New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-09
BROTUER-IS-LAW CASEY,
A Ray of HMe.

II is encouraging 10 that the Iolil-
mittee OF Commerce hav6s0kpressed de-
sire for information on the means to- I'M
proving the depressed condition OF cur Iuer-
camille marine. 1t would have been much
more statesInaike to have acquired sltth i'll
formation before they issued their report
1t might have induced action more Ill ac-
cordance with the real facts Of the case and
established a policy Ginning with the intel
ligence of the age and conducive to the
prosperity of one OF the most Important in
tcrests of the country. II is quite depress
Ing to note the character Of the vessels
lying at our wharves. Excepting on coast
ing craft, the American flag is rarely to be
observed. Where one is found Loading for
abroad, a dozen foreigners can be counted,
and mostly Of the largest class. And this
is called encouraging home industry. We
are forbidden to buy ships abroad, on
the ground that it would compete with
the native builder. although there is not
q builder III the country who would under
take to turn ont a ship at a price that
would render it profitable to sail her.
The assertion that the policy adopted by
Congress is for the benefit CT American ship
builders, is too shallow for any one 10
believe Why. during al these years Of
protection, have not our s.!ipbulders taken
advantage Of it! Why does "A silence as OF
death reign over the ship wards in this city
trade to employ hosts OF vessels. and we
have. Heaven knows. lots of protection.
The answer is easy-the reason palpablc to
every one. 1t is simply because they can
not compete with the foreigner.
The policy of refusing to re-establsh our
commerce by buying fo,eign-built craft does
no injury to the foreign sh.pbuilder. as
many short-sighted people suppose. While
we have any foreign commerce il Is a
H,,fv
ing them is to adopt the Chinese policy OF
Ben Butler-raise his wall OF IRE" between
ourselves and all outside barbalians. That
would prevent the graSpng foreigners
maxim. fortunes out OF orr commerce, but
whether we should then be any better of is
more than questionable, and concerning
which the Massachusetts Scion failed to
throw any light.
Neither do the British shipowners desire
any change in orr policy. This fear is that
the very gradual progress OF enlightenment
in Congress will at least enable our lcgiSla
tors 70 discern the truth If {. free policy
in ships were adopted the foreign ship
owners would lose great portion of their
business. which our shipowners would gain
The British shipbuilders have every reason
to feel perfectly easy about the matter
Even should the materials be admitted here
free, the expense of construction would be
the Clyde as to preclude any chance of
competing with them, even if il vast reduc-
ton in our internal revenue taxation was
to be made. AS there is not the least prob
ability that the reduction of taxation would
ever reduce the pay of our mechanics to the
low standard of those of Scotland, and thus
enable our builders to compete with them.
they will retain possession of the field. And
no American could wish it otherwise. if
competition can only be secured by rcduc-
ing our mechanics to the starvation pay OF
the European workmen.
To re establish our commerce, we must
get our ships in the cheapest market. This
would give employment to {; large number
of ship builders in repairing. to ship chand
lers. sail makers, to insurers and thousands
of others dependent on ship owning. and
give employment to our fast disappearing
shp-masters and sailors, who are obliged to
find under foreign flags that employment
denied them under their own.
There is reason to hope that the next SEES
sion of Congress Will give evidence that the
enlightenment desired has been furnished
our benighted legislators and fructitied.
Common sense demands that the present
policy of Congress should be ignored, which
simply Expresses those whom it pretends to
protect, and benefits those against whom it
was intended to operate.-Ne,o York Com
focrciuL iGrerTscr