The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-01-27
The EMe"re Of american shipping
ny HENRY HALL.

The Fue"re Of American shipping.
ny HENRY HALL.
Considering, now, the opposition
which America will encounter in re.
building the decayed fortunes of her
merchant marine; considering, also,
how cheaply our products are now
transported to foreign lands, and that
we have no distant colonies to pro.
tect, our colonies being planted on
the broad bosom of own vast domain
within our own borders, it might
almost he asked, why concern our
selves about the future of our ship.
ping at all! Are the prosperity and
security of our nation ut all Deepen.
dent, in this age, upon our shipping !
Why not let things take their natural
course
Well. there are reasons for concern.
The present state of affairs is injur-
ious, as will appear upon Il moments
reflection. One reason is that ship
ping in these modern days plays Il
certain part with reference to periods
of temporary and local over-produc-
ton which good wagon roads and
railways play with regard to periods
of temporary and local under .produc-
ton of food. The lack of steam
lines running in the interest of
American merchants and manufac-
turers was severely felt in this coun-
try in those years Of reaction follow.
ing 1873. The present American line
10 Brazil owes its origin to the sud-
den and intense desire felt in this
country. in those years Of depression,
Tor Il new outlet for our manufactured
goods.
Another reason is loss of income to
Il country having us large commerce
as the United States. consequent up.
Oh its transportation being in foreign
hands.
\ third cause for concern is the
evil to which America is exposed by
the lack of sufficient shipping to eX.
port her products. in case of war
among the European powers. Sup.
pose that the 447 English steam YES
sells trading to these shores were with.
drawn, in consequence of war between
Great Britain and one of her powerful
rivals. The United States would
not then have vessels enough to trans
act her own commerce, even with the
aid of the coasting fleet. An arrange
ment would perhaps be made by
which the English vessels would be
put under the protection of some for
eign flag, but that there would be a
serious arrangement of our commerce
is certain. and a due regard for the
future requires that that contingency
should be provided against, if pos
sible.
Bnt what is worse than all, in a
national point of view, is the weak
ness entailed by our lack of flourish
ing marine. America would certainly
be Inundated in any war which
should be forced upon her by for.
ei9n power, as matters now stand.
The immense distances of our sea.
coast expose us peculiarly to danger
from the attacks of q naval power.
There are illustrations enough in our
own history. England herself was
never seriously menaced except from
the sea Our situation is much like
hers. only worse, on account of the
greater leng'' .. coast. With not
one ship in the American navy which
can face European irOn-clad, and no
forts to speak of in the harbors, what
could be the situation of affairs in
ease few European war ships, with
IA fleet of swift merchant steamers or
auxiliaries. were dispatched to threat
Ell the coasts of the United States
The damage which might be done in
one short month is inconceivable.
The officers Of the American navy
are fully awake to this danger, and
their reports to the Government and
their private conversation represent
it constantly. The fact is, the de-
velopment of the modern ocean steam.
ship, swift, big and strong, has given
Il new turn to naval affairs. 1t has
exposed a coast nation to new perils,
and made the state of its merchant
shipping of the utmost Importance to
the national security.-February At
t0ntic.