Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-10-27
lelleno Faom me peopLe.


To the Editor OF EVENING JOURNAL
In voting for representative to Congress
| Wilmingtonians should have a due re.
gard for their own interests. A great
proportion of our workmen are employed
in the ship yards, and | maintain that
they should give their support to that
party and policy which ensures them high
wages. II n party advocates measures
by which the ship building interest is
benefited, then the employees of the ship
/, builders should vote for the man who
represents that party and policy In Del
aware Charles ii. Treat is that man. and
it is incumbent upon Wilmington ship
mechanics, irrespective Of party. to give
him their full and honest support.
We earnestly recommend that prompt
action be taken by Congress in the enact
ment Of such legislation as will best
secure the rehabilitation Of our American
merchant marine. These are the words
of the Republican party platform, framed
and adopted by the convention assembled
NJ Chicago in June Of this year. III seems
positive It's sentiment is la entire con
sonance with the principles Of the Repub-
lican party. The Democratic party more
from spirit Of antagonism to Republican
principles than from any other cause
opposes every measure introduced into
Congress that has for it's object the gos-
terng of our ship building industry and
the support of our merchant marine.
This should not be- The question should
be raised from the plane of party politics.
II should be freed from the rancor and
prejudice Of partisan strife In it's con
sideraton, the true, patriotic American
spirit should prevail
The United States once controlled the
commerce of the world American YES
sells flying the stars and stripes were to
be seen IN every harbOr of any impor-
lance on the globe Now an American
ship engaged in the foreign CARRYING
trade is the exception. Since 1860 this
country has lost 66 per centum Of the
carrying trade Of the world. British yes
sells now monopolize our custom and die.
tate their own terms. They not only
transport our merchandise, but they give
ms passage to Europe. Also. if it were
not for the superior facilities offered us
by British subsidized lines, we should in
deed, suffer for competent ocean mail ac-
comodations, The policy of our own gov
eminent, by its studied neglect Of our
shipping IN erests, has actually star5 ed
out the American lines.
The decline Of the merchant marine has
been enormously ascribed to the innu
ence Of the protective policy This argu-
ment is exploded by the mere assertion
that the trade that we have lost has been
taken by free trade and tariff countries
alike. The laws affecting the cargo of
the vessel should not enter the discussion
at all The sole reason that English YES
sells now carry our merchandise is be-
cause they are enabled to do this bv rea-
son of the subsidy which the British gov
eminent has voted them
Subsidy That most abused word Our
tender footed legislator approaches it.
touches it gingerly and immediately sets
up great hue and cry about greedy
steamship lines The prejudice that
exists against this harmless word is SIM.
ply inexplicable II must be misunder
stood II means laid. When Congress-
appropriated money to establish and main
tain the post office department, it merely
aided" the American people to com
municate and Interchange more readily.
When it appropriated large sums to es-
tablish public land office. it merely
aided the American people to secure
comfortable homes in tie great West.
What do the advocates Of subsidy re-
quest Of Congressg They ask that laws
be enacted to aid our merchant marine.
and eventually to enable the American
people to engage in commercial inter
course with the prosperous South Ameri-
can republics 1t means new fields for
commercial enterprise The cost would
be inconsiderable, the resultant gain, i'm
This policy Of Substituting is one the
workings and benefits Of which we can
see in the increased commerce Of the old
world nations. England, France. Ger
many and Belgium subsidize their steam
ship lines and the consequence is that
the ocean carrying trade once monoplized |
by this nation, has gone over most en-
tirely to vessels of these foreign coun |
tries. Four-fifths of the steamship lines |
that ply between the United States and
foreign countries are owned or controlled |
by foreign capitalists Should these |
be withdrawn this country would be |
left with absolutely no communication /
with the rest Of the world Expectation /
would be checked and financial disaster
and ruin would inevitably follow. The !
governments Of these foreign countries
hat have absorbed our carrying
rade deem it a wise and
policy To support /
heir merchant marine by subsidy. The
lnly resort left 20 the United States
hen, is a similar policy Let Congress
grant vessel owners money enough to en-
lble them to compete in tho carriage Of
freight on an equal footing with FOREIGN
'essels, and then and not till then viii
Ye be able once more to control two
birds Of the worlds commerce. Sncb
Tas once our boast, and such should now
k our boast n II
Wilmington. Oct. q. 1888.