Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-02-24


James B. Beck, Senator from Ken
tuoky, delivered, In the United
States Senate, speech 80 states
0Anliks and mastery, without a
partisan line or idea in 1t, that It
recalls the debates between such
msa ~ Webster, Clay aud CAL
houp, which made, in the old days,
. perusal Of the Congressional rec.
ord > high intellectual treat. The
o6dfess was made in favor of bill
to authorize citizens Of the Unite d
States to purchase foreign.built
ships for the foreign . carry ing
trade. when owned, ommanded
and 0n1cered by citizens Of the
Unitsd States, and 10 favor Of re.
duetlon Of taxation aud removal OF
burdens. instead Of increase Of tax
ation for subsidies, the latter the
plan outlined by Senator Blaine.
M. Bsck's mastery effort takes
up twsnty-four pages Of the ordin-
aSy Congregational compilation,apd
Is 10 not too much to say that every
page Of this space 10 luminous with
practical wisdom and sclntillant
with pairiotism.
The United States as an ocean
carrier for the world at large las
disappeared for SO long time
from the channsls Of commerce
that It requires an effort of men,
DRY to recall our former maritime
triumpbs. So complete has been
the national and naval catastrophe
that threnody is really in order.
Time was when the cry Of free
ships and sailors' rights stirred the
nation to its depths. Where now
be those sailors, and those clean
cut clipper chips, which aloretime
excited the admiration of the
world T! Pennsylvania and Massa.
ohusstts. swapping protection fol-
divers and diverse local interests,
have laid both low. Every item
which enters Into the building of 9
ahip 10 90 heavily taxed that Amer
loan ship building has succum bee
% the age OF iron and to the do
minion Of the shipwrights of th.
Clyde. and American ship building
10 simply tradition of the past
The gallant American sailor boy
y who never had his peer-who evel
joomed up above the splendid Eng
1lsh tars whom Nelson and Col
lingwood led-is also, alas, .
thing Of history, more's the pity
That blithesome blade never haC
his peer in this or any other coun.
try. Asa type he 10 indestructible
and hs will long linger with US a.
the hero of nautical plays and nau
teal romances. and others than
4 lovs-sick maids will long for hi.
resurrection.
Whatever else the Republican
party has done. or left uudone, i,
has, - We have said, annihiiated
the American sailor and the Amer
loan merchant marine. AT first il
attempted to excuse the mat
ter By the episode of the
Alabama and the career Of several
other Confederate cruisers. Blu!
the war has been ended some six.
teen years, and the protective evil
ggows. aud shows more and more
its fell effects. There are some
American sailors still living who
can Instruct the younger genera
ttons but where are the ships and
ths commerce Of old? There is still
: pesslble resurrection, which is
the burden OF Mr.. Beck's all mira
bic speech. II the old obsolete
Navigation laws are abrogaisi
and Americans are allowed to buy
ships In the Clyde, or in the world
u large. We can regain o fair pro
portion Of the carrying trade of the
world. and reproduce our IN atch ess
eaiIors, splendid bulwark for Ma
tlonal defence.
Before the war the United States,
- . ssrrisr, was next to Great
Britain, and, exclusive of Great
Dsitain, our carrying trade ex-
oeetlsd that Of ell the rest Of the
globe combined. Now the Ameri.
90 marine only controls seven.
teon per cent. Of our DUN carry ing
egode, and don't count at all In the
oommsFcs of the nations. The
6oals upon which we have descend.
- can be illustrated by a brief
oetle.
oEPD AND BARKs BUILT IN THE q. 8.
4g..s.......... ......... 1851
xzy...,s ............... 5U6
41Fvs.......s...... .................... ~
What = sermon ia invOIv.
~ 10 these statistics? The
kv4oIp country has been sur
Uod6Esd 10 the Psnnsylvania
~ New England protectionists.
Al3ed ~ an uncouscionable tadH,
- section don't care a baubee