National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-15

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American ports from the West Indies in
1861, Sc per cent. belonged to the United
States, and only 10 per cent in 1870. For
the same years respectively our carrying
trade 10 the German States-Denmark,
Holland and Acknowledgement from 81
10 per cent. of the whole; with France it
decreased from SO TO % per cent; with
England from II to 10 per cent; with the
whole our average of II per cent. in 1860
had dwindled down to 10 per cent. in 1870.
And by reason of the superiority of foreign
vessels in speed we are still worse off in re-
spect of profits than the figures show us TO
be in respect to tonnage.
This has been well described as ruin
GUS decline" by one of our most distin-
guished public men-by one who would
have conferred imperishsble renown on
his own name and lasting benefits upon his
country had lie acted as wisely and braVely
as he spoke powerfully in behalf of the
resurrection of American commercial ma
rine. Contrasting the growth of Great
Britain's commerce with the deCadence of
our own, this same statesman, in public
speech, expressly stated that, had our COM
merce advanced with progress equal to
that of England between 1860 and 1870, 1t
would have developed in its progression
an amount during that period equal in the
aggregate to "a, 576, 900, 900 in addition to
and beyond what it actually did aggre-
gate. MI Boutwell,, when Secretary Of
the Treasury, stated that our loss in the
carving business of the world since the
decadence of our shipping probably
amounted to S75, OCO, 600 annually. This
is direct, actual loss of money, not loss in
general trade, and it now amounts in all
to more than twelve hundred millions
of money. We are this much poorer
than we would have been but for
this immense loss in the carrying trade.
And TO this must be added the amount of
profits on the far more extensive trade we
should have had, but for our loss of ship
ping. The total loss is some S., 900, 0O0,-
Geo. In other words, but for the loss of
our shipping, the wealth of the nation in
1870, instead of being $50, 068, SIS, 507,
would have been at least $3j, 06S, 518, 507,
and this additional amount would proba-
bly, at the present moment represent in
dustries, manufactures and business upon
which would be employed large proper
ton of the hundreds of thousands of work,
ingmen and women who are crying for
work and for bread.
In order that we may regain national
prosperity, therefore, the rehabilitation of
American shipping is a necessity. How
this can best and quickest be brought
about it is for the Republican party to de-
eide. And they cannot decide too soon.
are devoted to no particular scheme.
We are certain that if the Re-
publican leaders will put their heads to-
gether they can speedily devise a plan
which shall prove to be effective in accom-
plishing the great object desired. For in
regard to this question there are not so
many difficulties as are placed about the
question Of inland transportation. There
can be no dispute about the constitutional
power of Congress here. Congress always
has exclusively legislated upon this subject,
without question, and in the nature of the
case must do so. The plan to be adopted
is mere question of judgment. There
should, however, be no delay. A practical
measure adopted, through which can be
clearly seen the rapid rehabilitation of our
marine, one great cause of ma
tional prostration is at once removed, and
one powerful means of recuperation and
supplied; a means of recupera-
ton and progress so efficient that even, if
no other were supplied, this alone would
do much to insure good times, the Danish
ment of general discomfort, the good of
the whole country and the success of the |
Republican party in 1876