The Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1874.

Evening Star, Issue 3635, 16 October 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1874.

The trial of Charles Dodd, who was yesterday convicted of manslaughter, has brought to light practices ip the merchant service of the United States that, apart from such disclosures, could scarcely have been Credited. Nothing is plainer than that strict discipline and prompt obedience to orders are essential to the safe navigation of vessels at sea, and that these cannot be preserved without due respect being paid to the officers in command. There will, of necessity, be occasional difficulty in securing that respect. A sailor’s life before the mast is not the best calculated to polish and refine manners, although it is creditable to British seamen that, as a rule, they are a wellbehaved, order-loving, cheerful class of men while on board ship; smart and strict in attention to their duties, and ready at all times to put forth their energies when required. We believe it may be said of them, as of most other human beings, they are willing and ready to serve good masters. Some fifty years ago the merchant navy of Great Britain was looked upon with horror by seamen, and they used to prefer employment in that of the United States. It was no wonderi The horrible descriptions of sea life to be found in such works as Smollet s, were too nearly like the reality, even of the state of things half a century ago. The generality of captains—for there were exceptions, were course—vulgar, and ignorant; they had slight regard for the cohifort of the crew, whom they looked upon as little

better than j*ope-pulling machines set dxj. motion at their own will; and they spoke of them in tones and language that the roughest bullock-driver would not use to his cattle. Things might be better m the British,.,service ' tlraii they areg at but . * * difference in that resp&pE As vessels \ improved, in eqliipV ment .and • size, a different glass of officers has grown up. Ships and cargoes are more valuable, and voyages must be made more quickly. In order to this higher education is necessary. Tho necessity for mental cultivation has brought with it the usual accompaniment—a deeper feeling of responsibility, and a sense of the duty of man to man. While, therefore, there must be the same absolute rule on board the vessel, it is enforced in a manner less calculated to rouse rebellious feelings in those subjected to it. The coarse language and wanton cruelty that once disgraced all the navies of the world still linger, apparently, in the American! merchaut service. We trust the One<|o is exceptional; but the evidence adduced, and the doings on board of her, lead to the conclusion that the tones and words in which the men were addressed, and the cruel expedients to enforce respect and obedience are too common to excite surprise—that they are, in fact, the colloquial habit of the officers and seamen. * It does not appear to us that the recklessness of human life, shown in the manner in which the poor victim was exposed to the risk of drowriing, and the cruel treatment to which he was subjected prior to the close of the tragedy, were looked upon as anything special or uncommon. The provocation was not sufficient to justify even the slightest punishment; especially when it was invited by the language used towards Green. There was not one modifying circumstance excepting that of custom, and it is well that the custom ; of brutally abusing able seamen has been so thoroughly exposed, that it is to be hoped this sad affair will rouse public attention to it in the United States. Admitting that considerable latitude is necessary in the powers of men in command of vessels, we do not see that they should have any right to use means of coei’cion beyond the powers of magistrates to exercise on shore. The mere fact of being on board a ship does not deprive the seamen of their rights of citizenship, nor free commanders from responsibility. That the men have signed articles binds them to a faithful fulfilment of their duties; but those articles do not bind them to submission to such wanton cruelty as was inflicted on Green. Nothing less than actual mutiny ought to be held to justify a blow; but in his case he was maltreated and beaten, if not through pure wantonness, at least in retaliation for using language of the same disgusting character as was used toward himself. • In the British army and navy all officers are required to speak courteously to the men they command, and if they forget themselves they have to answer for the breach of discipline. The same binding regulations cannot be adopted in the merchant service, for in it the officers must do voluntarily what those in the navy are compelled to do. The rule has acted satisfactorily in Her Majesty’s service: discipline is not relaxed, and deferential respect is paid by the seamen to their officers. We trust that the evidence of the state of affairs consequent upon a breach of mutual courtesy on board the Oneco will convince all seamen that it produced its natural consequence: there was no cordiality. The captain and Lis officers did not pull together; the officers and the men could not agree; instead of goodwill there was brooding malice j the voyage instead of being one of comfort was one of anarchy j everyone seems to have hated his neighbor * and one cannot read the evidence without a conviction that, though the worst is told — the death of Green— much was concealed that would not have been favorable to the prestige of the United States' Merchant Navy.