed, and perhaps this a.
his mission ON this continent of ours.
But he is like the beaver. Doe works from
instinct. and is so avid OF gain that
he has mo- time to- enjoy the wealth d.,
produces Some malicious demon seems
20 be- goadIug him Ou boa spite ut him
self 10 continuous and eShlusting exc
crtion, which consigus him Co.. the tomb
before his time, leaving pile of uu-
touched wealth behind him.
Not so bad "a picture OF one type az
the New Highlander but Semmos. iu
his contempt Tor the whole tribe. could
see mo- virtue foo any Puritan" AIS he
called the Down Easter. but his scI-
manship Hc aid pay tribute Co him
as "a great man with q boat, and lc
did pay tribute Co the beauty and the
speed Of puritan built vessels
SOME NORTHERN PATRIOTS
No wonder he had q contempt for
the business morals of New Workers
enc New Englandcrs. He resigned
hs commander In the United states
navy on Feb rs, 1861, and at once pros
ceeded 20 Montgomery Ala. and Of
fered his services 90 tho Coufcderacy
A little later he was sent north boy
jefferson Davis. and in New York. Com
necticut and Massachusetts Dee uur,
chased large quantities OF powder. cam
non and Other munitions OF war foi
the Confedcracy. Manufacturers not
only were willing but anxious 90 dea
with him. No qualms of patriotism
troubled them when II came 20 trad,
ing They had fun knowledge of hi.
mission They had him as gue.
in their homes and they Fixed up secrc
ciphers by which he could communl
cate with them by telegraph. In ad
dition 10 the large amount of war sun
piles that he purchased outright b.
contracted ion machinery Tor rinni
cannon, and the contractors agreed {,
send 10 the south the skilled workmei
necessary to put the machinery In oper