National Republican., 1883-02-19
SHALL WE HAVE SHIPS?
The Question Fully and Ably Discussed by the
Association Of Economists.
John Roach Gives Some Good Reasons
Why We Should be Builders.
American Built American Owned, and American
Manned Vsssels Vital Necessity.
Tho sums Now Paid TO Foreigner
Speeches By nIsssrs. Ward and DingIey.

night in Willard hall, Judge Lawrence in the
chair. A large audience was present despite
the inclemency of the weather. Judge Law.
renee opened the meeting with a short and
pointed address, exposing the fallacy of the
commonly entertained idea that
GREAT BRITAIN
was devoted to free trade. Said he: ~ pro.
pose to show that England, having abandoned
protection by tariff laws, has adopted the
policy Of protection under other legislation
Protection means that by legislation thoin-
dustries of a country shall have an advantage
over those of all other countries. England
gives this protection in the worst, most OBJ.
jectionable, and unjust form. She levies
no tax, as such, on lands, factories,
machinery, or money In our states on
such property the ratio of taxation Is about
2 per cent. Our manufacturer on every
100000 invested pays $1,000 or more. The
English manufacturer pays no tax except q
small income tax on profits, not one-tenth of
that paid by the American. In England the
burdens are thrown on labor; in this country
ON property. By the English system, there,
fore, there is the equivalent of o high pro-
teetive tariff in favor Of manufacturers, who
can borrow untaxed money at low,rate of
interest. Were tho American manufacturer
thus exempt from taxation and favored with
cheap money he could defy the world. The
total taxes on national bank capital in this
country in 1881 were 7-10 per cent, which
must be paid by our industries. The differ
ence between the American and English
systems Is that suffrage there is limited,
s,, 11A ..,N, 4
capital to the prejudice of labor !;
while here suffrage is universal, the
people govern, and property shares the
burdens of government. England, then, is
enrolled in favor of an odious form of protec-
tion to her industries, which impoverishes
and degrades the laborer. This association
favors that protective policy that favoIs labor
and seeks to give it just rewards. Here every
manufacturer is u benefactor, giving pro6ta-
BILE employment to American citizens, who in
turn make market for tho farmer. The
term manufactures should give place to
the term "beneiactures." We should by
legislation recognize the dignity of work and
of the workman. Under such system COM
munism will find no excuse, but all Ameri-
cans will be bound together by the common
good of all in common purpose, sharing
common benefits and blessings.
Prof. Dodge here read paper from
MR.. JOHN ROACH,
of New York, on "American Shipping" mo
question before the people," read Mr.. Dodge,
is OF greater importance; none needs so much
to be rightly understood none other de-
mand such just and intelligent legislation as
shall create an American shipping policy, and
under that policy an American built and
owned merchant marine. For this l will give
rs briefly as possible what seems to me to be
unanswerable reasons why we should build
and own ships. An American built, American
owned, and American manned merchant ma
rine is vital necessity. First, as a means of
national defense, both for our commerce and
our coast.
81. In 1880 tho value of our exports and
imports was $1,5S9,472, ,O93. OF this foreign
ships carried 81 1903, ,566, ,496, or S24 per cent.
On the safe and sure delivery of our surplus
products in the worlds markets and on the
cash returns depend our financial stability.
Block up the road to market through foreign
complications for however brief PERIOD and
widespread bankruptcy and ruin would result,
We are liable ut any time to be endangered
by foreign complications. Would any sane
man think of placing our railways under con-
troll OF foreign governments? But what are
the steamship lines save the simple continua-
tion of the great trunk lines to market?
2. For the coast we have $4,000 miles, 'front.'
ing on two oceans, to protect. We have also
q coast marine and trade nearly if not quite
equal to the entire foreign trade, subject to be
broken up by foreign attack. What protec-
tion has the United States for its coast and
coasting trader
3. We are to-day dependent on foreigners
for the carrying OF our surplus products to
market. In case Of emergency we would be
helpless. We would neither carry nor protect
our products. Secondly, as a means of ma
tional development. The shipbuilding inter-
est is interwoyen with nearly every indus
trial interest of the country. The extent to
which this is true, is probably recognized by
few. Shipbuilding requires articles drawn
from the iron, copper, lead, lumber, coal, rope
flag, steam pump, cotton and wooden goods
furniture, silver, crOckery and glassware
lamp, nautical instruments, and many other
industries, and requires vast amounts of such
Free trade in ships is an entering
wedge, therefore, to free trade in every in
dustry in this country. To buy ships abroad
shipbuilding industry of foreign country,
but to take the money that would
go to American labor in all these other
branches of industry and send it
to pay wages to foreign workingmen. Again,
we are paying to foreigners for carrying such
freights from forty to one hundred and forty
millions n year. What would be the effect If
this large sum were added annually to the in
dustrios of the country, instead of being taken
out Of itY Still, again, to regain our place as
a commercial nation, would require an outlay
of Mt least two hundred millions annually for
the next ten years, 80 per cent. of that amount
being paid to labor. The profits of this would
go to the country where 1t was spent. What
effect would IL have ON the development of
the resources and industries of our country TO
put this capital into American products for
the employment and enrichment of our own
peOple2 Again, to build and own ships, and
10 carry in them our surplus products is tho
only way to open up new markets, and thus
10 develop American commerce. Should Wo
buy them abroad we would be drained of
m enormous sum every year for repairs. We
could not repair them at home, for not build
ing them, We should not have the facilities
and skilled labor requisite TO this work, the
plant being too expensive to be maintained
simply for such purpose. The key TO unlock
the worlds commerce Is the fast mail shin.
England's maritime history is one solid proof
of the truth Of this. As matter of experi-
ence it Is shown that the nation which would
effectively use this key must be able TO make
1t at home and not buy it abroad. That we
,an make this key at home is proved by the
fact that in the teeth Of overwhelming diff
culties we have in the ten years since 1872
built 40 iron screw steamships, OF 100000
tonnage. We have been able TO build the
Alsting feet because the competition is oven,
the capital invested being subject to the
II n laws. But when we undertake to put
.A into the foreign trade we bring it into
tion with capital Of people who have
A,orable conditions of interest, taxa
~ labOr, and for such unequal enter
" is wanting.
\ american ships Americans must