The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-05-29
Our Senators on Shipping Questions.
THE SPEECHES OF MESSRS. HALE AND FRYE IN
IuE I-NIIEn SIAIES SEN ATE

Our Senators on Shipping Questions
THE SPEECHES OF MESSTS. HALE AND FRYEIN
THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
Extract from the speech of Senator Hale on
''Free Ships" May ,, 1884.
Let me tell the Senator from Missouri and
the Senator from Kentucky what will happen
If this amendment passes. The very first time
that war breaks out in Europe. the very first
time that European complications involve
Great Britain and she is drawn irresistibly into
conflict (and if her marine is safe she is drawn
more easily into conflict. what would happen:
Her whole sailing force, her whole mercantile
marine would at once III the name of factors
and agents and partners be put under
the American flag, and while the war
continued would be kept under the Amer
lean flag. and the Senator from Missouri and
the Senator from Kentucky would behold this
amazing spectacle that the carving trade of
the world would continue to be done BY British
ships under the American flag. owned by
British subjects who would be really the con
trolling power in the name of citizens here as
partners and agents and factors. and all the
earnings OF tins great trade would be absorbed
by the owners of that carving trade and eX-
pended in Great Britain and not dollar de-
rived by Us from the emergency. The oppor-
tunity that would more than any other give Us
the chance to revive our trade and our carry
ing of The commerce of the world would be
good for nothing Would the Senator from
Missouri or the Senator from Kentucky like to
see that: But is sure as they live and these
things come about, and they may, they will see
it.
On the other hand if we pursue the policy
that Great Britain did. a. have tried to state
it, then when European trouble cOmes-and
wars have not ceased and will not in his day nor
mine-and when Great Britain is involved in
war and her carving trade is in peril ant, the
merchants of all the ports of the world are
seeking neutral ship to carry their products.
then the demand will come for American
bottoms to carry the trade of the world. the
American merchant marine at once leaps into
new life and magnitude ana gains hold and
power that will never from that moment cease.
The Senator from Missouri in his ardOr for
free trade. "un wild on free ships. seeks to take
away from. America that chance. and it is not
small chance. 1t is not chance that is not
worth reckoning. 1t is the one distinctive thing
.li1 5 III me thd ana petAa: IN Inc near future
rau Fancy under these condition, ihr an'Ie-
men with which such Il proposition as that of
lne senator Of Missouri Is io9Ged upon ahroad
most.
No, iii, such i not the path to be pursued by
lhe American Congress we ought 10 build
oul own shl'S ana llot present Inc laihehlable
sptet"c't 10 lhe WoIIu o. passing an acI mar
~ L" tlie "oiIW "o "ulciuS MA! Srtd people,
"i'il q e"'>' VI ":''V nIeN' Nhl'd 'F<'LtN years
az W. I'9ilu III tli' T'iIHleil' Vi the S'opt
utHpG'"eIH ny uo"h Hi nope iof the lulurG
aug I'f'"ft> 10 'ht N"iIb OUTSIDE llal IL slialI
ouhu oar Ni'i'> ana we fdhh"' puma our own
~ t'iNl ''fVi vas 9lt"t coiiin'iViai ana d
9ftal nav people Waith carried lhe trade OF
tm@ Wof'H mat old MOI bulid thtIr own ships;
III, otIlalo } ma! hHht III hii lnr Hh""gl'S ana
IA an tile ana III an ihe examples
ICY ICY ~ "loIU" pH nv P8>t an" INC propose
t''h {"'t Ga" heNtl pt 4ouui 70 vary i lhiu me
i'oP' nc 'aII! lile IleIchand>'o Oh the word.
VIZ 'otr0i ilS commerce are me people VINO
bulIi tIit NliN Win WHICH 70 40 IL. ana Nlltn