Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-24
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AUG u - IA,
Thursday Morning, May "a, 1877.
Free Trade in Ships.

The advocates of free trade in ships
meet with an intelligent opposition which
they are unable to stem successfully Inc
time for the agitation of this question Is
not so well chosen rs they supposed 1t TO
be. IL there were scarcity OF American
vessels in proportion to the business TO be
done by them. and if shipbuilding were
costly, or our yards inadequate 70 supply
the legitimate demands for more vessels,
either present or future, there might be
some reason in demanding free trade in
vessels: but while we have tonnage at
nearly all our ports unemployed or car
rying freights at unrenlnerative p:ices
because there are more vessels than busl-
ness, and while ships are built in this
country as low according to quality AS In
England or Canada and our shpbuilding
resources are ample for any emergency
that may arise, 1t is absurd to talk about
the necessity of free trade in vessels. 1t
would be better FIRST to find employ ment
for what tonnage we have than to 60
abroad seeking more. When the vessels
and the shipyards that we have cannot
supply the needs of our commerce at rea-
sonable rates it will be time enough to 80
abroad for vessels.
Last week the subject of free trade was
introduced in the Boston lard OF Trade,
but met with such opposition even in
that simplifying and ship-owning body
that resolves in favor of it were laid over
aud their passage is very much In doubt.
On this matter the Boston journal has
the following editorial rem .rks;
1.-The members of the Board Of Trade
who are agitating the question of admit
ting foreign built ships to American reg
istration will not carry their resolutions
IL there Is a full attendance at the meet
ing when the final vote is taken II may
msnts are worthy of attention. but it does
not follow, because they are right from
their standpoint, that their opponents are
not also right when the whole situation
Ii taken into account. A spasmodc
movement would follow any Congression-
al action. and we should regain some Of
the tonnage which we lost during the war,
by purchasing ships abroad. But will
this gain be of much benefit to the coun-
tryp We can to-day build wooden ships
or iron steamships as cheaply in this
country as they can be built abroad. 1t is
labor. which constitutes ninety per cent. of
the cost of ship, and 1t is just this
skilled labor which we ought TO protect
by encouraging American mechanics.
Were We to buy our ships abroad, what
inducement will there be for American
builders to invest their capital in yards
and what motive will our people have
for acquiring a knowledge of trades which
can only become remuneralive 10y home
industry. To be dependent upon Eng
land or the British provinces for ships
would be at once subversive Of that en-
couragement to large class of laborers
which constitutes the true strength Of a
country.
lis of less consequence to have few
wealthy merchants accumulate money by
such investments than it is to secure en-
ployment for many thousand workmen.
II we can impart activity to our ship
yards we instill into whole communities
the active elements of selfsupporting in
dustry. 1t is not, We think, true that the
war In Europe promises to be SO rapid in
Its development as to demand any de-
parture from the American policy. 1t is
not yet even apparent that the demand
for our cereals is SO greatly in excess OF
our carrying capacity as to demand this
important change in our system, while it
Is very evident that If we can see SO far
ahead IS to deem it a duty to meet an
emergency by influencing Congressional
action next December. we can with even
more certainty See that it will pay our
merchants to order their shipbuilders 10
be laying the keels of new ships. which
can be built, launched and ready for sea
quite as soon as there Il any possibility OF
Congressional action"
No opponent OF the conciliaGon policy
has traced out its consequences more
clearly upon negro suffrage than the New
York Tribune does in a recent article.
Speaking Of the negro it says; "He may
be fairly treated in the courts and the
schools; he will not be fairly treated at
the polls. Probably we shall hear little
more Of shotgun campaigns and masked
riders; but the negro majorities will melt
away; the colored people will be dis
coaraged from voting; they will be
strongly confirmed 10 the belief, already
gaining ground with them, that politics
for black folks will not pay, and that
they will find 1t easier to get work and
make friends If they let the affairs of gov
eminent alone. Ways enough will be
found 70 nallify the provisions of the en-
forcement acts without infringing upon
the boundaries indicated in the recent de-