The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-21


handing large grants from the Treasury
with al the confidence and persistence
OF professional beggars. II is time that this
blind and pernicious tralng with great ques-
ton should cease; for every year Of con-
tnued depression of our shipping in
terests inhicts a dangerous injury on the
nation. Does Mr.. Boutwell, suppose that the
patching up OF bankrupt transportation
company here and there will accomplish
revolution in our commerce, will set our ship
yards alive with business, will draw to our
shores skilled mechanics and engineers, will
develop our vast iron resources and cover the
ocean with our vessels? If he does
he must possess fruitful magma
tion and a sanguine temperament. If his
policy is to prove so efficacious in the case of
our ocean shipping interests what is to pre-
vent its application to all other interests9
Our river freight lines and our canal trans
portation companies are necessary to the
commerce Of the country, and when trade
is dropping and dividends are small
why should they not be entitled to their sub
sidy as justly as is the Pacific Mail concern
II we are to give away the peoples money in
gratuities to private corporations we shall in
sist that the distribution be made general.
There Is but one remedy for the evils under
which we now rest and that is the adoption
of broad and statesmanlike policy that will
serve to direct capital again into the channel
from which 1t was driven by the war of the
rebellion, and from which 1t has been effec-
tually excluded since through the faulty of our
rulers. Let our ship owners, or those who
sells in the cheapest and best market they can
find, and let American registry be accorded to
every vessel owned by American citizens, no
matter where she may have been built. We
shall then soon have American lines of ocean
steamers competing with those of for
eign nations, and SURPRISING them through
the natural enterprise and energy of our
countrymen Let all articles needed in iron
ship building be admitted free of duty, and we
shall then soon have our Pennsylvania Rip
Van Wrinkles awake to the progress of the
age and willing to seek in large sales and
quick returns the profits they now strive to
squeeze out of class legislation and mis-
called protection. Capital once directed
into the chanuel Of ship building and ship own
ershp will not again leave it, and we shall
soon see our shipyards full of life and hustle.
A great nation like the United States must be
powerful on the sea as we'll as on the land, and
it is well known that an efficient merchant ma
rine is the groundwork of naval power.
Every year that is lost in the petty policy Of
lobby subsidies is an injury to the nations
honor and peril to the nations safety. We
have experienced eight years of such states
manship, and its effect is before the world.
It is now time that 1t should cease
and give way to broader and more
enlightened views. The people are
tired Of Hobbies and jobs and government
thinkers. They are ahead Of their rulers, and
can comprehend the great and glorious
future that is in store for the republic. Let
their voices be needed by Congress-, and let
the effect be first shown by the prompt
rejection of these lobby subsidy schemes
and the conversion of Secretary Boutwell,
from his tinkering Yankee notions of govern
ment II the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
cannot stand alone let it fall to pieces, and
then, under the policy of free trade in ships
and ship building materials, we shall speedily
have lines Of ocean steamships, both on the
Pacific and the Atlantic, flying the Stars and
Stripes and competing CALAMITY and success
fully for the carrying trade Of the world.