National Republican., 1883-03-01
AMERICAN SHIPS.
The Duty Of Congress Toward Our Carrying
Trade.
The Decline OF American Commerce ana
How 10 Rebuild it.
rn "a. Edror.

the ocean and its gradual but successful abb
sorbtion by their great commercial rival,
while their representatives in congress have
not made single movement or passed
single act OF legislation tending TO stay the
downward course of American commerce and
the ruin Of their shipbuilding industry and
Interests. Senators and representatives have
in numerous speeches lamented the existing
state of affairs, and this not only in congress,
but before boards of trade and commercial ox-
changes: but the people have yet 10 see any
action upon their part to provide n remedy or
correct the evils of which they complain.
Others-and we say it with rcgrct-arc so
much in sympathy with English interests,
80 much allied to them in business
way, that they hesitate and fear TO COM
init themselves to, much less advocate any
policy which would in the slightest degree be
adverse to them. Let but the moneyed men
OF England, who have close alliances with tho
moneyed mon of New York express
their objectiousto measures intended for the
benefit of American as opposed 10 British in
terests, and instantly congressman sufficiently
strong in numbers can be found to oppose the
same and interpose every conceivable obstacle
to their passage. They act and vote against
the best interests of their own country and
governments and to all iutcnts and pur-
poses they might as well be openly in the
English parliament legislating for British
interests as to do so in the halls OF the
American congress. II would be better for
our own nation that such were the case,
and there would be at least some honor in being
open rather than secret and jesuitical, enemies
to American interests. We speak plainly and
we believe that nine-tenths OF the American
people coincide in our views.
We arc all aware that not many years ago
our nation boasted Of having the fastest and
cheapest wooden ships in the world, and that
our flag was seen floating proudly in almost
every port. We were rapidly becoming
great and independent carrying nation ON tho
ocean, and bade fair TO outstrp in the race
for superiority our great and energetic rival,
England. In our success in building wooden
ships we neglected developing our iron re-
sources and the building of iron ships, while
England, after having failed in every other
effort to check our onward progress and to
advance her own, pushed forward in the now
business of building these ships, and COM
menced the policy of paying large and liberal
compensation to different steamship COM
panies for carrying tho English mails. The
vessels of the latter were thus ably backed
up by the English government, it intending
thereby to crush out all competition and OBJ
tain the mastery in the ocean carrying trade.
Our civil war came on. England had been
subsidizing her ships for period Of
twenty years. she had her iron vessels
and took advantage of her opportunity,
and as a result our commerce was driven
from the sea. From that period until the
present IL has gradually been declining,
while, as a nation, we are paying millions
upon millions of dollars to foreign ship own
ers TO carry our own productions, and even
the American mails. For our ocean carrying
of freight, passengers, and mails we paid last
year over $140000,000 TO foreign vessels,
while in the last fifteen years we have paid
over one thousand millions of dollars in gold
out of the country in this way. and when
gold was at premium. Between 1860 and
1870, by the, official statistics of the United
States postofce, our government paid over
$3,79S, 900 to the English Cunard line for carry
ing our mails. Were we to give q complete
statement of the manner in which the moneys
of the American people have been appropriated
to nursing and fostering foreign steamship
lines our readers would be surprised; but
facts are stubborn things. American Con-
gressmen have been derelict in their duty,
and have taken the food from the American
shipbuilders and mechanics, and given IL to
their rivals and enemies.
Space will not permit any very extended
remarks upon this all-impOrtant and most
vital question, but we say most emphatically
that should the American congress ut once re-
peal all laws upon the statute book intlicting
IOuUaBe uues, COuhul leSb, anu pllOV-
age (which both democratic and republican
congressman admit are burdensOme and pre-
judicial to the American shipOwner), and
then pass an act providing for carrying the
foreign mails in American ships and Ameri-
can bottoms, paying therefor an adequate and
liberal compensation, giving the American
ships engaged in the foreign carrying trade
the same aid and encouragement as are given
vessels engaged in the coasting trade, railway
companies, &C., for performing the same postal
SERVICE step would then be in reality taken
in the initiative toward building up our ship
ping interests and regaining our proper po-
Bition upon the ocean.
Is it intended by congress that America
should DO dependent upon England for her
ships? Suppose war should suddenly break
out between our nation and England or any
other leading foreign power, what would be
our position Why, for the want of ships, we
would neither carry nor protect our own pro-
ducts. Even III case of war between foreign
nations (when it is evident to all that an
enormous demand would be made for our pro-
ducts) how could we take any advantage Of
opportunity, in that case presented, for regain
ing our foreign carrying trader
There is no possible way Of avoiding tho
conclusion-congress must legislate in favor
of American shipbuilding. and in favor of
conveying the foreign mails in American ships
Only such legislation will satisfy the Amer
lean people.
80 other nation has such resources, no me-
chancs in the world can excel us even in
skill and ingenuity. Our supplies of iron
ore, coal, lumber, &C., are ineXhaustible. Our
factories, our rolling mills our shipyards
&C., cannot be surpassed for completeness and
extent, and for possessing every facility and
advantage. What then is 10 prevent us from
building our ships, both wooden and iron2 2
Can any nation in tho world point to ship
builders Of greater scientific knowledge and
practical skill than we posscss2 We have
shipbuilders whose reputation is world wide,
whose plans have been carefully studied and
copied, and whose improvements have re-
ceived the warmest cOmmendation and
Endorsement In Europe. American ships
are renowned for being models Of beauty and
OF workmanship while for general speed and
durability they have not been surpassed
Every description of vessel that is built can
be built and in the most unexceptionable
manner, by our own shipbuilders, while at the
same time we have every facility for building
ships worthy of the nation. Why, then
when we consider these facts coupled with
the other that we have all the advantages of
the best of material workmon, &c. should
America be tributary to England or any other
foreign country2 Does congress intend that
the trade and industry of shipbuilding in
America shall die outP Does II desire that an
American navy shall cease to eKist2
We have noticed that atterly congressional
attention has been called TO this all important
matter in II few speeches made by senators
and representatives, but beyond these no
definite or we'll considered action has boen
taken. The people had speeches Of the same
character earlier in the session, which ac-
complished nothing. Less speechmaking
nE