The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-09
FREE TRADE IN SHIPS.
From the ". Y. World.

ME 1hADE LIN Ol1lEC.
From the " Y. World.
The prompt movement made in Congress
by Mr.. Cox for such an alteration of our nav
igation laws as will permit American ship
owners to purchase foreign vessels Will be in
dorsed by his immediate constituents in this
city and by intelligent men throughout this
State. Our canals, the chief source of our
State revenues, have suffered during the past
season by the refusal of Congress to adopt
General Grants recommendation at the close
of the last session, to allow American regis
ters to German aud French vessels shut up
IN our ports by the outbreak of the war
There was no encouragement to send Western
grain through the canals to New York. when
there were no adequate facilities for shipping
it to Europe. The German and French ship
ping was under virtual blockade, aud the
consequent advance in the price of ocean
freights thwarted the expected effect of low
canal tolls. Our Democratic Legisla-
ture and Canal Board did not an
last spring, they adopted low toll sheet with
view to break down competition and retain
the business of the State canals The in
creased price of ocean freights has counter
vailed the reduction of canal tolls: au evil
which would have been avoided if Congress
ha permitteds our citizens to purchase the
ships thrown ont of use by the war. Pre-
NtSuo " tIO Wei, buo great O8rnll IlneS had
almost monopoly of the immigrant passen-
ger business; and in their return VOYAGES
they took out heavy cargoes of grain at
cheap rates. When their trips were stopped
freights rose, aud the diversion of the grain
trade through the st. Lawrence river (Which
1t was the purpose of our low canal tolls
to prevent, went on without abatement If
we had had our old supply of American
shipping, the New York State canals and New
HfL aIfx hprr al L,,,,
which has thus been turned into foreign
channels.
But although Mr.. Cox faithfully represents
the views and interests of his constituents
we are not sanguine that the measure he ad-
vocates will have any success. There is
ajority of ow-minded protectionists i'm
both houses of Congress; and General Grant
has gone over, in his annual message, to the
protectionist side. Knowing the composition
OF this Congress, we have not the slightest
faith that 1t will authorize free trade in ships
But MIR. Cox is nevertheless doing q good
service in calling attention to the subject.
The people need to be educated, and he is in
position where he can reach the public
mind. The deplorable condition of our
commerce will be discussed at this session.
and we trust that the Democratic members.
by their speeches and votes, will make a
record that will tell upon public opinion.
III.
Grant, although he warmly recommended
purchase of the German steamers at the
outbreak OF the war. In a previous special
message, last winter, he urged the passage
OF MIR. Lynch's foolish BILL and he can easily
retreat from his summer recommendation on
the ground that it only related to passing
emergency of an exceptional character and
did not commit him to the broad principle
of free trade in ships advocated by MIR. Cox.
fhn
at subsidies to American ship builders; but
his language is SO vague and vacillating that
nobody can tell what he means or whsther
he means anything. The great measure of
free trade in ships will finally be carried by
the Democratic party over the resolute oppo-
sition of all the protectionists.
Laying the ship builders out of view, it is
too evident for denial that free trade in yes
sells would benefit our ship-0oHerS. Their
only chance of getting any business depends
upon their charging no more for freights than
their foreign competitors. But so long as
these rivals can procure vessels at half cost
competition is hopeless. Free trade in ships
would relieve American navigation from this
heavy handicap and enable our ship-owners
to compete with their rivals on equal terms.
But while their ships cost double, their busi-
ness will be taken. away from them by un-
derbiddiDg foreigners aud Americans must
mourn over their departed commerce, once
the pride and boast of the nation. 1t is
obvious that free trade in ships would give
us back all we have lost except the activity
of our shipyards. At present, we lose 60M
the profits of shipbuildlng and the profits
of navigation. 1t is better to rescue
one than to be permanently deprived of
both; and of the two the navigation interest
is infinitely the more important. The profits
of building ships are a bagatele compared
with the profits OF sailing them. The cost of
ship is paid out of its subsequent earnings
and besides replacing the capital invested in
its purchase, and employing, before tits worn
out, a hundred-fold more labor than was
needed for its construction, it generally en-
riches the owner when he can compete with
rivals on equal terms. What the whole ma
tion is now deploring is not the fact that we
have few ships on the stocks, but that our
flag has nearly disappeared from the osean;
although, ten years ago, we were almost
neck-and-neck with Great Britain 10 the race
for commercial supremacy, and but for the
war we should by this time have distanced all
rivalship and have been the first maritime
nation on the globe. The proud song of
Britannia's poet,
'Her march Is on the mountain wave
Herhome is on the Deep
would have belonged to us, and no longer to
the rival We had outstripped. But instead