Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-02-05

Scna.ors talk to us about what the nations
of Europe do, andfsay that Germany gets her
ships from England and that other nations
get them from abroad. There are but two
great naval powers in the world, or able to be
great naval powers. The United States and
Great Britain are the naval powers OF this
world and the idea that with continent con-
tanning the resources We have, with pOpula-
ton possessing the skill we do with all the
traditions and all the inducements that sur
round and govern the case. a Senator can rise
| in the American Senate and propose that the
American flag be struck and that foreigners
be invited TO build orr ships, and that We in
turn agree to be dependent on them for
navy as well as for commerce, is most eX-
traordinary spectacle if may use the phrase.
| | remind the Senator from Kentucky that
| the bill which | have read here was sup
ported if not drawn by the illustrious man
who then represented Kentucky in the other
! House. and who was its Speaker. ! am aot
! surprised, as the political developments have
been made in the last few years that from
the Southwest this proposition should come.
but my friend from Connecticut will excuse
me if say that never expect to live to see
the day when New England Senator should
uphold that policy.
Mr.. Eaton.--l am glad the Senator has
| lived long enough to see it, Laughter.
Mr. Blaine-I hope shall still live long
enough to sec my honorable friend repent and
reform. Laughter | hope his length
of ,iavs will he sufficient to make him repent
and reform. and even 10 forget that lac erred.
Mr.. President will state my views on this
subject. and | shall take the privilege of
bringing the Senate to some vote that viii
test its sense ON that question My idea Is
that the Government of the United States
III
aid from the Treasury of the United States ii
he or thcv shall establish and maintain line
of steamships To any foreign port or might
limit it to European. South American. and
Asiaiic ports. ! would invite competition
from San Francisco, from Portland. Oregon,
from Galveston, from New Orleans. from Mo-
bile. from Savannah. Charleston. Whining
ton. Norfolk, Baltimore. New York, Boston.
Portland. and everywhere. | would let all
come in who can sustain it, The tOuchStonc
is what will be sustained by the trade, ana
that Won can safely leave to the instinct and
to the knowledge of american commercial
men.
There is no reason in the world why Savan-
nah. that caused the first ship by steam To h2
sent across the Atlantic. believe, going from
her port and bearing her name, should not be
Il great seaport. There is certainly no rca-
son why very great foreign trade should not
be concentrated ut New Orleans. Some
might try that could not possibly sustain the
enterprise, but there are various points
throughout the country on our ocean front
that would maintain " ith vigor, with success,
and with pride to themselves and the country
great lines of steamships to all the foreign
ports of the world. am radical on the ques-
ton. do not suppose the American Con
gress would 90 so far rs | would, for would
certainly vote directly for the revival of the
act of 1917. and would write rs the law of
America for the present that the products of
any country should come 20 the United States
either in the vessels of the exporting country
or in our Owu. Ii that sounds like unfricnd-
" legislation. if it sounds like extreme lcgis-
lation, if il involves some contradiction Of
the policy Of the last twenty-five or thirty
wears, let it be said that We are lcgiSlating for
an extreme case, and extreme cases require
extreme remedies.
We carried tvc-sevenths of the American
commerce when the war broke out. We do
not carry onc-quartcr to-day and if We come
out of the deep abyss of humiliation that we
are in-we " ill come out of il by vigorous and
strOng-nervcd and daring legislation, il you
please | would open it to I'll the business of
the country. but would put the race between
American skill and the skill OF all the world,
with the utmost possible confidence that, sus-
tanned by this government in the race. We
would win. 1t is in our people With an
equal chance we can beat them But. with
the present condition of things, hope for the
revival of American commerce is as idle Il
hope as ever entered the brain Of an insane
man. Our trade is fallinc off or per cent
per annum as we stand to-day. 1t was less
thi, year than it was last. 1t was less last
year than it was the year before. 1t will be
| less next year than this.
| know no question that can in anv manner
engage the attention of the American Senate
that is more worthy of their serious con.id-
Grafton and their deep dclberation than this.
1t is more far-rcaching than anv question be-
fore us. for | repeat, rs intimated that with
this steady drain ont of us, this drain of So
600, 900 year. in gold coin. this country can
not expect with confidence to maintain a spe-
Gle basis An adverse crop. a bad wear, a
balance of trade against us. and with the
wholo commercial marine in thn hands al