National Republican., 1873-02-07
HOW SHALL WE RESTORE OUR COM
MERCEk

The seventeenth plank Of the Republican
platform adopted at Philadelphia last june
the platform upon which General Grant was
reelected, and the Republican party in the
following November rolled up the largest
popular majority II ever obtaincd-reads as
fellows! 1t is the duty Of tho General Gov
crnmont to adopt such measures as may tend
to encourage and restore American commerce
and ship-building.' This Republican majority
in Congress has not yet taken single step
toward tho performance OF this pledge.
Probably Congress Is not TO blame for the
reason that no well-maturod measure has yet
been presented, excepting that upon which
Senator Crasin yesterday addressed tho SEN
ate. General Grant twice indorscd tho prop
Ositlons at the foundation Of the scheme
which Senator Cragin advocated, and the
Secretary has made them the subject OF re-
Pcated communications, commencing them
rs desirable for the economy of the navy,
and as the first most important and practical
step toward securing the restoration of our
carrying trade and ocean commerce"
Senator Cragin's speech was the ablcst and
most exhaustive address that has yet been de-
lyercd on tho subject. II went down to the
very foundations Of the question Of the re-
stOratlOn Of our commerce the building OF
our ships. The proposition which he sup
ports has the great merit that II requires no
subsidy from the Government. II simply
asks that We shall guarantee the bonds of the
company, and is hedged around with so many
safeguards that loss to the Government Is
almost beyond the range OF the possibilities.
We do not wish to be understood as support
intr In
warmly indorscs, but the facts aud figures
which he addresses in Its support are simply
astounding. We have all u vague idea that
our commerce is, II not upon tho decline, at
least In such condition Of stagnatlun
that, when coupled with the other ma
tions of the world, the United States,
that should have the largest COM
merclal marine anUat, will soon take
rank with the petty municipalities of Europe.
1t Is not pleasant to be told as Mr. Cragin
tells US, that I'VE have not In the entire Uni
ted States u complete and perfect shipLuildlng
yard, that our ocean commerce has almost
disappeared, and that our coastwise shipping
interests are upon the decline; that In the
twelve years beginning with 1850, while Eng
land has doubled her commerce. while France,
Italy and Germany have Increased II one half
and while Austria has doubled that of the
United States has nearly stood still, notwith-
standing that she has u larger basis for her
commerce than any other nation in the
world The official figures of our own Gov
ernment show (wc quote Mr.. Cragln) that
for the fiscal year of 1860 the total shlppln
interest which entered and cleared In the
United States aggregated l7OG5, I25 tons.
4
American vessels. In the fiscal year 1901
the total shipping which entered and cleared
nthc United States aggregated 10, 0O7, ,GG6 tons,
showing au increase of 2,Si9, ,5il tons since
1900 Notwithstanding this increase of six
tssn per cent. in the total tonnage, there was
falling Of In the American proportion which
was held In 1860 Of scvcnty-Onc per cent, to
thirty-seven and siNty-twO huudredths In
1871, and an increase Of the foreign from
twcnty-nine per cent. in 1850 to siXty-two
and tliirty-eight huudredths per cent In 1871. |
In the year 1880 the total tonnage engaged Ia |
The direct trade between the United States |
and the United Kingdom Uf Great Britain |
was in British ships 053 ljI tons; United |
States ships, l,SO8, $50 tons; In other ships
~ OI3 tons; or total tonnage OF =, S36, III .
tons. The United States had sixty-threu and
siX-tenths OF this, Great Britain thirty-threc
and siN-tcnths, and all Others two and eight
Icnths." Here we have the tonnage oi the
Uuited States falling of scycnty-onc per
'cnt In twelve years.
These are only of the few startling figure,
which Mr.. Cragln presents, The question
sfore us Is, how long shall we pursue this
.rotchedly suicidal policy Schemes urc
rought forward session alter session; We
ave reports and committees of investigation
nd speeches, but s.lll nothing ls dond The
rplfc ls passing away FROM u- the empire
tho seas il passing into other ls1udsi Ia
,oady In the hands Of nations lllat, conf
rcd % tho United States, sink unto utter