The Republican journal., 1889-09-12
Why Our Ships Are off the Sea.

AMERICA FOLLOWS FREE TRADE PRINCIPLES,
WHILE ENGLAND PROTECTS AND Eos TIERS
THE SHIP-OWNER.
Charles T. Hill, of Washington. u. G.. >ecre-
tary of the American and Industrial League,
has prepared reply to a series Of questions re-
Gently propounded By some 200 merchants Of
Boston. and published in the Herald of that
city, relative to the decline of American ship
ping. The questions and MI. iiill'- answers
are as follows;
|. "Iias the protective tariff had any effect
in causing or retarding this state of things and
if so, in what way!'
No. the tariff has nothing to do with the
question, because we have the raw material of
best quality at home and which amounts to
only per cent. in shp-building cost. the % per
cent. being question of interest to American
labor of over 800 different industries. Let oar
workingmen answer whether they will give Up
the protection of their interests and Weld it to
the foreigners,
2. IF this result has been due to the ravages
of Confederate cruisers during the civil war,
why has the destruction gone on with increased
force ever since the war endedi'
Why, as to Confederate cruisers DESTROYING
American shipping it is an insult to the enter
prise of our people to ask our naval officers if
American shipping was knocked out Of exist
ence by Confederate cruisers. ASK the Ameri-
can people generally if all enterprise, genius and
pluck were driven out of their brain and spirit
by Confederate cruisers. 1t is an hypothesis.
3. "Why do American >hip-oWner>, especial
ly those sailing steamers of improved types.
prefer to sail under foreign fla Z"
Because England pays better. American
ship-owners would of course prefer sailing
under the American flag if it were not for the
fact that the British Government gives by far
more pay for carrying the mails, >undry per-
qulsites, emoIument> and thus affords a living
chance. They do not prefer The llag. 1t i an
hypothesis.
A. "What Inducements, if any, are held out
by Great Britain to influence foreigners to sail
vessels under her flag:
Substantial and positive. Th, j. tile nc
question, only put differently. The induce
ments are, in addition to subsidy, privileges,
and As above specified also preferences under
the rating of the British Lloyds in the ship
and on freightS, advantages in Insurance, bank
ing, wages of sailors and many benefits render
ed under the British ag in averagin. ana
adjustments. The profits are greater and the
risks less and they pay Il tramp" Ship to run
off an American merchantmen whenever nee
t>sary.
If you doubt it, try it. This is the onIy
question that is not an hypothesis.
D. "Why should our ship-builClcr> be protect
ed 10 the extent of prohibiting the importation
OF foreign built vessels while cumpetin4 pro
ducts in all other departments of industry may
be imported and used upon pay mcnt OF duty =
They have never been. There j. no pTottc-
ton 10 ship-building and >Aip-buiidcrs have
never asked it, but it j. protection to ship-oWn-
ers that is needed and protection to >Ajp-oWU-
ers is life to them. life to ship-builder> AMI life
to every industry IN cur country, and also pros
pcrity, pride and power to our people.
Almost every industry has been protected.
shipping is not and has not been, for even when
a solemn national contract hd~ been mric the
United States Government ha, really been 4
.i..f linz Il 4.