The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-06-19
HON. JAMES q. BLAINE

NEW YoRK, June ls.-Hon. James g
Blaine, having been invited 10 address TIN
citizens Of this city on the decay 0
American commerce and the means fo
promoting its revival, writes that publ,
engagements prevent him acceding L
theft request, but pensa letter on the sub
ject, which will appear in the papers o
this city tomorrow morning. The follow
Ing Is q brief abstract OF the letter. Mr.
Blaine says: r.
No man denies that the carrying trade
Of the United States has suffered a great
decline; that il gives no sign Of improve
inent or revival, and that serious and per.
manent loss is thereby inflicted upon the
country. On these points thus stated there
Is substantial unanimity Of belief among
our people; but when we 60 one step fur
ther and attempt TO state the cause OF the
decline we find wide divergence oil
views; and when, by a second step, we
proceed TO discuss the remedy, we en-.
counter differences so pronounced and
so violent as to involve anger and acri.
mony. With no disposition to wrangle
over the subject or to arraign any mans
theory in a hostile spirit, shall submit
my own views on the depression, what
produced 1t, and what will relieve il.
In 1857, after commercial struggle that
began when we separated from the mother
country, and stood nearly II not quite
equal TO Great Britain in ocean tonnage.
In that year our entire foreign trade, ex-
port and import, amounted to $723,0 ,0OO, 900,
and OF this total, S5l0,000000 was carried
in American bottoms, and only $2l3,OOO,-
900 in the ships OF oil other countries.
This proportion was not materially chang
ed until 1861, when the country was sud.
denly precipitated into a war whose mag
nitude no man could measure. Then fol.
lowed series Of events beyond the con-
troll OF any power, the effect OF which was
utterly disastrous to American carving
trade. 5rt
Seventy thousand seamen were with.
drawn from the merchant service and en-
listed in the navy, to maintain the extend
ed blockade that stretched from Delaware
Bay to the mouth Of the Rio Grande.
More than million tons OF American
shipping were withdrawn from peaceful
pursuits for this purpose. The gap thus
made in the commerce of the world was
rapidly filled by the alertness Of England,
and just in proportion to our decline in
the carrying trade the activity OF the Brit
ish ship-yards was redoubled.
An indirect loss to American shipping
was the cancellation OF their American
registry of eight hundred thousand tons
OF American shipping for the purpose Of
escaping Confederate cruisers, and when
worn out these ships were replaced by
foreign built ships. RI
Another fact, developed at this time,
which proved most adverse 10 us: Prior
to the civil war ocean steamships had not
been formidable as freight carriers The
marine engine was too heavy; absorbed
too much space; consumed too much coal.
But just at this time the screw was gener.
ally substituted for the paddle, and the
Compound.engine was invented to take.
the place OF the simple one. Iron, there
totore successfully tried, now became q
general substitute for wood, and hulls
were thus built that would last as long as
the engines. These several changes, with
some minor inventions, increased the car.
rving capacity Of the steamship beyond
all anticipation. 'e'". se'll''
The close Of the war left us in q most
discouraging situation commercially. Our
lnances were disOrdered, prices OF mater
ial were abnornslly high, and it was an
idle effort TO attempt competition with
England in any field where our expanded
paper currency had to contend with the
solidity OF her gold. Our sailing vessels
received less and less employment in the
carrying Of cotton, provisions and bread.
stutts to Europe, and we did not offer any
encouragement for the building OF steam.
ships. Perhaps with the prices Of that
period success in any event would have
been impossible. England meanwhile,
feeling her advantage and eager to push
it, did not leave her commerce To- its own
development, even with all the elements
in her favor, but she stimulated its growth
hv enormous bounties paid 10 those who
would build and sail steamships. PROM
the close OF our civil war down to
the year 1S77-a period OF twelve
years-Great Britain paid to her
steamship lines for mail service sum
total Of $05,59O,S4S is, or an average Of
five and half millions per lHuum. With
all the advantages aGcruing to British
shipping by our disasters in the war, and
with these advantages supplemented by
the great pecuniary aid ext0nded by tho
British Government, it was, OF course, i'm
possible for the commercial men Of Ame-
rica to enter into competition in the build.
iug and sailing Of steamships. .,
Under the continued operation Of causes
thus hastily SUMMARIZED, the American
carrying trade has steadily and rapldIy
declined, until by Official figures in 1878,
with an aggregate foreign commerce, out
going and incoming, OF nigh 81 200, ,0O0, 900,
American ships carried but little over
three hundred millions, and foreign ships
carried nearly nine hundred millions. In
1857 American ships carried tive.sevenths
OF oil We exported and all we imported,
and ships OF all other countries carried
but two. sevenths.
As the profits to the navigation interest
are reckoned to be ten tperilcent on the
amount OF freight transported and the
passengers connected Herewith, It is
quite evident that we are annually meet
ing with most serious loss as compared
with our condition before the war. Then
Nc CuIIleu LIuIe tI6uu w peE EeHI " UoLl
exports and imports and now We carry 80
per cent As freight moneys are ptac.
tically paid In gold, the country IN whose
Golfers they accumulate must have an
overwhelming advantage In all matters
pertaining to the specie standard.
When all these depressions and discour-
agemepts are realized, certain political
economists come forward with the suR-
gestion thatopr remedy lies in the repesl
Of our old and honored navigation flaws
and the admission OF foreignhuit ships
to American registry. We can then get
English steamers they say, % CHEAP as
English merchants do, and can at Once
enter into successful competition on the
ocean. OF course the adoption OF this
policy you'd be an abandonment Of all
effort and all ambition on the part OF the
United States to Be 4 great Raratlno poy.
or, and would be q formal proclamation 81
our snbseryiency to England and oIlr do.
pendence upon her for our ships, II we
90 to England to get our iron ships this
rear because we can get them cheaper,