The Republican journal., 1884-01-24

In Il recent speech in the Senate Mr.. Morrill,
said
Mr.. President, the question of our commerce
Is grave one. | am quite ready to do all III
my power to improve its present condition,
but 1t will be utterly impossible to restore the
commerce of this country to the position that 1t
occupied III ancient years. In the first place,
the construction of large steamer vessels tax
ing our Atlantic trade abroad has used up all
OF the smaller sailing vessels. and our clipper
ships that formerly controlled the entire trade
with the indies are now obsolete, and are no
longer used. In our inland trade, instead of
using our coasters that we formerly mad, II Is
now all done by railroad and must continue to
be SO done. These two things have absorbed
the large amount of profit that formerly APP
peared on our list of tonnage. One of the
present iron steamships supplies the place of
twenty or thirty small sailing vessels, and let
me say now that these vessels, which have
been built by foreign nations, i'll England and
IN Germany, are not at the present time paying
institutions; many of them, | am told. are not
earning per cent. upon their capital; many of
them are merely earning their actual expenses.
The truth Is that the universal Yankee nation
VIII employ its labor and its capital where it
can make the most money. Ii 1t can make
more at some other avocation than it can in
commerce it will enter upon that.
There is good deal of truth in the words of
'i0N''N'ti -
the closing paragraph. The fact that in this
growing and prosperous country there are
more profitable uses for capital than in building
ships and steamers has more to do with the de-
cline of our shipping interest than has been
generally recognized IT will be said. then if
foreigners can carry our freight cheaper than
we can carry it, why not let them do so: If
llt, -. 4I Al,
would be little difficulty in solving it. But
ours is a maritime nation, we must have a
navy; and we must have men to man it. The
merchant marine is not only the nursery Of the
navy, but would be called upon in case of hos
tities to furnish ships and officers as well as
men. war that found us unprepared, with
neither ships nor men at command. would cost
the country, and that means every individual
tax payer, sum larger than the largest aggre-
gate of the proposed b0unties and remission of
taxes for Il hundred years to come. This is the
dollars and cents side of the question. apart
from the patriotic view of it. which would be
averse 10 having this great country at the meI-
cy of some inferior power. The Boston Adj
yertser, in All editorial captioned Tho Need
of Naval Foley well says: Though we are
at peace now with all nations, and we are 50
powerful and SO isolated that we are in no dan
ger of hOstilitieS with any one. we cannot hope
10 always avoid difficulties with foreign Ioes,
and it i only the part of wisdom 10 prepare to
meet them If any contest comes, it must OF
necessity be mainly at sea. Moreover. no M
ton can afford TO dispense with armed ships IN
foreign waters. to protect the interests aud the
rights of their citizens. 4 naval force is there
fore essential TO this well as other Countries