Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-12-02
THE GOFERNMENTA AID TO SHIP
y TIEDIN(5,

Ii ships arc to be built in this country, at
all, for ocean trade, they must be built more
cheaply. Ii reduction in cost is made, it
must be in the expense OF materials, because
the cost of labor remains fixed Ii materials
are to be cheapened, it must be by the SIM
pie process of RENTING the duty upon them,
If imported, or allowing bounty equal to
the duty, if they are home produced.
This is plain series Of propositions, and
each of them is demonstrable by facts that
cannot be controverted. II brings us to the
point of arguing in favor of such change
of the laws By Congress. as will give this
drawback, or alternative bounty.
In the first place, we can have no Ameri-
can ocean ships under the present laws. We
can therefore have no American sailors, and
captains, accustomed TO the ocean, and ia
miliar with its navigation. In time Of war,
or Of threatened war; we have no great mer-
camille service, from which TO draw our sup
ply of trained seamen. And as we build no
ocean vessels, hut simply the smaller craft
necessary for coasiing and inland trade, we
shall have no intelligent, skilled mechanics,
familiar with the best and most improved
naval workmanship, Great Britain, with
her shipyards always busy, will have thou
sands of skillful artisans, with brains and
muscles trained to the work. If war should
come we would be al sad disadvantage;
or, if war were threatened, we could not, by
sure superiority Of force, take such a position
Of strength, as would ellectualy prevent
bloodshed
For these reasons the Government is
bound to extend the necessary aid, both to
our ship-buiders and shir-owncrs. 1t will
have repayment, over and over, in the in
creased strength and efficiency of its navy
or, conversely, it would suffer irreparable
injury, in that service, il it neglected to give
this aid.
But, again, SO far as a remission of duty
is concerned, that will be no loss to the
Treasury, for if no ships arc built no ma
terials can be imported. And, as TO The
bounty, every cent paid out will return two
fold, in the revival Of our commercial and
ship building interests One ocean steam
ship, only, it is reported in New York pa
per, is upon the stocks in all the many yards
of that large city All the capital formerly
in use there is idle or diverted to other pur
poses, and the men once employed arc
driven into other departments of labor
With proper Governmental encouragement
those, and the other yards all along oul
coast, would be once more busy, and givin.
employment TO thousands of mechanics.
This policy Of drawback on duties I'M
long been pursued ia Great Britain am
France, and il has been one Of the stronges
stimulants to the commercial prosperity o
these countries, 1t would not be desirable
for this country, except when coupled wit
the proposed bounty, for the simple reaso
that, alone, it would discriminate in favo
Of foreign iron and other ship material A
present the iron in The steamers built i
Wilmington, is rolled in this city, by gu
own workmcn. II nothing were done BIT
10 remit the duty on foreign iron. these me
would he idle, but with an equivalent i
bounty, the ship builder will continue t
buy their products, MS he now does.
Hosts Of objections will probably /
invented or imagined against the propose
action Of Congress. But il is Il step demai
dcd by two great interests, now prostrat
under the heel Of foreign competition; an
by the welfare aud advantage OF the natio
at large. 50 far rs the ship owners, Ii
builders, and the manufacturers of materia
arc concerned, we trust They VIII unite, IN
move together in harmony. Should the
show reasonable degree Of unanimity, "
hope to see prompt and satisfactory 7,
Spouse in Congress.