The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-08-12
THE DECLINE OF OUR MER
CAMILLE MARINE.

We are indebted to the New o I
| Mercantile Journal for the following
critical observations upon the decline
of our mercantile marine:
"Where are those who eXult in the
imposing display made on paper by
our Navy reports, and who repeat
with childish glee that we have nearly
as many vessels of war rs either
England or France. Even the huge
pay roll of the Navy Department
footing up between 40 and $50 mil
lions per mum exhillirates them, in
the very face of complaining trade
and universal strikes for higher wages.
These good folks estimate q nations
importance and welfare by the degree
in which it is formidable to its neigh
bors, as little boys are apt to esteem
grown men by their size and weight
of muscle. But the very rudiments
of craftsmanship teach us that States
may have fleets and armies in excess,
and, not only in spite thereof, but
for that very reason, may be, intern
ally weak and miserable.
Ten years ago, the pride and boast
of the United States was in mer-
camille marine, which represented u
true position as a great nation of
peace, trading amicably with an the
world, and winning regard and in
flIence by our universal commerce
and our example of unequalled pros
perity. Since then we have dwindled
to a third rate Power, on the sea,
commercially speaking, and u
vaunt of superior naval development
is derided by the British and French
economists who point to a greatly aug
mented and still growing mercantile
marine to justify the increase of their
naval ornaments.
They say : You have squadrons of
warlike steamers, iron-clad monitors
and gunboats, but where is the ocean
commerce that they should protect
Looking around for a reply we be-
holy, alas our shipyards almost emp
ty and our exports borne away from
our own ports in foreign bottoms.
Our Naval Secretary in his report
for 1S66-67, bitterly bewails the con
dition to which our shipping had then
fallen. Twenty years ago." he says,
sit vas believed that, ere this, the
United States would be the first mar
thine power in the World" Instead
of that, however. they lost nearly SO
per cent. OF their foreign shipping
trade in the 6 years following 1851.
In 1850, the tonnage of American
engaged in foreign carrying
trade with our own ports "a 5,921-
2S5. In 1855, it was only 2,943,-
SCI. In 1866, it rose again, to g.
$1,000, and in 1867, was 3,5195O2.
The tonnage of such vessels clear
ed from the United States was $780,
BOA in 1850; 3,O25, 133 in 1865; 81
3S3 ,176 in 1866 and 2,455,O52 in
1867.
The tonnage of foreign shipping en-
tering u ports was in 1860, 1885,
oil in 1866, 1926, 967; in 1866,
|, 41O. 424, and, in 1867, ~4,31S,672.
The tonnage of foreign vessels
cleared was 2,624,OO3 in 1860; 3d.
596, 123 in 1865; aud 4,43S, 384 in
1866 and 4,465, 400 in 1867.
1t may seem that there was some
in our favor, during
1866 and 1867 but not enough to
,ring US up to the standard of growth
n the European maritime service
.
1t is needles to add, hat as the
'ecretary of the Treasury says in the
to which we refer, that the &C
ual destruction of warfare, and sales
through fear to foreign owners, &C
CUNT for this falling off, the difficulty
7ould have commenced to remedy it /,
elf, on a grand scale, at the close Of
ostiIitieS. had IL not heen for our