The Portland daily press., 1880-10-08

1t can be no matter of surprise that our mer-
chant marine has been reduced During the
war we sold to foreign nations nearly 5000. 900
tons of shipping. In order to comprehend the
full significance of the sales it maybe we'll to
state that during three years, 1854 3 and 6. we
sold but 167 900 tons to foreigners While we
built in 1879 $4,000 tons of registered vessels
there We're sold to foreigners 81 900 tons; aban-
donec. a ooO tons and lost $1,000 tons; making
a total OF $4,000 tons. 1t should be here stat
ed that sales to foreigners have been chiefly
o! ships that have nearly Cut-lived their useful
ness and at low prices. In view of all these
facts can it be denied that we should not have
suffered such. a decline if we had been per-
mltted by our laws to have purchased vessels
upon the same terms as other nations in the
cheapest markets If it can truly be denied
then there is no reason why we should not
continue our downward course until our flag is
driven from the ocean,
There is no escape from such a conclusion.
1t is most remarkable fact that despite the
boasts that have been made that iron ships can
be built at the same price in this country as
upon the Clyde there is not single iron sail
ing ship under our flag. While all other ma
tons are privileged to buy in the cheapest
markets, we are excluded, and for the purpose.
we are told, of protecting American industry.
Lines of ocean steamships are constantly being
established between this country and Europe to
meet the ever increasing demands of the trade.
We did boast of one line of American steam
ships from Philadelphia to Liverpool, but even
that exists only in name, as one half of that
is now composed of steamers sailing under the
flag of Great Britain. A most impressive fact
with respect to our trade with Europe was
published in the American Ship of New
York 1t stated that the grain fleet dispatched
from that port last year numbered 1887 vessels,
carrying 102, 312 ,56S bushels of grain, of which
1918 were steamers, carrying AZ, ,535 BUSH
els; the remaining 1922 being sailing vessels,
carrying 1892 033 bushels All of this ton
includes American taa md
only "a American sailing vessels. 1t is esti-
mated that over 500 600 900 per annum are
paid to foreign vessels for the transportation
of our produce. This is truly a deplorable
condition for great and prosperous nation,
possessing large line of sea coast and engag-
ing in such an enormous trade with tie nations
of the world.
There are but two courses to pursue One
is to adopt principles of Semi-civiliZed age
and impose restrictions upon commerce which
will be sure to cause retalatory measures by
other nations The other is to be in accord
with the progress of the age and remove the
restriction that now exists-a relic of former
days.
After resume of the laws of foreign nations
restricting commerce from 1910 to the present
time Mr.. Lincoln said "Give us ships as
cheap as other nations furnish them and the
same advantages in respect to maintaining
them and that's all we need. There are some
persons who fear that if any breach in the
wall of protection is effected it will invite an
assault upon the whole tariff system. But our
shipping occupies different position from all
the other interests of the country Our vessels
must be brought into competition with those
of every nation and the desired changes relate.
only to our foreign trade. The same rules that
apply to one interest cannot be brought to
bear upon others, SO that it.seems just to as
sumo that the great industry establishments of
the country that have grown up and developed
SO successfully under the system of protection
will suffer no injury by the removal of the
burdens upon our commerce. Their interests
will not jeopardized for parties foremost in
urging the removal of restrictions upon navi-
cation would as earnestly oppose any
measures that would cause the great industries
of the nation to suffer.
Capt. E. S. Osborn of New York followed,
taking equally strong grounds in opposition,
stating that British gold was largely used in
this country for the purpose of influencing and
creating public opinion favoring free trade in
ships. He charged and did so without fear of
contradiction, that there is today foreign line
OF steamers using the ports of the United States
which is building three steamers intending in
case of foreign war to put them under the
American flag.
Mr.. Goss of Bath, Me-, claimed that he was
the largest ship builder in the United States,
and expressed the opinion that the present
was transition period, and that the present
laws ii left alone would be all sufficient. He
asked no favOrS OF this or any other country in
the construction of ships. He called attention
to the fact that the agitation of the free ship
question was always most prominent when
England was threatened with foreign war.
III. FL. Adams of Cleveland followed, defend
the protective tariff of the country. after
resolution at eleven o'clock tomorrow morn
ing