The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-10-21
THE SHIPPING INTEREST.

IEE oHlPHIEG IN ERESI.
1t is 4 thing to be grateful for, that Con
gress had the good sense to appoint q Com
mittcc Of investigation into the affairs of the
sea-going tonnage Of the country, and TO re-
port why it is that the interest withers an(
decays. If the Committee shall only have
the wisdom to expose the root of the trouble
in its report, and Congress be pervatled by
the further good sense to remove the cause OF
the blight there viii be additional reason fo1
thanks
The whole country knows-or at least the
Intelligent and rejecting portion of il docs
that nation situated us this is, never did
and never can be prosperous and safe from
aggression. if ii does not navigate the sen
We might almost as we'll neglect to cultivate
the soil, as to navigate the ocean, Rightly and
intelligcn+ly used, the great oceans that roll
on Tic eastern, western and southern borders
become means of strength to us, rs PATHWAYS
to the great regions and sources of profitable
commerce lying beyond them. Neglected
they invite rivals in peace and enemies in
war to sail to our very doors. The merchant
marine is the progentor and supporter of the
navy in all countries. without which it cannot
exist. Venice obtained naval renovn only
after her commercial Importance was cstab-
liShed. The formidable navy of England
grew from her mercantile marine. France.
as she never has had marked maritime sue
cess by her merchant ships, has always been
inferior with her navy. The neutral FLAG Of
the United States which fattcncd in the carry
ing trade during the wars of Napoleon. pre-
vious to the Orders in Council, really built
up the renowned navy of the war of 1912.
The western people and members of Con-
gress should consider that if the shipping of
the coast states decays, the navy will perish.
and with il witherS the RIGHT arm OF ON, de-
fence in war.
The remedy asked tor is a reduction of the
taxes, both Of importation and internal. upon
the material that enters into the construction
of ships, and an abolition of the heavy an
nual taxes upon the same property. The diff
ference of two-fifths, which is the actual pre-
pondcrancc in favor OF ships built in the
British provinces over those constructed in
the United States, is sufficient commentary
upon the disabilities under which American
ship owners labor. With this enormous load
to carry and overcome, while the foreign
built ship completes with ours abroad and in
our own ports, there is no wonder that the
foreigner grows rich while the American he
comes poor. And the Indifference with which
Congress has listened to and disrcoartled the
complaints on this score, are incredible, Not
only has proper appreciation Of the danger
to the interests Of thHcountry been lacking.
but the burdens have, in the face of those
facts, been actually enlarged. The lately in
creased duty on copper, q prime necessity for
ships, and its consequent rise in price, is a
case in point The Encouragement resulting
from this state Of things is great and wide
spread. The shrewdest shipping merchants
arc disposing Of their tonnage and retiring
from the business as fast as opportunity
offers.
Maine has deeper interest in this needed
reform than any other State. very great
portion Of her wealth has heretofore consisted
in ships and the earnings of ships. Her
coast, climate, productions and population
peculiarly fit her to be, what she not lone
since was-the great ship-building State and
nursery Of seamen. The quality of her ships
is second to none in the world. They are
known and their superiority acknowledged
in all the great marts Of the world Under
the fostering care and enlightened perccp-
tons Of former days, the citizens of Maine
not only built, sailed and proiited by their
own ships, but they actually built largely and
at profit for foreigners. The people of the
State ask only for justice to themselves, to
compel return Of the old time prosperity.
And justice to them is but simple justice to
the rest OF the States. great and vital in
Ierest like this cannot be crippled without af-
fecting all others.