The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-03-07

seaboard: but when the suggestion Is made to
connect our seaboard with commercial cities OF
other countries by lines Of steamships the public
mind Is at once disturbed by the cry of sub
sidy." We really feel as much afraid Of protec-
ton at sea as Mr.. Gladstone Is Of protection ON
land. The positions Of the American congress
and the English parliament on this subject are
precisely reversed. England has never been at
frighted by the word subsidy, and while we have
stood still in mpotent fear she has taken posses
sion of the seas by the judicious and even lavish
interpretation of pecunary aid. l have already
said that the interest on the amount which Eng
land has paid for this object since she began 1t
with great energy fifty years ago would give all
the stimulus needed for the rapid expansion OF
our commerce Let it be added that If the gov
ernment of the United States will for twenty years
to come give merely the interest upon the inter
est at tho rate of per cent, on the amount
which has been a free gift to railroads, every
steamship line needed on the Atlantic, the Pacific
and the Gulf will spring into existence within two
years from the passage of the act 1t is but few
years since congress twice refused to give even
$1s5 OOO per annum to secure an admirable line OF
steamers FROM New York to the four largest ports
Of Brazil; and the sum of S125 tO) is but the inter-
est upon the interest, ut per cent. of the gross
amount freely given to the construction Of rail-
roads within the Union Is it any wonder that we
have lost all prestige on the scar
TEE SHIPPING INTEREST.
This failure has been the result of want
of comprehensive craftsmanship in congress-
Fifty years ago the United States was second
only, to Great Britain as maritime nation;
now she is outstripped by nations that were
then quite unknown as maritime powers. The
deadliest blow to the shipping Of the United
States was in the substitution of iron for
wood in the construction of ships. What was
left of her foreign shipping was destroyed in
lrrA c:,x n.y. 49, L.
really great that is dependent upon other ma
tons for the ships to carry on its foreign
trade, one would suppose that the restoration
of our foreign shipping which had been thus
destroyed would long since have received the
earnest attention Of congress But session
after session has passed away, and nothing
has been accomplished in this direction, while
the difficulties to be overcome have been
steadily increasing. 1t is true that subsidies
were a few years ago granted to American
lines which failed to accomplish the expected
results, but this should only make it certain
that what may be done hereafter shall be
done with more circumspection. The United
States can certainly do what other nations
have successfully accomplished in a matter of
great national Importance
The Indifference with which western con-
gressmen and western journals regard our
foreign shipping interest may not be surpris-
ing, as they arc mainly interested in the de-
velopment of their own section; but it is sur
prising that SO little interest in it is felt by
representatives from the seaboard states, and
by the journals which are published in our
commercial cities The New York Evening
Post is q journal of large circulation and in
huence. No man knows better than its lead
ing editor that the carrying trade between
this country and Europe is in the hands of
foreigners who are enriched by it. No one
knows better than he ought to know that
capitalists in the United States will not put
their money into ships to compete with long
established and subsidized steamship lines by
which that trade is controlled without govern
ment aid.
No man knows better than he ought to
know that the restoration of our foreign
shipping is matter of great national con-
Germ, and yet in reply to an inquiry that
made Of him he replied that ''the restoration
OF our merchant marine is matter of i'm
portance to the country, but only on condi-
ton that it pays its own way; that the public
might as well be taxed to revive the agri-
cultural interests of Vermont as to restore
our merchant marine" Here is an editor of
great newspaper in a great commercial
city OF the Union who thinks that the gov
eminent might as well be taxed to improve
the agricultural interests Of Vermont as to be
taxed to revive our foreign merchant MARINE
the revival OF which would add largely to
the national wealth, and Is essential to the
well being OF the country, who thinks that
the restoration of our merchant marine is of
importance to the country, but only on the
condition that it pays its own way, its i'm
portance to the country being dependent upon
its profitableness to those who are directly
interested in it.
Not SO have thought the great English
statesmen by whose influence enormous SUBJ
sides were granted, and are still continued,
to steamship lines between England and the
United States. Not 30 have thought the
statesmen of other countries through whose
influence steamship lines have been estab-
ished. The editor of The Post seems to think
that because the Norwegians, who man their
own ships, and, consequently, run them at
little expense, can find profitable employ
ment rs ocean tramps, capitalists in the
United States will run tilt with the Euro
pean steamship lines that now monopolize the
carrying trade between the two hemispheres
In the face of existing facts it is strange, in
deed, that such an opinion should be enter
tanned by an intelligent journalist.
There are very few enlightened men in the
United States who have carefully considered
the subject who do not consider the restora-
ton of our foreign shipping a matter of great
public Importance, and who do not believe
$50 powerful are the combinations against it)
that it will not be restored without govern
ment aid in some form. And there are. I
hope, fewer still who regard its restoration
as important only to those who may be di-
rectly interested in it
No one, am sure, with American blood In
his veins, can stand by the docks of Liver
pool, crowded with the ships of other ma
lions, and without humiliation look in vain
for the Stripes and Stars.
HUGH MCULLOCH.
Our Platform,
The Gazette is published ostensibly for tho