Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-22
SENATOR BLAINE'S SPEECH AT
CHESTER, PA.
Too Much Money Devot d to Internal
Commerce.
WHAT lie THINKS ABOUT THE FREE
TRADE SYSTEM.

NEW YORK, April 81. Senator Blaine's speech
at Chester Pa, was principally an argument
showing that the government had devoted too
much money and attention to its internal COM
meice, and not enough to external commerce.
lie said that when We contemplated this condition
OF affairs the doctrnare of Free Trade steps for
ward with his ready suggestion and says, "Gve
us free ships and we will at once establish steam
snip lines between our ports and Europe" The
genuine free trader never believes that ANYTHING
can he produced in this country as CHEAP or a,
good as 1t can be found abroad, and il you offer
him FOR siXty-c ight dollars currency per ton a
steamship built on the Delaware, he will try to
persuade you that one built on the Clyde for four
teen pounds per ton is a vast deal cheaper though
the American iron used in our steamships is ad-
mitted to be of better quality than that employed
in English yards.
But if you crafty the within OF the free trader,
and permit American registers to underlie and the
American flag to float over any ship, wherever
built, what have you gained Can you run these
lines on the basis OF tree trade against the great
English snd French lines that are aided and up
held by their governments do not wish to give
this audience the slightest encouragement to be-
heve that our government will favor the establish
ment Of steamship lines ir any direction. There
Is undoubtedly strong oppos ltion to il among q
large portion OF our peope-among some from
pl1Sciple, among others from prejudice-not un.
naturally arising from a misused subsidy to two
lines IN the past; subsidy, however, that was
granted on wrong basis, which there is no dan
ger of repeating IN the future. Nor would it be Q
matter OF proprety for one 10 my position TO dis
cuss here the probable action of Congress on those
questions, concerning which may have to act as
senator.
am here to day only as an American citizen
as republican; profound believer in the
great doctrine of protecting American labor, and
OF producing Is much as possible within the Unit
ed States.
Until within the last ten years before the out
break Of the rebellion we were abreast. if not
ahead OF Great Britain in aggregate tonnage, and
on an equal footing We would speedily do the
same IN our steam marine. But with England
and France aiding their lines with mail contracts
to drive other lines fIom the sea- it is idle for US
to enter the race.
very small amount comparatively would en-
able Us to become victors 10 the struggle for
ocean supremacy. What it costs US to support
two regiments of cavalry in the regular army, or
to maintain five large meu-of-war ahoat in the
navy, would give Us lines of irst.class American
steamships to foreign ports for at least six of the
principal commercial cities of the Atlantic, Pacific
and the Gulf.
We stand in position TO be the first CONNER
csal nation IN the world. Alone Of all great pow
els we have a vast frontage on two oceans whose
waters bound all continents and float commerce
that civilized and enriches the world. Our coast
line Is longer than that which borders Europe.
Oar harbors are most numerous and more capa-
clous than those of all our maritime rivals com
bined. Nature has given Us position aud power
to lead the commercial world. Shall we use our
opportunities or abandon the field TO those who
have not 1.-THE of our advantages If we re-
gam proportion of our commerce which we held
10 1879. the profit to our people will be more than
a hundred millions per annum. Shall we go for
ward or shall we con tinue to retreat.