The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-06-05
Encouragement Of American Commerce


In this connection desire to examine a
measure which has been seriously proposed for
the revival of our commerce, namely the adj
mission of foreign-built ships to American reg
istry 1t is a significant fact that this meas
ure is never brought forward except when a
movement is on foUt to grant aid to American
shipping. 1t is then thrown in by way of
amendment to defeat measures calculated to re-
vive that interest, and having accomplished the
object, is retired to be used again when occa-
sion requires. 1t is the pet measure of the rep
resentatves of foreign lines in this country who
are interested in retaining for themselves the
carrying trade, and is repudiated by nearly ey-
cry American ship-owner of the country as cal
culated to extinguish utterly and totally every
vestige of American shipping. There has been
no time in the last half century when such a
policy would prove so disastrous to our inter
ests, none when its adoption would be such an
act OF gross injustice to our own mechanics, as
the present. Up to the breaking out of the re-
bellion, under a policy which admitted only
American-built vessels to the privileges of
American registry, we had made the most rap
id strides as a commercial nation, and our tom
mage engaged in the foreign trade equaled that
of Great Britain. American ship-builders had
acquired worldwide reputation, and stood
the acknowledged superiors of all others in the
science of naval architecture. At that time
this was the only branch of industry in which
we could compete successfully with foreign
countries, and in this by their own acknowledge
ment we excelled them. Crushed out by war
which had operated to stimulate and benefit all
other branches of American industry, this in
terest has during the last six years appealed to
Congress, asking only the small pittance of free
material to enable il to overcome some of the
disadvantages under which it labored. Year
after year this modest and reasonable demand
has been denied, and denied by those who ex-
press readiness to admit to American registry
foreign-built ships free.
The advocates of free ships upon this floor
are those who have steadily and persistently
voted against admitting ip-building material
free The only condition upon which geutle men
who favor this policy will consent to admit ship
building material free is that it shall be work
ed up into the vessel in a foreign country.
These gentlemen appear to have particular
prejudice against an American mechanic, and
take every opportunity to discriminate against
him. 4 --.r -.....1. ...- f
1t is said by those who urge this policy that
it has been adopted generally by the nations of
Europe. That is no doubt true, but under en-
tirely different circumstances from those exist
ing with reference to our condition at the pres
ent time. 1t was adopted by Great Britain af-
ter she had for centuries excluded for ign built
ships and thus placed herself in a position
where it was supposed she could maintain
herself against the world, and at time when,
by its adoption, she could gain more than she
could possibly lose. France, Germany, and
some other nations which have adopted this
same policy, have cheap labor, cheap material,
and cheap money; but not having the
have purchased to obtain models from which to
build up amercantile navy of their own. We
have NO such conditions and no such necessi-
ties.
Our policy with regard to the shipping of the
country was adopted at the foundation of the
government, and under whatever changes Of
administration or of policy with regard to 9TH
er interests has been steadily adhered to- I'm.
der it we attained to the position of first-cass
maritime Power. Why should we, until re-
Gently the first maritime Power of the world,
abondon policy which placed us in that posi-
| ton, and, following the lead of countries which
never have been and never can be great mari
time nations, purchase our vessels of that ma
ton which has been, and is to be- our CONNER
| clal rival; the nation which destroyed our snip
| ping and our commerce for the purpose OF re-
| ducing us to that condition OF dependence
which some gentlemen seem so Wiling 10 ac-
cept. a.
The slightest examination OF the subject
must, think, convince any one who van com. com.
prehend it that we cannot compete with Great
| britain in the carrying trade If we become de-
| nendent upon her for the construction of our
| vessels by this policy we could not increase
our shipping out would lose not only our for
| eien but our coastwise carrying trade, and in
| case of a foreign war we should not only find
| ourselves without a Navy, but without the
means to build or maintain one. 81.
! We should bear in mind that in this country,
| and to considerable extent in Great Britain
| and her colonies, vessels are built, owned, and
run by q combination of interests, which in
cludes those who supply the material, the me
chanics and builders, the furnishers of supple.
and outfits, the commission merchants, the
master and other officers 1t is an investment
of labor and material to considerable degree
and not of money, that produces vessels. Now
when we undertake to purchase our vessels in
foreign country we lose all this combination Of
interests, and are compelled to make a clear
| investment of cash capital. Those of whom we
purchase are themselves building vessels by
this combination of interests to be run in com
petition with those built for us. They have thu