The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-08-02
Turning Towards the Sea.

Turning Towards the Sea.
The people who are crying out that the
Republican policy has banished American
shipping from the seas, remarks the Cncin-
natl Commercial Gazette, should quiet them
selves with the assurance that the laws of
trade and commerce regulate these matters.
America has been engaged in conquering the
land instead of the sea.
She has been engaged in spreading her
tens of thousands of miles of railroad into
the vast empire west of the Atlantic ocean.
American capital and enterprise went
Great Britain and other governments were
welcome to do our ocean carrying trade
while we developed the vast inland POSSIBLE
tiles of our country. American enterprise
and capital turned its back to the barren
ocean to develope the fertile west. There
was close struggle for existence on the
eastern waters.
There were unlimited possibilities for
wealth on the western praries.
AS Great Britain reached westward across
the waters, so America reached westward
across her boundless and fertile country.
People who are weeping over the deca-
dence of the American merchant marine,
will soon see that marine service carrying
the flag to every quarter of the globe, in
hundred fold greater profusion and glory
than before the Alabama was let loose on
the high seas under an unrecognized flag,
and on ship manned by an English crew.
Today the all-conquering tide turns back
to eastern waters.
The land overcome, the sea is sought
again, and again the irrepressible Yankee
will meet and conquer all corners OH the wa
tiers.
We are merely following out the ideas of
commerce and trade that build up great en-
terprises, and challenge the patriotic devo-
ton of the people.
We are making our own war ships, the best
and swiftest in the world. We are daily in
venting coast defences that dispense with
land batteries. Our built-up cannon are as
good as any made III the Krupp manufacto-
ries, and our resources i'm wealth and ready
inventive genius are such as to make us feel
perfectly safe from the attack of any foreign
power.
Today, what will no doubt eventually be
among the greatest shipyards in the world,
is being established OH the soil of Old Vir-
ginia, and at the same time an American
North Atlantic steamship line is being Or
ganized which will in time eclipse all others.
The company which Austin Cobble is Or
ganizing will build eight steamships of
twelve thousand tons burden each, excelling
in size and speed and equipment any vessels
afloat. They will be built in America by
American capital, and fly the American flag,
and they will carry the American mail.
Our present protective system will make
this possible, will establish this enormous
ship-building plant upon the war-wasted
and barren shores of Virginia, while at the
same time it sends company with $7,oOO,-
900 capital into the iron region of that state
to furnish the iron and steel with which to
build these forthcoming great vessels.
Free trade England is pouring its capital
into protective America and seeking every
avenue to investment, even at the lowest
rates of interest
But we still have little croakers from Tex
as and Arkansas, and Tennessee and Ken
lucky raising their voices in remonstrance
with sound like that given forth by the dis
consulate tree toads in asummer evening.
The cost of building ships in America will
be greater than it would be in England for a
large portion Of the expense is in the labor,
and labor is so much better paid here than
in England. But that will be counterbal-
anced by the income which will be derived
from the carrying of the mails and the assis-
lance of congress, If indeed any assistance is
required.
We have accomplished a tremendous feat
of railroad building and internal develop
ment. When we turn our attention to the
sea again our triumph will be no less pro-
nounccd.