New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-04
STEAMSHIP SUBSIDIES.
IFRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. |

WASHINGTON, Feb. at il to be hoped that the
time If distant when shall establish system Of
special monOpoles in this country whether to oper
ate on the sea or on the land.
But there is concerted and powerful effort now
making in Washington, by the combination Of ten
steamship subsidies, which is threatening 1t seems
reasonable to say if we cannot trade with foreign
nations in our own ships, without paying the ex-
penses Of their voyage out of the public Treasury
had better not embark in the business. This was
not the way we achieved our maritime successes
during the last threequarters of century, and it is
not the way any successes in this line can be
achieved hereafter not by the plunderers and
monopolists themselves should they succeed in the
efforts they are now making.
1t is a discredit to the intelligence that ought to
exist this topic, that should be seriously con-
sdering snch preposterous proposition at this time
in our history.
There is question that the great interests of the
country need and urgently demand resascitation
of our shipping industry. Our rapid maritime devel
opment during the twenty years succeeding the Revo
lutou was the sole cause of the remarkable oxhibi
ton Of our naval power which astOnished the world in
our second conflict with Great Britain. The splen
doris of successes then reused the patriotic and
national spirit TO hight, and inspired il with VI
tally truly wonderful. 1t claimed the sea as our
natural inheritance. 1t filed all classes and spread
through all localities. The navy became the pet
child Of the nation, and every boy the coast be-
sailor The ocean was whitened with the
sails of our ships and the most remarkable growth
of marine trade and prosperity that the world ever
witnessed was the consequence. The ripe fruits of
it all were Teaped, and seen Of al mankind in the
way in which the Free States oxtempOrzed and
manned O gigantic navy when the Shareholders Re
bellon broke ont.
All this disclosed natural aytitudes which the
most stupid Of Legislators cannot ignore. And that
man is neither wise nor patriotic who does not de-
sire 10 give scope for the renewed activity of those
aptitudes, which series Of untOward events have
partially paralyzed.
How it should be DONE is really the only question
that belongs TO Congress to consider. Now, what
man Of sense what legislator Of intelligence
nected with the schemes themselves wants Congress
to build Up, by money taken from the Treasury, a
parcel of puffy bloated enterprises composed Of
steamboats, running bitbeI and thither, for the sole
benefit Of those who own and run themi Is this the
way to revive the dropping, widespread maritime
industries of the country What are half dozen
artiheiaIy created private steamship lines, main
tanned by appropriations from the public money,
raised by general taxation in comparison with pros
porous selfsustaining marine of 100000 tuns such
as we enjoyed before the war and can again possess
by virtue Of Congress enactment of a dozen
lines which VIII not take dollar from the treasury
These begCarly squads Of steamships. running at
public expense to crafty private greed, have no
inherent sources Of vitality in them and thus, in
stead of marking any progress IN the revival OF our
mercantile marine would positively stand IN the
way of it, Simply because private enterprise cannot
compete with special rnonopohes fed from the pub
lie chest.
If you want to destroy any industry, create monop-
oies within it. Confer on dozen great cotton man
ufacturing companies subsidy of 100000 each,
and what becomes of the next dozen that have to
sustain themselves alone and unaidedf They must
inevitably shut up shop. 1t is jnst so with subs-
died commerce. 1t maintains sickly existence
while the subsidies last driving ont Of existence all
healthy rivalry only TO collapse in turn through the
operation of those natural laws which make all IN
dustrial enterprises dependent for permanent sue
cess upon industry thrift economy, and sefrelying
Intelligence The greasy gratuities robbed from the
public only operate as provocatives to sloth ana |
and corruption. There is no health IN
them ON the sea or on the land, III the long run Ii
examples can be cited 10 the contrary, II is where
the enterprises have not 10 their destined end,
Or else where the money flched from the public |
chest can be shown to have enriched individuals one
dollar where two have been taken from the Treasury
species of robbery where the thief can show |
but one-half the money stolen.
II Is by no such processes as these that mari
time interests ever did flourish In the past or ever can
flourish in the future Ifthey are to be revived at all
as they must be- ii will be by placing them on self
sustaining basis. 1t is an industry which, to be |
strong and Aourishing, must as the tree grows
from the root by slow constant, selfnurtured ac-
cretion II our business the ocean Is 10 come to
.1...la 4rCTpf la Traa
urv then it is already doomed. If our ships cannot
keep the sea except by Congress appropriation,
then it is time that we left it to other race of
people of greater sptitudes of yigor, Of more
ndomitable activity than we possess.
But this is result we need neither anticipate nor
consider The means by which We may at once and
surely proceed 10 revive waning gOres in this
particular are clear and simple; and every apprecia
tive friend Of the countrs true interests every one
who regards at it's Just value the necessity Of main
tanning the naval strength of the nation, ought to
be more than willing to concede them. What Is
wanted is just this neither more nor less that the
duties upon all articles employed in shipbudng be
swept away completely, at once and forever. Let
the raw material of this great national manufacture
so closely marking and representing the defensive
power Of the nation, be admitted duty free. ms
simple enactment, working comparatively no mis-
chief anywhere, and asking for no sacrifices which
its essential national importance does not fully JUS
tify would be aDple entertain no doubt, to re-
store that prosperity and that prominence to our
shipping interest which it so long enjoyed.
We believe the true friends Of this interest would
be fully content with this concession. Under IT. we
could not look for any rapid revival or hot-bed
growth. such az are vainy promised by persons IN
terested in the forcing process but have no doubt
II vrould furnish a certain and stable foundation
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