Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-13
Our Vanished Merchant Marine.

Senator Bayard. in his speech at the
Chamber of Commerce dinner in New
York Tuesday night, made a strong and
clear statement of the Ises which
brought about the decline Of the mer.
chant marine of the United States. OF
the statistics which he presented per-
baps the most effective were the con-
Guiding figures. In 1881 only 16 per
cent. of the freight money between for
eigu ports and cur own, amounting to
SOC, 900, 900, was earned by American
ships, while on the basis of our proper
ton twenty years earlier we should
have had Ga per cent. To regain our
lost position we must add more than
s4S. 600. 600 of freight money to the less
than $16,000,00O which we actually
have. Mr.. Bsyard enumerated some of
the reasons for this remarkable
decadence - the ''blind and silly act
of Congress" which prohibited the re-
registry of American vessels driven to
the protection of foreign flag during
the war, an act, by the way, which con
forms strictly to the narrow principle of
our navigation laws; the high duty on
materials used in sbipbuilding; the OPP
pressive taxes on shipping property, and
the excessive fees extorted from vessels;
besides the diversion of the attention of
our enterprising men of business from
external to internal commerce, as seen
in the extraordinary impulse to the rail
road movement. To prepare the way
for a marine revival, he urged the repeal
of duties on imported materials, the
abolition of many fees and the reduction
of others, and the exemption of ships
from local taxation, after the wise ex-
ample of the State of New York.
Here in nutshell are the causes that
have reduced us from a high rank
among the merchant powers to almost
insignifcance. The causes have been
evident for years past, and yet every
effort to remove them has been steadily
fought. The legislation that has
wrought this decadence of our merchant
marine is of a piece with the system of
spoliation known as protection. The
American merchant is given the choice
of employing foreigners to carry his
freights or buying ships of American
builders, who are protected to an enor-
nous extent and who, accordingly make
the best of their opportunity in render
ing their bills. Very naturally the mer-
chant prefers the first alternative, and
as the years go by more and more do
likewise till the ultimate humiliation of
our merchant marine is but question
of time.
The plea is urged against repeal of
the senseless restrictions that Europeans
build ships for less money and that
American shipbuilding must be fostered.
Thus for the benefit of few petted
favorites princely revenue is lost to our
merchants annually and goes to
enrich foreign carriers. The few
American shipbui'ders derive com
Portable incomes from orders for the
coasting trade, and the few contracts
they receive for ocean vessels. Our
merchants have, to large extent, given
up the fight for reform in this direc
tion, and this great country, with its vast
coast line and wonderful resources, is
made the basis of supply for the enter
prising shipowners of petty European
States, who laugh at our stupidity and
profit by our folly.
Side by side with our crazy navigation
laws is the persistent refusal to reach
out for a share of the trade of the ma
tions that would willingly exchange with
us, if treated fairly. Yet, we keep on
widening the home market''-wringing
fresh tribute from the masses of our
people for the benefit of the few.
The paramount issue in American
politics to-day is revenue reform. Sooner
or later it will be decided in the interest
of the people Next to it is the problem
of restoring American commerce. The
first step needed is the plotting out of
the enactments that amount to its virtual
prohibition. That accomplished, our
harbors will be lined with American
owned ships, built no matter where, and
the flag of our country, as in days OF
yore, will be known and respected in
every sea.