Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-02-12

been but mildly asserted, grew into iul
fiedged public favor, and the good peopl
who we're then its advocates, and In al
other things were quick enough to distin
guish right from wrong, could see n
injustice In taxing the masses Of thsi
countrymen, to the end that a fsvore,
few might speedily grow rioh.
Practically the high tariff duties befor
spoken Of are In force to-day; the de
stroyed ocean carrying trade, the olosec
factories aud workshops to be found q
either hand the iron furnaces and rollinl
mills, from whose tall chimneys no smOk
tssuea, the coal mines, partially worked
or not all, the thousands OF idle engi
neers, mechanics, artisans and laborers
men honestly seeking employment wher
there is none to bs had, the long oolumnl
Of advertisements OF sheriffs' sales to b.
seen in tae daily papers, the steady drsir
upon the deposits Of savings banks, o
the funds which the provident and
thoughtful among the working olasse'
had, in better days, laid by to keep the
wolf from their doors-these tel, in termi
that oannot bs misunderstood, that
after q fair and impartial trial Of the
theory OF protection during 20 years
we have realised that "proteotion" has
failed to protect the masses, that 1t ia q
broken stick, tree producing Dead ses
apples only. Bat to the ocean carrying
trade, and the inter sst which our people
had, not only in that, but in building,
equipping and manning the ships that
performed IL. During the frat half oi
she present century, when values Of mer.
ohsndise Of all kinds were not widely
different from the ratings Of European
countries, the American ship owner sent
vessels ont upon the worlds high seas,
In full confidence OF his ability to COM
pete squarely, evenly and profitsbly TO
himself, with any and all who might
choose to contest with him for the prize
Of q full share Of the carrying trade.
Under his command were good ships,
built OF American materials, Of model,
which for symmetry, fine sailing quail
ties and strength to enable them
to weather safely the fercest
storms, had no superiors, as were notably
those known as Baltimore clippers, -
whose reputation for excellence was as
deserved as II was worldwide. They
were sailed by men aB skillful In their
profession as were to be found In the
world, and with rates Of expenses of all
things needed to supply the vessels, cost
Of repairs and wages Of crews included,
not in any important degree greater than
those Of the competitors Of other nations;
the American ship with Its officers and
crew, was received as the peer, ss In
point Of TACT II was, OF any others that
sailed the seas, and in the competition for
business Was able to make profitable voy-
ages when receiving the same freight rates
as those Of rival flags. The fortunes made
by the commercial houses engaged In the
employment OF ships, Of which there are
prominent examples In your own oily Of
Boston, IS we'll as in other seaports OF the
United States, bear witness OF the truth
OF the statement Just made. When the
advance In prices, due to the high rate OF
taxes upon imports, heretofore referred 10,
began to be felt, then the ship owner
whose vessels were employed in other SER
vice than the ooAsting trade Of the United
States found himself confronted with the
problem OF how to make ends meet, where
the cost Of everything his ships required
to keep them running, had, seamen's
wages not excepted, advanced from 80 to
80 per oentum, q d at the same time the
freight rates obtAinable,o or better said, the
VESSELS earnings We're without change In
any important particular.
At any time during the past Is years,
let us imagine an A Auerioau ship at th.
port of Calcutta in search OF a cargo. An
English veseel Of the sans siz, and class
al Al has ..,1
The captains of oaoG arc, bg consequ-nro,
comp tit0rs for the same business. The
American, whose ship is puilt OF "pro
t cted" materials surplied with "pro-
teoted" wir dsss, anchors, chains, ssils,
oordsge rigging, oroks' outfit, signal
Zig hts, compasses, chronomet-r aud other
Instruments OF navigation, the MATERIAL
of which olothing Of the officers ahd Grew
are made; all these have contributed
their respective share to augment ii 9
burden OF the unfortunate American, In
that their great cost requires him to se-
cure proportionately increased price for
the work his ship performs. Nor Ia this
all. Because insurance companies are
themselves subjected, in more or
less degree to the consequences
of the beneicent influences Of
"protection" they are forced to demand
and receive greater premium rates Of in
surauoe than do Rnropean underwriters,
and here again ia the American disadvan
.agsously loaded Again,th sailors who
work the ship, because OF the taxation
directly upon their clothing, tobacco, ard,
In general, all their supplies, and 10
directly upon their boarding house ex
penses while ashore, are compelled "a
demand, and to receive, 80 to 40 per cent
more wages than rule upon vessels o.
other ationalities-snother load upon
the American vessel.
Now to return to the competition be
tween the two ships, American and Eng.
lish, for the cargo spoken Of At a prict
for freight which to the English vessel
would be fairly remunerative, the Amer
loan, because Of the difference In oiroum
stances Just stated, realizes no profit
but probA bly, q loss, For many year
freight rates have rarely been higf
enough, more than to fairly remunerat'
the English vessel, and consequently ave-
Improbable, or sources OF loss to th'
American.
Further, to set forth the prsctica
working OF this system and illustrate IT.
crushing effect upon the American shil
owner, let us compare the effect OF 'pro
teoticn" upon a manufacturer OF woolei
blankets, and the owner Of the before
mentioned ship. Both have the product
Of their industry to cell, the one tina
which his factory produces, and the othe
the values which his ship creates b.
transporting merchandise from on
market to another, in this respec
analogous. A Boston M rohAnt apple
to the manufacturer to buy 3 case G
blankets, and is told the price. He ma
reply: iBut these can bs bought i
Leeds and Norwich At greatly lowe
| figure, and | shall address myself to tn
English producer" True, You can, bu
you will find that Congress, in order tbs
III may exact Of you the larR
prics l ask has wisely ordere
that you must pay upon landing you
goods at the custom house the prsctici
difference between the cost in Bnglan
and that which demand" He is CO.
reot on that, and the merchant is pr,
oIsely in the situation OF the man WI
found himself between the devil and Il
| deep sea. ne Iuuht yieio W ohe VI "
render TO the other, But when Il
master Of the ship, owned, IL you pleas
by the same Boston merchant, finds hiI
self, thousands Of miles from home,in u
untaxed market OF the world, he mu
accept the rates which rule untrammell'
by legislation, whether much or little,
forego business in that place. Ther
Congress has no power to compel q
purchaser to pay to the party who sci
the goods price above the worlds lev'
to the end that some favor
interest may be rewarded, an
consequently, the ship must aocept tn
which she can get, and make the best
II. This means that, weary and d
Rusted with the effort to re, ist the inev
able, the owner finds some oomtortst