The Portland daily press., 1880-07-13

own seamen. Having had all these things
done for it by the government, it was al
legged by some when the subject was attract
ing SO much interest a few years ago, that
shipping and commerce should be left to in
dividual enterprise; that they are governed
by immutable laws, and will rise with the
return of general prosperity. True they
have improved, but are still below the level
Has our position as commercial nation
been irretrievably taken away from us? Or
have we lost the power to create and main
tain largely increased mercantile marine?
The answer to the first question is with our
selves; to the second all will emphatically
reply in the negative. We come naturally
enough, then, to the question: Has foreign
commerce any claims upon the Government?
Most assuredly it has, if our national history
for the past eighteen years can be regarded
as an indication of national policy-to en-
courage the development of the natural re-
sources of the country, and raise the nation
to higher position in wealth and strength.
to increase individual prosperity and make
as we often boast in Fourth of July orations
she is destined to be. For the last twenty
years the civil legislation of the country has
been largely devoted to internal development.
Railroad interests have greatly attracted the
attention of Congress. Millions of acres
and millions oe treasure have been voted to
railroads. They stretch across the continent
and bend in and out in every conceivable di-
rection. Exhibit the last official railroad
map to John Chinaman, and the amazed Ce-
lestial would run away, beaten athis nation-
al game of making puzzles. We have reached
the end of the first epoch in our railroad
history. Consolidation is more potent than
competition. Little railroads that formerly
exhausted themselves by competing for a
handful of freight have become feeders to
great trunk lines; and the great trunk lines
are discussing in a vigorous way the ques-
ton of through business. Unless we are all
deceived in the future of our railroads, their
mission is to become-despite their present
rivalry-a grand factor in a gigantic COM
mercial system, of which the shipping inter-
est should be an adjunct. After our rail
roads have reached the sea-board with their
freight-what? After the major part of the
labor and expense of the great enterprise.has
been met by our own energy are we going TO
be content to deliver the business at our
door to foreigner and share the profits with
him; and receive foreign goods from him at
for Iicfpibrrtior in tho n
terror, when we have the means in our
own hands, if properly applied, to fetch
and carry on terms equal to his best?
1t is fair, then, to ask of the general gov
ernment some of the encouragement to ship
ping that has been so literally accorded to
railroads. We are all proud of the record of
our merchant marine service in the past,
and remember with gratitude how powerful
an agent it has been in creating personal
prosperity and national strength. Civil war
weakened it and gave other nations, by COM
petition, a supremacy on the seas that we
once possessed, and which may be restored.
England's great strength as maritime
power lies in her free ships. She encourages
tuio lhtClCSI W tHC idi SCob CAtCuO, Wy ouO-
sides, by drawbacks and by direct and indi-
rect bounties. In one way and another our
shipping has been treated as an inexhaust-
ible source of revenue; taxed in some form
from the beginning to the end, until our
very coasting trade is annoyed by innumera-
BILE petty exactions and fees to a remarkable
degree.
In October next national convention of
ship owners and merchants will be held
either in Boston or New York to agree upon
course of action to be followed at the next
session of Congress in behalf of removal of
the evils complained of. This gathering
will attract great attention, not only on ac
count of the Importance of the cause it rep
resents, but because an attempt will be made
by subsidy-hunters to control its action to
their own ends. If ever anything good can
come of this meeting the real mercantile in
terests should use its best efforts to prevent
for concerted movement in the right di-
rection. Just now there is plenty of avail
able capital in the country which can be
employed in navigation as soon as encour-
agement is offered. Portland is especially
interested in this matter. Her most endur-
ing prosperity in the past was won from the
sea; and she still has many enterprising, in
dustrious, hopeful men who look to navi-
CATION and commerce for their success. They
should interest themselves in the proposed
convention and make themselves felt. The
repeal of our navigation laws, the admis-
sion of foreign-built ships to American reg
istry, government subsidies to steamers for
foreign service, the substitution of cheap,
soft-wood ships for our splendid oaken hulls,
and many other questions will be brought
foreward for consideration, and our mer-
chants and ship-owners should give as much
of their time as possible to thoughtful pre-
paratiOn for the meeting,