Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-13

were consumed at home; while IN the same
wear the value of the products of Great Brit
ain were only S172 per inhabitant OF when
only 1886 per inhabitant was con-
sumed a. home. shows conclusively the I'M
portapce of holding our home market when
is the best in the world. for our own produc-
ers.
But at the same time, while doing nothlng
that can BY any possibility surrender our
home market, we should omit no efforts with
in this limit to extend our markets for sur
plus products. Our success since the war IN
so largely holding our own market by pro-
tective tariff. and at the same time rapidly
and safely increasing our exports, should en-
courage us to increase our facilities TOT
reaching foreign markets, particularly the
countries of this continent.
Our FOREIGN CARRYING TRADE.
The causes of the decline of our
foreign carrying trade since 1850. IN
the face of the unexampled increase Of our
exports and imports offered for transporta-
ton, must evidently be looked for entirely
outside of tariffs or mere party issues They
may be briefly stated to be these:
First. The revolution from wood to iron
in marine architecture. and from sails to
steam in propelling power, which began to
be felt about 1856 This gave England an
advantage which we had so long as wooden
sailing vessels controlled the commerce of
the world
Second The admission of our great rival
to our carrying trade on equal terms with our
vessels about the beginning of 1850, which
gave England an opportunity to use the ad-
vantage which she gained about 1859. as al
ready stated.
Third The adoption by England of the
policy of aiding the establishment OF steam
ship lines to all parts of the world by postal
subsidies. The value of this aid NAV be ap
preciated when it is stated that she has ex-
pended 5000. 100000 for this purpose in the
last forty years, not to mention the great as
sistance she has Civ n her shlp-yards by
building 80 per cent of her naval vessels in
private establishments.
Fourth The destruction of one-third of
our merchant marine by confederate cruisers
between 1861 and 1865, and the advantage
which England gained in building up great
iron ship yards while we were engrosSed with
war
Fifth. A greater increase OF wages Of men
engaged in ship-bullding and in the sailing of
vessels in the United States in the last twen-
~ years than in the foreign countries which
are Selling upon our foreign carrying trade
Sixth. The great oppOrtu nlties for uses of
capital and enterprise in building railroads,
establishing manufacturing industries, and
opening up the new West, which have af-
forded larger profits than could be obtained
from the foreign carrying trade in close COM
petition with foreign vessels The capital
and labor put into railroads in the United
States in excess of that put into railways in
Great Britain since 1855 would have built an
ocean fleet of three times of the whole ton
mage now sailing under the British flag.
Without entering at this time upon the
question of remedies, simply have to say
that remedies can in due time be applied if
the American people and the American Con-
gress think it essential, for both commercial
purposes and as n means of defense in war, to
have an American merchant marine built in
American ship-yar1s. II they do not, if they
regard it as of little consequence whether we
have merchant marine sailing under the
American flag, ready to obey the call of the
government in time of need; if they hold 1t
to be of no Importance whether we build our
vessels on the Clyde and TYNE or in our own
shipyards which can be set to work at an
hours notice to bulld transports or cruisers
when W IT comes: if thew believe that there
is nothing but childish 'senIiment' in the
proposition to have our mails carried in
American steamships in preference to British
steamships even II 1t costs little more, then
of course it will not be many wears before the
legitimate fruits of such ideas will show them
selves, and American vessels be found no
where outside of the coastwise trade.
But if the American people and the Ameri-
can Congress shall come to believe, as Jet
ferson declared in his celebrated report on
commerce. that an American merchant ma
rine built in American ship-yArds is as essen
tial as forts for purposes OF defense, then will
steps be taken to realize 50 important re-
suit