National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-17
Let the American Flag Again Fly from
American shipsl

American Shipsl
Let the knotty question be decided as
you please, our tariff has either tendency
10 give the worlilngman OF the United
States better wages than he can get in
other countries or, on account OF the better
wages demanded here by our people,
tariff, incidentally protective, becomes a
necessity.
In the question Of labor, in certain indus
tries, we are unable TO successfully COM
pete with some other countries. There is
no other industrial interest that feels this
competition more seriously and sharply
than our shipping engaged in foreign trade,
as It is estimated that from ninety to
ninety-hyo per cent. OF the value of a first
class ship consists In the money expended
or labor-brains and muscle-necessar to
transform the raw materials out OF which
the ship. is built into this wonderful me-
chanical combination.
II We ever expect to again become o
competitor with Great Britoin--our great
commercial and industrial rival in the arts
OF building aud running ships--we should
most carefully examine every point In her
history and treatment Of this question.
AS nation we can not afford TO allow
our ability to build flrst.class ships TO be-
come lost art, even II II should cost us
much more money 10 maintain this in-
dustry than to adopt the blind policy of
buying ships where We can buy them cheap
| est. In millcnnial times this policy would
be the only sensible one, but we have not
yet reached that age.
Does 1t seem commercially wise for us TO
deliver nearly all of our exportable products
into the hands OF foreigners in our own har-
bors? Would 1t not be better for us to take
them ourselves to foreign countries aud
there, on the spot, negotiate for the most
profitable exchange for the exportable pro-
ducts Of these nations? Where we are able
to meet the consumer face to face we
should certainly I've able to make more
satisfactory exchange.
With our own flag floating from our own
| ships the commercial influence of our coun-
try would be more sensibly felt abroad,
and should extend TO every important sea-
port in the world. The grave statistical
fact stares us In the face; making
us blush with shame, that in thirty years
our own share of this carrying trade to for
cign ports has decreased from 20 per cent.
to less than Is per cent. Under the pres
ent circumstances we can neither afford to
build or run vessels engaged in the foreign
trade.
We dare not give up shipbulldlng, as a
matter of national safety, and our people
will not give either their labor or the pro-
ducts Of their labor for the same price that
British workmen will give theirs. The po.
litical party that would demand either plan
| would justly be doomed.
Why should We not be willing to put our
hand in the national purse, and grant such
national aid, either by bounty or subsidy, as
may be found necessary to give our foreign
shipping industry chance for its life?
The bill now before the House OF Repre-
sentatlves in charge Of the Hon. j. B. Nc
Creary, Of Kentucky, to promote American
commerce and arbitration between us and
our sister nations, living on this side of the
| globe, presents q magnificent field for this
grand experiment. We eau all agree
in seeking for common prosperity by
close and more intimate commercial rela-
tions than have ever yet existed between us
and those commercially neglected nations