| Show NOr YET A RIVAL I have given England a maritime rival which will sooner or later humble her pride was the joyful exclamation of the first NAPOLEON when he sold Louisiana to the United States At present however we do not appear to be very formidable rivals to England ina maritime WilY and NAIOLLONS prophecy must be fulfilled in the future if fulfilled at all At present Germany so far as her commercial marine is concerned is the only power which in any way threatens to rival England in ocean traffic According to all accounts Germany is fast building up a magnificent fleet of merchant vessels and establishing I lines in every part of the world Her latest is a coasting line for the north sea trade which is in direct opposition to English interests German merchants in foreign ports says the GlobeDemocrat are rapidly taking the business away from commercial men and other nationalities nationali-ties ana thereby insuring freights for vessels ves-sels under the German flag Still if we I dont yet outrival England in foreign commerce merce and not only England but the world then it will be because we neglect our opportunities op-portunities and leave undeveloped our commercial com-mercial resources In respect to this subject we may say that i the remarks which President HAUHISOS made upon it at Birmingham Ala are the most noteworthy utterances which the President has made so far in his tour He said I believe we are now to see a renaissance In American prosperity and tho upbuilding cf an American merchant marnc I believe those southern ports that so favorably Jook out vltli invitations to the states of Central and South America shall send out fleets carrying tho American flag and the products of Alabama to markets of South America Great cheering It seems to mo that whatever we may think of the policy of aiding steamships since every other great nation does it we mast doit or stay out of the business for we have pretty much gone out |
