Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-08-08

lean products which may de declared
contraband.
A. Barton Hepburn, president of
the Chase National Bank of New
York city, predicts a big boom for
our industry and the possible restora-
ton of the American merchant ma
rine as result of the general war
abroad. 1t is his opinion that war
will paralyze the industry of Europe
and will force that country to look to
us for staple foodstuffs and other
commodities of life. In the matter of
the restoration of the shipping power
of the United States, owing to the sus-
pension of the foreign n-controlled
steamship lines, he declared it was up
to America to provide the ships in
which to carry food and other sup
plies to Europe. Mr.. Hepburn does
not agree with some others that the
war will be ii short one. He thinks it
will be long drawn out and dis
astrous. 1t is his judgment that the
Powers are in no mood to mediate,
but want to fight it out to the finish.
Discussing the need of American
steamship lines, Senator Boies Pen
rose, in a speech before an associa-
tion of businessmen yesterday, said:
To-day, in the midst of the Euro
pean confiaEratiOn, our commerce
is paralyz ed because we have not
got American vessels to carry the
cargoes. We are impotent to take
advantage of our opportunity.
In our DOaSttul pride, II would be
well to realize that we are depen-
dent upon Great Britain and for
eign vessels to bring Americans
back from Europe to the United
States and to carry American grain
and other products abroad.
There is a growing sentiment
throughout the country that the time
has come to create a real American
merchant marine so that the enor-
nous output of our fields and work
shops may he transported to all parts
of the world under the American flag.
1t may be that such result will be
an important outcome of the great
conflict in Europe.
But there is another side to the eX-
pansion of our trade under present
circumstances. For years there has
Europe a fine equilibrium which made
it impossible for any of those nations
now engaged in war to seriously think
of interfering with the Monroe doc
trine on this continent. They have
frequently sneered at the doctrine and
there are reasons for believing that
on several occasions, had it not been
for the nice balance necessarily main
tanned between the European nations,
Germany or England, and perhaps
others, might have disregarded our
assumed police authority over the
South America, and pushed the eX-
pansion of their colonization schemes.
So the success of any one of these
great Powers in the present war. max
ing it a dominant. power in Europe,
might lead to different attitude to-
ward the United States and it's inter
ests and policies on this continent and
our insular possessions.
For instance, Germany and England
have looked with envious eyes upon
Mexico and the attitude of our gov
ernment during the last few months
toward the Huerta regime has not eX-
cited much enthusiasm among the Eu-
ropean nations. So that any great de-
velopment of our trade and CONNER
cial interests at the expense of these
nations now at war is likely hereafter
to involve the United States in more
delicate situations with one or mara
of these Powers.
1t is in view of such a contingency
that our far-seeing statesmen have
urged and are now urging the main
tenance of a strong and efficient navy
to the end that we shall be able at
all times to defend our interests and
protect our shores against the grasp
ing and greedy nations of the old
world.