The Republican journal., 1881-02-03
Senator Blaine In Behalf of our Com
merclal Marine,

The speech of Senator Blaine in the Senate on
Thursday last in reply to Senator Becks advocacy
of free ships is universally admitted to be very
able one. Mr.. Blaine spoke without notes, while
Mr.. Becks speech was delivered from manuscript.
Mr.. Beck's argument was, that our merchant ma
rine could only be revived by repeating the present
navigation laws which prohibit the registry of
foreign built ships and he admitted that this pol
icy looked to permanent dependence Of the Uni
ted States upon Eng land for her ships Nj Blaine
did not believe the people or Congress Of the
United States were prepared to make that declara-
ton He said it remarkable fact that for
twenty years, or from the time of the war to the
present time, Congress had not done one solitary
thing to uphold the navigation interests Of the
United States while during that time it had passed
nnety-two acts in aid Of internal transportation,
and had given 200 600 900 of the public lands,
worth to-day 100000 900 in money, and seventy
millions in cash to the same end.
AS to subsidies Mr. Blaine said at is always
lawful to be taught by enemy" lie referred to
what Great Britain and France have done and are
dong in this direction and advocated the adoption
of like policy in this part of the coultry. Let
the American marine, he said feel that the
government is beh nd them let the United States
only take from the treasury per annum 81 900 600,
the same sum Great Britain is paying only
postscript to her 500 600 900 investment and let
that be used as fund TO stimulate any company
from any port of the United States to any foreign
port" Mr.. Blaine then contrasted the expensive
ness Of nine naval establishments with the
three of Great Britain, and after referring to
comparatively detenceless position with exposed
ocean and Gulf coasts, he inquired of Mr. Beck
how he going to have us maintain our navy
after getting the country into state of absolu to
dependence upon Great Britain for a commercial
marine How would that Senator retain even the
rudimentary art of shipbuldng for ocean
steamers when his policy absolutely forbade the
hremotest prospect OF any Of them being built here
After referring to the naval establishment of Il
nation properly the necessary outgrowth Of a
mercantile marine and to the fact that where the
latter did not exist the former coud not, Mr.
Blaine reviewed the statements Of MIR Beck IN
relation to the downfall of the American marine,
and held that the principal cause the com
plete revolution effected in seagoirg steamers
right in the midst of our way, by "A succession of
inventions partly American and partly British.
Up to that time the steam vessels had not been
great treighters and vessel Of 5000 tons Oh q
voyage of given date took > 200 tors of coal and
machinery and 500 tons of freight Now this was
exactly reversed and it could take 500 tons tor coal
| and machinery and 200 tons for freight This
revolution. consistent with the cause mentioned
by MIR Beck, had Frustrated our marine In re
gard to the revolution from sailing vessels 10
steam marine he SAID the carrying capacity of an
ocean going steamer was something very surprls
ing 10 men who had not examined it The very
first steamers of the Roach line o-caed steamers
not near large as those of the Cunard and White
Star lines) carried an assorted cargo which by the
manifest showed more than could be got into the
hold of the vessel and in addition to hat there
was rolled into the mold 20 600 barrels of flour
| These latter alone would occupy POO way ears
| It was by their enormous capacity for freight that
the steam marine had gained on the sailing YES
sells Of the carrying trade Ii IDLE for US to
| fold our arms and suppose that WOo'cn sailing
vessels were to maintain ANYTHING like their
| former Importance. Their days were rot yet over
| and they would prove valuable auxiliary IN com
merce, but the great ocean routes such as the
| West Indies, from Francisco to Melbourne,
&c, would soon be occupied almost to the exclu-
sion of sailing craft by steamers The United
States could take great part OF the trade of these
| routes whenever they made up their minds that a
mercantile marine and a naval establishment must
| 20 hand IN hand and that Congress is dereict i'll
! its duty it it passes another naval appl opriatlon
| bill without aceou panying it with some forecast
ing provisions looking to the upbuil'ting Of the
mercantile marine
| To give practical effect to his arguments Senator
| Blaine has introduced bill for the establishment
OF L. S mail service, and the revival Of the
| foreign commerce in American steamships, which
provides that the owners Of American steamships
| Of 5000 tons register or upwards, constructed
| after approved models and equal in accommoda-
tons, safety and speed to the mail carry ing vessel
of any nation, shall be entitled to receive for ear
| ryIng the United States mails. regular lines of
| such steamships from any port or ports IN the
| United States to any foreign port ports, mail
| compensation BOT exceeding SD per nautical mile
per annum for the distance one way. for twelve
round trips per annum ! l. per mile for twenty
four trips, and $50 per mile t0r fort eight trips
| per annum, in accordance with contracts to be
made for such mail transportation by the Post
master General, after public advertisement for
proposals with the lowest bidders on each line for
| terms not exceeding ID years and upon all the
conditions for securing rapid and efficient trans
portatlon which are usual or established by law in
| similar cases.
Sec 2-Only those steamships shall be accepted
| for such service which have been built in Ameri-
| can ship yards of American material and by Amer
| lean mechanics and they shall be commanded b.
! citizens Of the United States and manned by crews
! of whom at least three fourths American citi
Zens; and before beng accepted they shall be duly
| inspected under the direction Of the Postmaster
General and Secretary of the Navy and such See
Rotary may also allow any officer Of the Navy leave
of absence, for not exceeding live years for the
purpose of serving on such ships, which absence
shall be without pay, but without prejudice to rank
or promotion.