The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-12-14
Farewell to American Shippinu.

elsewhere published from the Annual Re
port of Secretary Boutwell, A sadder
document IN its import, so far as the bus
mess interests of the State of Maine are
concerned, was never given to the public.
heretofore in the darkest hour, some
glimmer of light, some chance Of escape
from impending destruction could be per-
ceiyed The invitation extended by the
Confederate government to corsairs all
over the world to prey on American COM
merce was bad enough; but there was a
chance that here and there q ship might
escape and be saved to her owners. But
this report lays the pail upon the bier of
the great coast industry of Maine, and
shuts out all hope SO long as the author
and his political friends remain in power.
These are the points OF the text
Returns for the fiscal Years 1901 show
that the commerce OF the United States is
passing rapidly into the hands of foreign mer-
chants and shipbuilderS. In the year 1850 near
! ~ seVenty-one per cent. of the foreign com
merce OF the country was in American ships.
! In 1854 it had fallen to forty-six per cent. in
1865 to fortyfour per cent, and in 1871 il is re-
| ported at less than thirty eight per cent.
The use of SAILING vessels and
| steamers built OF wood may be continued sue
cessfuy in the coasting trade the trade with
the British possessions and upon the rivers and
! lakes of the country, but any effort to regain
our former position upon the ocean bv tIrir
| agency must end disastrousy
There have before been partial admis-
sions that shipping was faring badly un-
der the policy of the Administrations II
has been conceded to be sick ana snf
tering, but never before has the official an
nouncement gone forth that it is dead.
| The foundation has been reached at last.
and we know the position of the admins
t'ation by the declaration of the HIGH Off
cial to whose department belong the re-
cords of the industry, and the framing of
the governmental policy concerning it.
The fallacious assertions of the Secreta-
ry that the destruction { the commerce
of this country is owing to the depreda-
tons Of privateers and the increase of
iron ships, have been advanced before.
and repeatedly refuted The shipyards
OF Maine are capable of rebuilding in six
months all the vessels destroyed by the
Alabama and her helpers The argu-
ment that England is absorbing our COM
merce because she can build iron ships
cheaper than they can be produced in the
United States, is fallacious If the argu-
ment is correct one, it applies with equal
force to competition in wooden vessels
And yet it is well known to practical
men that during the whole time in which
we successfully competed with England,
and rivalled her in commerce with wooden
ships, those ships cost more than English
ships did They cost more because of
superior build, better materials, better
accommoda tons and care of crews. But
by greater activity, intelligence and en-
terprise, they secured the preference as
carriers, and made the sea-coast of the
United States the wealthiest portion OF
the country
1t was an unfortunate day for the mar
atlme interest when it was made to bear
the enormous increase, not only of first
cost but of continued taxation which loads
it down to-day. Sails, rigging, iron, cop
per, chains, anchors, provisions, clothing
all and everything which the British
ships gets free of duties, are almost
doubled in cost by government taxation.
The last ship built in Boston cost the own
er dead loss of $4,000. The last
steamer built in New York realized to the
builder a loss of $65,O Such is the
history of American shipping under radi-
cal policy. 1t is strange that the people
of this country should be so slow to learn
the lesson which experience has taught
every maratime nation, and which thew
have been compelled in turn to acknowl-
edge. Venice, Spain, Holland, England
all have had the same experience. The
laws of trade are as fixed and unvarying
as those of gravitation, and can no more
be violated with impunity. More than a
hundred years ago the government Of
Holland was anxious concerning the de-
cay of its commerce. The matter was re.
ferred to committee of the most intelli-
gent merchants of the country, who re.
piled in memoir addressed to the Stadt-
holder, William Fourth, Prince of Orange
1t is there stated that.
"The oppressive taxes, which have, under
various denominations, been imposed on trade
must be be placed at the head of all the causes
that have co-operated to the prejudice and dis
couragement of commerce; and it NAV Justly
be said, that it can only be attributed to these
taxes that the trade of this country has been d.
verted out of its channel, and transferred to our
neighbours, and must daily be still more and
more alienated and shut out from us, unless
the progress thereof be stopt by some quick and
effectua remedy. Nor is it difficult to see, from
these observations, that the same can be effect
ed by no other means than a dminution of all
duties"
The policy was at once changed, and
to-day the Netherlands have most pros
porous mercantile marine.
When Mr.. Boutwell, asserts that Eng
land, with her present free trade policy,
can build iron ships cheaper than can be
done in this country with enormous pro-
lection, he cuts the throat of his high
tariff arguments. The difficulty is that
the whole policy of the government is
built upon foundation that is proved to
be rotten and disastrous by every nation
that has tried it. 1t ignores all the les
sons of experience and history, and sins
against light. We don't know that any,
thing will awaken the people of New
England to sense Of the persistent wick