Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-07-03

gloriously In the rear aud vanish from the
| race. Other nations can neither help nor
hinder us. The decision is with ourselves
and for ourselves
IL Is especially ft that this question
should be pressed upon the attention of the
merchants aud capitalists OF New \ Iork,
among whom you. gentlemen, are justly
recognized as honored and eminent. Your
city to-day Is the largest exporting mart
Of the world. This is true In the money
value of the merchandise shipped. while In
bulk and weight you are trebiy as large as
Liverpool. your leading rival, aud there
fore demand treble the ocean tonnage. And
yet there Is not a single steamer sailing
from New York to Europe that bears the
American flag. New York merchants
OF the carrying trade; nor have they asked
the Government 10 assist therein. During
the last twenty-five years Congress has
passed ninety two acts to aid in the build
ing OF raiircsds, has given to thsse sntar-
prises two hundred million acres of the
public lands and has advanced seventy
millions In cash. And yet. so gigantic Is
our railway system and so vast its expeni-
ture that the aid extended by Government
has not exceeded 8 per cent. of the total
cost Of our eighty thousand miles of rail
greater In extent than is contained In all
the world beside. The Government has
supplied per cent. and private capital has
FINISHED 81 per cent.
What countless millions New Y ork capi-
talists have launched ia these great railway
enterprises Aud when they have brought
the products OF 4 continent 10 their port
they resign all control to the foreigner
The principal route frora Chicago, Saint
Louis. or Cincinnati 70 Liverpool Is through
New fork-one continuous route, four
thousand miles iu length. New York aims
with American capital to control one thous-
and miles OF H. and without a struggle
gives three thousand miles to the control
OF English capital Philadelphia with but
= fraction OF New Iork's ioreigu trade, il
maintaining one splendid line OF steamers
10 Liverpool, and maintaining il with an
enterprise and courage that does honor to
its projectors and To the great city whose
capital aud whose mechanical skill pro-
duccd the ships Let her example be fol-
lowed with or without AID from the Gov
ernment; with II where essential; without
1t where practicable Boston, Philalei-
phja, cortland. New Orleans, Sau Francis
co. Charleston, Sayaunah. all have a large
export trade, but New York alone ships
nearly half Of the entire exports OF the
United States. and on any policy affecting
that vast trade New York must take the
lead The country waits on her. She can
keep us tributary To Engiand. or she can
proclaim and enforce the second deciara-
ton OF commercial Independence.
Let u learn wisdom from uur rivals.
Not only does Englaud coutinuc by lar se
pccuulaTy aids to stimulate the growth OF
her steam marine. but from the dags OF
Oliver { romNell until the reign OF Victoria
She maintained the most rigid protection OF
all her navig alton interests-repcalins the
last of her exclusive statutes As lately rs
lsi9 One Of our most INTEL gent CONNER
cial writers and statisticians describes and
embodics the navigation avs OF England
Ia words THAI are always worthy 10 be
quoted:
These laws comprised an agenou-ly con
sIructri system in favor OF British seamru, u,
British ship-bulIers. British shlr-owners, and
British merchants. In reading the complicated
aud apparently redundant enIctments which
constituted the maritime code Of England. II
seems a. u British statesmen were Tor two hun
drrd year. haunted by iresd, lest in all the
wide world 4 iOop-hole Of advantage might b.
len o. tho shII,s OF other nations which by any
possibility an at OF Parliament could secure to
the British hag. The maritime cOd- OF Great
Britain was proudly entitled by EnglishIsen II
"Charta Martina" No student OF history can
chiefly owes the vast extension Of her com
mrrce, the wonder rful deyeIopement of her IA
tionai wealth, and that colonial expansion
which gave her an empire upon which the sun
never sets. Under this protective policy her
power upon the ocean became supreme.
England has always been for protection
when that was needed 10 develop any OF
her great Interests; and always Tor free
trade as soon "a she became strong enough
Ia, Ill IN, a "A H.
stroy competition. To-day we are exclud-
ed by her energy from the Steam marine OF
the world and We shall remain in that pill
able condition until We use the same In
strumentalitics by which she has Won her
imperial supremacy. We must arm with
the wesp ms OF Achilles IN a contest with
Achilles himself
Very respectively yours,
JAMES G. BLAINE.