The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-23
THE MEMPHIS MISTAKE.

churches and luxurious pews.
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THE MEMPHIS MISTAKE.
The New York Marine Journal, I'M
der the head OF "The Memphis Mis-
take" occupies two and half OF its
broad and handsom ne columns in reply
ing to late article in the Memphis
APPEAL in which we said: "When an
American citizen remembers that his
country has not shipping to carry from
its ports the produce Of its own acres,
he ought to blush for shame" This is
pronounced to be warm and generous
in sentiment, but cold and selfish in
fact--a fact the Journal fays is not due
to American ship-builders and ship
owners. II is due to antiquated
American laws and the modern tariff,
and to the merchants and builders in
proportion AZ they have supported
those obstacles 10 the success OF Amer
lean ocean navigation. The Journal
aays II is due to the free carrying poll
cy OF our fithers. That assertion is
evidently mistake, for a quarter Of a
century OF a stiff war protective policy
has only served.to extinguish and an
nihilats any successful American
ocean carrying trade. Remove the
cause and the effect ceases" is an
axiom. II the cause in this case was
too much freedom, its removal and
the substitution OF protection should
have restored Ishipping prosperity,
not killed it. But the Journal as
serts that to expect improvement
by reducing duties is fallacy,
and yet with the duties, American
ships almost disappear from the open
sea. Reducing the tariff increases the
trade Of foreign ships, says our New
York contemporary, yet down has
gone American ships more and more
as our tariff has been hoisted higher
and higher. Facts are very unkind to
our courteous criticiser. The APPEAL
suggests that il OUT people had the
liberty to buy ships where they can
be bought cheapest, aud sail them
under their country's flag, the pluck,
energy, skill and enterprise OF
the Americans would, as it did
in former days, carry of the
palm when their ships cost no more
than is paid by other nations. The
Journal has no such trust in its coun-
trymen's ability, spite Of what was
done years ago. 1t relies on tariffs, pro-
lection, duties, taxes and such kind OF
gear. To rely on tax-eaing, not on
the profits OF unobstructed trade, is
going out to sea on bladders with wind
for ballast. But for our people to be free
to buy their ships wherever they find
thsm most suitable would be, says our
marine contemporary, "to vote in Con-
gress that henceforth we are 20 build
no more ships" in other words,
no one would buy American
ships unless the law compelled
them. This looks like giving
the thing away" and throwing up
the sponge" for il Americans will not
buy American ships II they can gel
ships anywhere else, how are foreign.
ers Ekely to employ American ships
If they can get ships anywhere else,
or our own people either. The Jour
nal gives table which shows that at
San Francisco for six months last
season the monthly average Of ships
receiving grain cargoeS was 45 per
cent. Of foreign and rs per cent
American, although, the Journal de-
clares: "All this time our superior
ships in waiting were vainly offering
at rates from 10 to 20 per cent. below
those freely paid t. standard British
ships. IF such is the prediction for
ioreign-built ships, evidently the true
policy to regain our ocean-cRrry
,Dg trade is to buy foreign-buil
ships, put the Am arican flag upol
them aud flourish rs we did in former
days. Our contemporary acknowl
edges that American shipping is il
a bad way. but believes that "by wis
measures and good government thu
American dag may be restored ID tn,
sea" Spite of "The Memphis Mis-
take" we think 30, too. But wha
does the Marine Journal call wis
measures ald good government
Here it is; "Coogress should hav
followed England in the subsi diar,
, policy" To tax shipping and ham.
, per its building by laws made whei
, wooden ships were the only ones
and 80 make them dear, and thel
subsidies them so as to enable then
to carry cheap-such is the blow il
n at the bung-hole aud drive out at tn,
= spigot policy OF the Journal, and will
n such ap5licy our, flag will remain
It Torn and desolats stranger upon tn
e high seas, as it is now.
-lS..la--l--
II The Confederate Monument at Ba