Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-30
delegates :
TO TIE SHTPBUILDING AND COM
MERCIAL INTEREST or MAINE.

MERCIAL INTEREST or NAME
At the late session of Congress the Gen
eral Statutes of the United States were
revised, and the following provisions i'll
aid of the shipbuilding and commercial
interest of the country were inserted and
retained by the Republican majority:
First as to Registry, the following:
"Sec. - Vessels bull a0ithin the United
Estates and belonging acholly to citizens
'Mere0f, and vessels which may be cap
''tured in war by citizens of the United
Estates and lawfully condemned as
"prize, or which may be adjudged to be
forfeited for breach of the laws OF the
United States. and no others, may be
registered as directed in this Act.
Second, as to the Coasting Trade, >
the following:
"Sec. Vessels of twenty tons and up
wards, ball Uithin the United States, and
"6elonging a0holly TO citizens thereof, and
.vessels which may be captured in war
"by citizens of the United States and law
'fully condemned as prize, or which may
"be adjudged to be forfeited for a breach
"of the laws of the United States. enrolled
sin pursuance of this Act, and no others.
"shall be deemed vessels Of the United
Estates entitled to the privileges of being
"employed in the eoasting trade"
These two provisions, it will be seen,
confine " Registry" and the Coasting
Trade" to vessels "6aiH 1oithin the United
States" and Jelonginy aeholly to citizens
ofM United States" In these provisions
the Republican party did but re-enact the
policy that has come down to us from the
founders Of the Governmental policy de-
signed and intended to encourage and
maintain the Navigation Interests OF the
United States. 1t is a part of that wise
system which has made us great COM
mercial people, which has developed
among us the art of shipbuilding in its
highest perfection. and which has carried
our flag on all seas in a legitimate and
expanding commerce.
But wise as this policy is, and strongly
as it protects the interest of the American
shipbuilders, there are those in this coun-
try, and even in Maine, who denounce it
as d" commercial restriction" and as
" fetter" to commerce. The Democratic
State Convention which nominated 10
SEPH TITCOMB for Governor, adopted
the following resolution by an unanimous
vote:
Resolced, That Protective Tariff is
al u
wasteful mode of raising the public reven-
ues. 1t is one of the most pregnant and
fruitful sources of the corruptions in ad-
ministration. We, therefore, the Democ-
racy Of Maine. in convention assembled,
declare for FREE TRADE, and IN tac0r OF
an anfettered and unrestricted commerce."
Free Trade" and "an unfettered and
unrestricted commerce" are words that
have high sound, but the meaning is the
admission of Canadian vessels to the priv
ileges in our trade, hitherto confined to
our own home-built vessels; and it is q
very significant circumstance that Just
about the time the Democratic convention
in Maine were adopting the foregoing re-
solution the authorities of the Dominion of
Canada were proposing TO our country
misnamed Reciprocity Treaty. of which
the following is the ninth article
Art. 9. For the term of twenty-one
years mentioned in Article XlII. of this
treaty uesselS fall kinds built in the Unit
ed States may be purchased by inhabitants
Of Canada as Canadian vessels, and recip-
rocally, UeSselS Of all kinds butH in Canada
may be purchased by citizens of the United
States, and registered in the United States
as United States vessels.
This orticle is in the direct line of the
policy recommended by the Democratic
State Convention of Maine, and accord
ingly the leading Democratic papers, such
as the Portland Argus and Bangor Com
merciat, endorse and uphold this proposal
for admitting Canadian-built vessels to
American registry and to the privileges Of
our Coasting Trade.
The effect of this policy Of Democratic
Free Trade and Canadian Reciprocity is
fully understood and appreciated in the
British Provinces. They see very clearly
that they are to be the gamers and we are