Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-28
MIR Dinglcy on Free Ships.

The speech made by Mr.. Dngley in the
House. IN opposition to the ee-shIp bill
introduced bv the Shipping Committee, is
a forcible and unanswerabe argument
against the policy presented in the bill.
In his opening, Mr.. Dngley declared that
the passage OF the iree-ship bill would be
the death of shipbuilding in this country,
and would drive thousands of men now
engaged in that industry into other al
ready crowded industries. Its effect
would be more severely felt by labor than
capital, fact which has led the organ
cation of Knights OF Labor. representing
100000 wage-workers of the United.
States. to protest against the adoption of
the iree-ship policy.
1t is asserted by Mr.. Dingley, and no.
denied we believe. that the adoption of
the policy of buying foreign built vessels
would soon be followed by sailing them
under British registers. when the peo-
pie of this country" says Mr.. Ding!ey,
'are educated to look upon a ship as
nothing but wagon, to be bought abroad
where it can be bought cheapest, they
will al so be educated to sail such a ship
under the British register and the British
flag. which will give opportunity tor the
largest profits" Ship building and ship
using rise and fall together. 1t is the
men who build vessels that inaugurate
our maritime enterprises. Strike down
the ship builders of the United States. and
soon will follow the life, energy and en-
terprse of the men upon whom our mari
time enterprises must rely. Our ship
owners could make u larger saving by sail
ing under British register than by the ad-
mission of foreign built vessels to
American register.
But one of the most serious objections
which Mr.. Dingley presents to the policy
Of relying upon Great Britain to build our
vessels for us because she is able to con-
struct them more cheaply than we can, is
'.that such policy would tend to subvert
our commercial and national indepen-
dence, and place cur foreign trade and
our means of naval defense in time of
war, at her mercy Nothing is truer
than this, nothing of more Importance for
the consideration of the American people.
The necessity OF a merchant marine and
home ship.yards in the creation of navy
for national defense is one of the strong
est features of Mr., Dingley's speech.
The following extract upon these points
is worthy of careful perusal. especially
by those who believe in the wisdom of the
fathers of the republic.
commend to gentlt men who insist that
ship is only wagon 10 be bought anywhere
on the CLYDE OF the TYNE, or wherever it can
be bought cheapest - the statesmanship of
Madison, who insisted that we must build
our own vessels in order to protect the nation,
even il ii cost us more to build them than
they could he purchased for in Europe,
see before me gentlemen VINO claim to be
Jeffersonisn democrats, and who profess to
be admirers of Jeffersonian principles To
such gentlemen | desire to commend the
views which MIR Jefferson expressed in his
celebrated report on commerce, when Secre-
tary of State. as follows;
Our nav CATION involves still higher con ideratons
As branch of industry il Is valuable, but as re
source OF defense IL is essential The position and
circumstances of the United States leave them moth
ing to fear from their land board and nothing TO de-
sire beyond their present rights. But on the
board they are open to injury; and they have theu
too q commerce which must be protected. This
only be done by possessing respectable body of
citizen seamen and arti is, and ESTABLISHING nts in
readiness for ship building.
1t seemed clear to such patriots and states
mea as Washington, Madison, and Jefferson
that an American merchant marine could be
maintained only by building our vessels in
home ship-vsrds, and that such ship-ysrds
were essential for national safety and de-
Tense 1t is impossible for any nation to
maintain nsvy-ysrds of sufficient extent to
do more than repair public vessels and to
alowiy construct a few naval vessels in time
of peace.
Admiral Porter, in his testimony before
the Senate Naval Committee in the Forty
eighth Congress-, referring to the dependence
of every nation on its private ship yards,
said;
A matter Of policy Great Britain encourages
nriya,e ship building yards. The salvation of the
cronntrv in case of would depend on these; and
IS When war comes should have these great
shinbuilding places. with their plant accumulated
during peace.
What would have been the result of the ap-
,,a.rance of the confederate iron-clad Merri-
100 IN Northern waters if the government
- he United States had been obliged to send