New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-07
SENATOR FRYE'S PATRIOTISM

Senator Fryc's speech on the shipping bills
was as solid as a cube. As an unanSWcraDle
demonstration of the necessity for Immediate
action by Congress for the restoration oi the
commercial marine il deserves to be widely
circulated by the shipping leagues and inteIIi-
gently discussed by the press. Every point iii
this controversy is taken up and impartaly
discussed. and the conclusion is reached with
logical dircctnc>s and lucidity of exposition
that American ships engaged in the carrying
trade must be projected by bounicS or sub
sides. or else he driven in few years from the
seas Powerful as is the reasoning and com
plcte as is the body of statistics supporting II,
there is a patriotic ring 10 this speech when
will perhaps do more to excite public interest
in the question than either its incislvc logic or
we'll -digcstcd information. such passages aS
these are inspired by American feeling rs noble
as il is genuine
Sow this Is d great Nation. We boast Of it i'm
mcnsclv. We complimcntinc ourselves hugely now
over the census returns, over our wealth. over our
manufacturing Industries and Yet to-day falling
into tbc contempt Il the whole world bccau,c We,
maritime nation have no ships on the ocean and We
arc entitled T. that contempt. too We are giant but
We arc bound. We are samson. but our locks are
,horn.
There i, the dead body. wish to know whether It
+, worth our while 10 rc.urrcct and breathe life into
H. Ifn is, how shall We do IT. cannot understand
the inncrmost thought, and feeling, Of an American
citizen who can listen 10 the statement Of facts about
onr foreign carving trade and not feel an impulc to
20 back more onto tho ocean where we stood ~
such proud con>pcuou>ncSs thirty years ago. can
not understand an American citizen who oarc' nothing
in relation to il. and simply reptile" Ia YOU Arr We
not getting them carry imports and exports as
~. . car
Of such q
WHY should We pay $4,000 900 year 70 foreign
ships for carving our caIclc-l Why shonh We carry
our mail, under a foreign nag. WHY should every pa
scnrcr who desire to sail from America abroad be- com
PEELED T. all under a foreign 1ae WHY should We
with our immense wealth and our great power Our
,hipyarls and mechanic, enormous con Il line. o."
pend upon foreign nation, 10 do all Of our foreign ear
ryins bu.inc,, for ~ Why should We permit them
IA nav subsidies, a. England ha, hr hfy years, ana
quietly surrender the possession of all this bu>u"''
why Weld to spain and Germany and Italy and lio
land and the Argentine Ecpubhcl
Those are passages which raise this question
far above the level Of economic controversy.
The present condition of the commercial ma
rinc in the foreign trade is a standing disgrace
10 the Nation. The disappearance OF the faG
from the seas where once II was the pride oi
the American people and the envy of foreign
rivals is source Of humiliation. II brings
proud Nation into contempt and lmlalr> III
prestige III Chri>tcndom. Let the causes be
what they may. il i the duty Oi Congress -
remove this rcproach and dSgrac" and since
all other nations. under free trade a. we'll ~
high tariffs, have been protecting and develop
ing their commercial marines by subsidies ana
bountic>. that is the only practical way OF
going about it. This is question that touches
American pride and appeals powerfully 10 patn-
otto sentiment. The country will gratefully
sustain every senator and Representative who
speaks and votes for the Shipping bills.
In England the protection Of the nation :
commerce has never been made party quc>-
ton. There is never any division of opinion
in the Commons whenever any matter Affect
inc the maritime interests OF the nation arises
England Will forgive statesman for many
blundcrS, but il would never COndOnc lndiicr-
cncc TO or neglect of the welfare of its shipping
interests. The time has come when Americans
should have the same feeling of loyalty 10 the
flag on the high seas. The disgrace of the
decadcncc of their shipping interests grows
more humilating and more intolcrablc every
ycar. II has ceased 10 be "A tariff question or Il
marty issue. ii is matter of high National
policy. and should be taken mp and acted upon
by Senators and Representatives, not as Re
nublicanS and Democrats, nor a ProtccilonlS;S
and Free Traders. but rs Americans concerned
for the honor of the flag.