Daily Republican., 1880-10-12
what Free ships wOala % For AZ
] From the Nautical 0azette.

From the Nautical dazette.
The attempt 10 repeal our navigation
laws, which is 20 earnestly sought after
by England, and for which she Is work.
ing so hard at the present time, is q
subject which is OF vial importance to
every American citizen without regard
to political preferment; and while much
has been written and said on the sub
ject, we must, At this time, put the
whole matter In q terse shape for re-
visw by those who have our nation Il
welfare and prosperity al heart. Let
us see what the introduction Of free
ships would amount TO.
!. Free ships would place us com.
pletely in the power Of & ngland, SO far
as our carrying trade is concerned, not
only on the ocean, but on our lakes and
rivers. and even on our canals.
2. Free ships would soon enable
England to regulate the wages Of Cur
mariners on all waters, and enable her
to reducs the pay Of all GLASSES OF sea-
men to Q starvation standard to be fix.
ed by her. This is very important
matter for our workingmen to consider,
for with free ships come at once the
lowering Of wages, poor food, clothing,
and all the ills which years ago pre-
dominated in British ships.
3. Free ships and free trade would
also effect the wages and living of men
employed in any branch Of art, trade
or industry in anywise connected with
the construction and outfit Of vessels.
The miner, both coal and iron, the lum.
herman, the cotton grower, the spar
maker, plumber, joiner, coppersmith,
sailmaksr, ropemaker, painter, ship
master and In fact every class of indus
try would be under the ban, and would
lind himself on par with the ill.psid,
half.starysd, foreign workmsn, who
annually seek these shores to prolong
lie whose early struggles were fraught
with misery and privstion.
4. Free ships would open the way
for the palming of upon our people iii
they would buy them) Of hundreds of
idle, worthless steam vessels now rus
ting away in British docks. These
would swarm here to supply the places
Of our coasting steamers, over-run our
river routes, our lake commerce would
he swallowed up, and even our bays
and harbors crowded with little tugs
all owned and manned by Euglishmsn
over whom would float the Stars and
Stripes.
s. Free ships, so far as oenefting
Americans iJ concerned, simply means
the enrichment Of few shipping agents
and ship brokers who are now ekiDg
out miserable existence along our
river fronts, many Of whom have no
patriotism, and but little love for their
country, having been estranged b;
foreign gold and promises Of a traitors
reward.
6. Free ships mean the closing OF
our ship. yards, whether of wood or
iron, the swsmping Of the large capital
invested in this industry; the discharge
OF thousands Of workmen employed in
them; and, besides all this, with the
of all our yards, so must fall |
all the kindred branches Of trade which
find employment In psrfecEing the ship
and preparing her for her work.
7. Free ships are the medium to
what England tailed to do
when she melted the rebellion which
plunged the North and South into
bitter and prolonged civil strife. What
she failed then to secure by bloodshed,
she now strives TO do by gold lavishly
spent to induce our people to repeal
our navigation laws, and acospt her
free ship and free trade doctrine, which
at heart, as q doctrine, she abhors.
IS. Free ships are "wantsd" by men
in insulated cases who
nave no pecuniary interest In our ton
lsge or in onr carrying trade. Men
Who are lamentably ignorant of the
ubject in any Of its bearings, and who
AVE been led astray by the sophistries
# paid journals in the interest Of Brit
sb Free Traders.
0. Free ships have been dragged into
he Democratic party platform, and a
plank" inserted by British influence;
md patriotic men of that party, who
re interested in tonnage, find them
elves saddled with very distasteful
,urden. Bat, if true to their party,
hey must bolt this siokeniDg pill. 1t
d burning shame that our bitterest
orsign rival should have been permit
ed, in anywise, to NEEDLE with our pol
tics as she has with our commerce. h
10. Free ships means national deg. u
national disgrace and ruin.
means that, as a people, We are be-
oming careless and neglected. Of the
'ricslsss boon OF liberty that our fore
athers fought, bled and died for. 1t
leans that for few paltry dollars we
re willing to be sold out to the enemy; a
hat we, as people are to be led by 8
no nose to our destruction, and in the
lture our ships are to be entirely ban.
Jhed from the seas of the world, and
he lakes, rivers and bays Of our own
eloved country, and that our flag is to :
oat over the heads of those who have
rushed US out.
These facts are but few Of the manyl
lat can be stated to show what free
hips would do for us.