The Wilmingtonian., 1885-02-14
OUR COMMERCE.
NOTES UPON MIR. GIBBONS
LECTURE IN BOSTON.
Belief In the Ability of American
Commercial Energy for
Revivifcafi0n.

In the face of divergentopinions upon the
great questions that are bgtating business
and political circles to day, Free Trade and
Protection, it is extremely gratifying to
read the thesis of our fellSw-ctizen William
j. Gibbons. Those who ifad it cannot but
realize the character Of Substantial fact that
peryades his argument. His assertions
amid shir-building ce7muuity, and as
president of one of its pr,f fliueut ship build
ing firms would natural 4 lsceive the atten-
| tion which has been accos-i5,i',+!.:.--:,.,.
1t is pertinent, and incu nbent upon us all
tto read, mark, and digest what promi-
uent ship-builder has to ssy upon the po-
ltico-commercial topic ofFree Trade.
The main arguments are those which
have been advanced by the tariff-ior-reyenue
party, but in this case, MI, Gibbons has the
advantage of being shp-builder himself
representing his own profession, he is not
politician, and for that reason his words
bear added weight and attention.
There is little doubt but that Wilmington
has the elements for an American Green
eek, and the Chrstiana, Tor an American
Clyde. We are in close contiguity to the
Pennsylvania coal and irea fields. Midway
between the extreme north and south points
of tile American Atlantic ,eaboard, we have,
in situation, all the natural advantages
needed for ship-buildias centre of the
United States.
There is one slight drasback, however
our river, the Christiana, night be consid-
erably deepened. Had Selator Bayard half
the enterprise, OF belief in She future poss-
bilities of this locality as a leading ship
building centre, that, for Instance the bold
Senators from Texas have IN their undoubt-
edly inferior port, Galveston, our Senator's
alleged influence would secure something
| worth accepting as an appropriation for the
| deepening of the Christiant
| Galveston's representation in Congress
asks millions, and expects to get at least
$500, 0O0l What does Wilmington secure
And yet compare the thrift and enterprise of
Of the two ports! Look y the ships we
hniidi- Aud -h~sa .aq I'll the Aisad-
vantages of muddy little brcek such as the
Christiana!
Mr. Gibbons refers in hip lecture to the
decadence, in fact obliteration from Ameri-
can ports of that large and influential class
Of merchants known as ship.oN ners, large
firms owning their own ships, in some in
stances whole fleets, trading to all parts of
the world, carrying American products, and
returning laden with the raw products and
manufactures of distant clmes.
This reference of the lecturer brings WV
idly to the writer's mind sight seen otter
along the London wharves, say along the
East India or Victoria docks. In the even
ing, by gaslght as you stroll along thos'
busy wharves whore the ships lie ten or
dozen deep, continuous forest along tn
Thames banks completely cutting off
view Of the river, you casually peep iuto thu
counting houses. You may see, as til
i writer has, in a single room, as many as 20
: clerks! All busy with their books. This
+ simply ship-owner's office, the busines
y being simply the recording of the freigl
" business! =4
1t is but limited picture of what Il
5 large firms of Green, Dunbar, Mckay an
lr others accomplish Their fleets literal
numbering hundreds of vessels trading a
III over the world, and bringing to London,
I'll the great trade emporium, the products
IL all climes, there to be redistributed to Il
10 world. So it is from London Americans G
p the products of Asia, Africa and Europe;
70 is not from India or the Cape, or Brazil b
'i- from Londonl And this trade is what
vi Americans have stupidity lost. MIR. Gibbc
is right in his animadSsisions of protect
Is legislation. 1t was in the power of t
MS cou ntry to at least retain what she had, a
no build up upon that new commerce af
as 1865.
'ne It shows wrong reading or ignorance
Tx or bistnrv tn sunnose that war if needs
ISL of commercial determination, can cradle
ici- from an energetic people the powers
en- commercial resusctation! History
the proves it'll Was Rome killed by Cartha
its trade was temporary obliterated. "
'ith Venice or Genoa annihilated by the Turl
hall the Corsair!-at one time their commI
lted was overwhelmed. Was the Dutch tt
'ery killed by Spain Pit rose again when A
get died. Did English trade succumb to
ryr overpowering influence of the ships of
Dutch Republic ?-yes, England 9
swept from the seas" and the prov of
English ship dared not show itself out
Tilbury Fort or the Forelands!-but
Dutch Admiral Van Trump was slain,
moor England rose again! A century before
lux. when England was in tho beginning of
/ be commercial career, in the reign of L
pes'' beth, the Catholic alliance of contn
exer- powers with the all-powerful Spain a