Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-05-20
Free Ships.

Free Ships.
The contest being waged in Congress
over free ships" is one of great impor-
lance to this country. The recent speeches
OF Senators Frye and Hale upon this sub
iect 90 to the core of the matter. They
show clearly that the free ships" clamor
means destruction to our ship yards. sur
render 10 Great Britain of the carrying
trade upon the high seas. and the depend
ence upon that nation in peace or war for
navy. In this light it is seen that it is
not merely question in which shipbuild-
srs and ship owners alone are interested,
but one in which every American citizen
who regards the defence and safety of the
countd is concerned. The closing re-
mark ~of Senator Hale, in his speech
upon the shipping bill when it was be
fore the Senate. as in Committee of the
Whole. present in concise form the great
Importance of this subject. We copy the
following from his speech:
There is one other thing that weighs very
strongly in my mind. If we were asked by
our great commercial rival, Great Britain,
to select measure that would in itself in
terms suit her, not only with reference to
trade now, but with reference to emergen-
cies and exigencies in the future. the reply
would be "a free-ship law" Why2 Look
at the situation of Great Britain and the other
European powers. Great Britain is the COM
mercial mercantile power of the world to-
day Her capital is invested in ships, in the
returns that they bring. and when you strike
her commerce, and when you strike her
carving trade and the ships that do it you
strike her in IA vital part. There is no one
thing that TO-DAY keeps the peace of Europe
and keeps the peace between Europe and
America like the sensitive condition of Great
Britain as to her mercantile marine.
Let me tell the Senator from Missouri and
the Senator from Kentucky what will happen
il this amendment passes. The very first
time that war breaks out IN Europe. the very
first time that European complications in
yolve Great Britain and she is drawn ire
sistibly into conflict (snd II her marine is
safe she IL drawn more easily into confiict)
what would hsppen9 Her whole sailing force,
her whole mercantile marine would at once
in the name Of factors and agents and part
ners be put under the American flag, and
while the war continued would be kept under
the American flag, and the Senator from
Missouri and the Senator from Kentucky
would behold this amazing spectacle, that the
carrying trade of the world would continue
to be done by British ships under the Amer
lean flag owned by British subjects who
wsuld be really the controlling power in the
name Of citizens here ss partners and agents
and factors. and all the earnings of this grea,
n t.l H.. 81
q carrying trade and expended in Great
Britain and not dollar derived BY us from
the emergency. The opportunity that would
more than any other give US the chance to
revive our trade and our carrying of the
commerce of the world would be good fol
nothing. Would the Senator from Missouri OF
the Senator from Kentucky like to see that
But as sure as they live and these things
come about. and they may. they will see il.
On the other hand, If we pursue the policy
that Great Britain did as | have tried t.
state il. then when European trouble comes
and wars have not ceased and will not in his
dav or miue-and when Great Britain is
involved In war aud her carrying trade is in
peril and the merchants of all the ports o.
the world are seeking neutral ship to carry
their products. then the demand will CONS
for American bottoms to carry the trade OF
the world as il came in 1861 for British bot
toms to carry the trade of the world, tn,
American merchant marine at once leap.
into new life and magnitude and gains I
hold aud power that will never from tina
moment cease.
The Senator from Missouri in his arior fo
free trade, run wild on free ships. seeks &c
take away from America that chance, and i
is not q small chance. IL is not a chanc,
that is not worth reckoning. II is the ons
distinctive thing that in the end and perhaps
in the near future will again restore tbs
American carrying trade. can fancy under
these conditions the amaxement with which
such proposition as that of the Senator OF
Missouri Is looked upon abroad except by
those who would benefit by it the most.
No. sir, such is not the path to be pursued
bv the American Congress. We ought t,
build our own ships and not present the lam
entable spectacle to the world of passing al
acs that saws to the world outside that PEG
pie. with sescoast of 1000 miles. which
twenty wears ago was second in the com
merce of the globe, deliberately lays down
all hope for the future and declares to the
outside thar il shall build our ships and We
can not build our own. Sir. there never wa.
great commercial and great naval people
which carried the trade of the world that die
not build its own ships. The Senators ma,
hunt in all the snalogies and in all the il
lustrations and in all the examples that ar,
afforded by the past and the proposition that
can never be found to vary is that the peopl,
who carry the merchandise of the world, who
control its commerce, are the people whs
build the ships with which to do it and whes