The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-30

the debates in Congress and leading arti-
cles in the press to find the grounds of OPP
position to free trade in ships. The rea-
soning in favor Of permitting American
citizens to buy ships in the cheapest mar
kets and sail them under the protection OF
the American flag is so cogent and convinc-
ing that we have been curious to see what
could be said in reply. The defenders OF
our Anticipated navigation laws have
been prudently shy of coming INTO
close quarters with the incontestable
facts which we have been urging
upon their attention. We have again
and again thrust upon their notice the
great point in history that the British navi-
cation laws (of which our own are servile
copy were repealed in 1S49, and the great
statistical fact that British tonnage was
nearly doubled within the ensuing twenty
years. We have repeatedly challenged them
to explain this history and these statistics,
and the discreet silence which they have
maintained is q virtual admission that the
argument founded on these conspicuous
facts cannot be parted We have also
tainted them with the we'll known fact that
France and Germany permit their citizens
and subjects to purchase ships in the
cheapest markets that they have awaited
themselves Of this liberty; that the
consequence has been that France
and Germany have established great lines
Of ocean steamers which maintain a success
full rivalship with the British lines, while
the United States, which adhere to the
obsolete navigation laws which the other
maritime nations have discarded, are put
out Of the field of competition These
great, pertinent and indisputable facts are
ignored by the apologists Of our restrictive
navigation laws, who do not even attempt
an answer to the irresistible argument OF
which these great facts are the Easis. We
wish Senator Blaine, who has made himself
the foremost champion of the restrictive
policy, would undertake to show that France
and Germany made mistake in adopting
the liberal policy which has enabled their
shipowners to compete successfully with
Great Britain for the lucrative carrying
trade of the world. Freedom to purchase
foreign ships having worked so we'll in
those countries, what rational argument can
there be against according the same freedom
to citizens of the United States? We do
not wonder that Mr.. Blaine and his follow
ers evade this question and despair Of
answering the argument founded on the
example of countries which permit free
trade in ships. How can policy be bad
for the United States which has been so
late f,. Car
stronger condemnation can there be of our
navigation laws than the fact that; while
they have been in operation, the greater part
of our trade goes and comes in foreign bot
toms? The refusal Of American registers to
foreign built ships is utterly and obviously
impotent, since, in spite of it, American
ships are excluded from the business.
This argument cannot be successfully
met, and tho advocates of restriction are
driven to "change of base" Both Mr.
Blaine in his speech in the Senate and the
journals which follow his cue are contend
ing that the true American policy is heavy
discriminating tonnage duty. They would
have all foreign vessels coming into our
ports subject to tonnage duty high enough
to destroy the profits of their business
This would be going back to the policy of
the dark ages. 1t may not be surprising
that some newspapers are ignorant enough
to urge such q policy, but it is astonishing
to find Senator Blaine on their side. He
owes it to his character to discuss such
questions with intelligence, if he discusses
them at all. What would be the effect of a
tonnage duty on foreign ships heavy
enough to deprive them of any share in our
carrying trade? Why, the obvious effect
would be simply to raise the price of
freights. 1t would give an advantage to
foreign producers in all the markets of the
world. 1t would operate as tax on
the producers Of american grain, cotton,
provisions and manufactured goods. For
example, the price of grain in LIVERPOOL
regulates its price on our Western prairies.
The highest price which the American
farmers can receive is the price in Liverpool
minus the cost Of transportation. The
effect of increasing the cost Of ocean freights
would be to diminish the price OF grain in
America. A discriminating tonnage duty,
such as is advocated by Senator Blaine,
would operate as tax on American pro-
ducers and would diminish American ex-
ports. 1t is for the advantage of the
country to increase its exports, but
business is done on so narrow margin
that difference in the cos. of treights
would enable our competitors to COM
mand the foreign markets. Nothing could
be more utterly and wildly absurd
than Senator Blaine's notion that heavy
tonnage duty on foreign bottoms is the best
means of reviving our navigation interest.
Such m easure would enable our rivals to
undcrsell us in foreign markets in conse-
quence Of the great advantage OF cheaper
transportation. There are many classes Of
goods which we can produce as cheaply as
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