The daily gazette., 1878-12-31

aid of the government and their own
combinations, these manufacturers had
finally to succumb, because the people
could not longer buy at high rates. which
had been giving these manufacturers the
immense dividends Of fifteen, twenty and
even thirty per cent. profit. The result
has been as we see 1t the immense divi-
dends drew so many thousands into the
business that the accumulation OF goods
had to be sold at any price. And the poor
people who were led to depend upon
these manufacturers have been reduced
To the last extremity, and some OF them
have neither work, money or food
And this state of things has grown up
while the rich and favored classes were
permitted to go to Europe and replenish
their wardrobes, and smuggle into the
country all they needed. Smuggling was
winked at in the very custom houses, and
no doubt has been carried on systemati-
cally all along the coast. On the seas it
is the same. A man is not permitted to
buy ship, and he cannot build one at
the same cost unless he goes to Europe
to do it, and pay his money TO English
mechanics. The result on the water Is
the same. Our commerce has dwindled
down. The "American tar" is compelled
to ship under the English, the French or
the German flag; and we no longer boast
of the thousands of fine sailors that used
to distinguish our people when the stars
and stripes waved on every sea, and an
American ship was hailed as friendly
messenger to the oppressed of all nations in
every port. While these things have been
progressing to this state in which we find
hundreds Of ocean steamships plying
from our ports all under foreign flags, an
aristocracy of wealth has grown up in
the land, and the presidents of manu-
featuring firms are receiving salaries that
equal and often excel that of The Presi-
dent Of the United States. Even here
in little Delaware, $4,000, $4,000 and
even $25,0 900 is paid to the presidents of
corporate companies, while the working
men are put on such low wages that they
can hardly buy bread. We are glad to
see our neighbors prosper, but we would
much prefer that prosperity should be
general, because il would be more real.
If it were not for what is called protect
i've legislation, three ships would be built
in this country where one is now built,
and ten American sailors would be en-
ployed where one IS now wanted; ten
American ships would be going TO sea
under the American flag, carrying Ameri-
can freights where one now sails under
the stars and stripes. In such contin-
gency it is said that the Secretary of
Stae, Mr.. Evarts, recently made speech
at New England anniversary dinner,
announced himself in favor of buying
Shlpof do We NdllubI Dullu llltlH. OtI-
tainly We must favor the extension of
our commercial marine. We prefer to
build ships, but If we cannot build, be-
cause of the revenue laws, let us bny
them. Under the Democratic admins
trations prior TO 1860, we had the largest
commercial marine in the world. The
sails Of our ships whitened every and
their aggregate tonnage greatly exceeded
the tonnage of Great Britain, and We,
therefore, feel il our duty to encourage a
policy that will lead to a similar state Of
affairs and this can only be done by
changing our revenue laws to enable our
ship builders to build cheaper. In the
meantime let our merchants have the
right to buy ships wherever they can
buy the cheapest.