The Somerset reporter., 1891-03-26

few years would carry - per cent. Of
our commerce, and which could ut Tie
same time be made available by the COY
| ernment for war PURPOSES. Why shout
We not accomplish ills desirable result
Gentlemen will vote millions OF dollars
to construct a navy which is TO be con
tinual expense This | am in favor Of
doing so far as needed. But why should
we not at the same time kill two bird
with one stoneI Why not, by compar-
atively small outlay in b5unties, create 8
merchant marine that shall employ our
people in our shipyardS and upon the
decks % great American fleet, which
may ae utilized in tine of war for naYa
purposes, but which at all other times
will be a source Of profit instead vi
great expense to our people
If We do this not for ourselves, tn We
ehI.l do it, as we are now doing it, for
others. The 5000 coo, GEO which we are
now paying t. foreigners for fleighting
our mel chandi,e is paid to build and
maintain merchant ships that may at any
time, in case of conflict, be armed and
used against us. Shall we continue to
pursue this suicidal policy, this penny
wise and pound foolish policy, OF ehali
we revert to the wise and patriotic policy
of our furefather- wien they gave noun
ties to our fishing vessels As IN Il NE Of
great nNiOnal importanco-les. a. al
economical as well a. I'll ctye measure
= national defeusts
IT. would be consistent with eur military
policy on the land We kctp no standing
army more shan is sufficient for police
purposes and to take care OF the abort
gines 1t is ON our militia that we rcl7,
saving the enormous expenditure ncees-
sary TO support great army, ami cur
reCcn. war to suppress the lebo lion has
proved that drawer and ahler armies were
never marshaied than that militia COM
posed. On our merchant ships quite as
well As in the Navy our people car learn
all ways of the sea, aud if ever cont Il
upon that Il ,ment comes | SIN not In
doubt that American sailors hereafter, as
IN the past, Will prove superior to any
foe they nay Rect on the ocean. To
hat c,c aeut our people are adapted.
Upon it they above all Others arr at home.
rhcy are acquainted with it. Ii washes
10 coo miles of their shores, aud thr
4lJry of lhoir achievements upon it has
ever been eXcelled from the palmy dal
II the Greek nayiCs down to the present
time.
Shall we abandon the sea, surrender
that great realm to Others. wi en-, in fact
from our situation, We should be the
greatest maritime nation upon tie globe:
That is the question which confronts us.
We can not sit still and hold even the
poor position which We now occupy.
While we are wasting away, Others are
Increasing ana growing stronger. Every
year We see Dur foreign merchant marine
dwindiirg n sn"n' the rate that the ton
mage of oth,r natiens advances; and un-
less something Is done to arrest its de
{ ne the time is CLOSE al hand when the
American Nag viii be unseen ana IN
known upon the ocean.
Can we afford to cometo this condition?
Can we afford every wear 10 nay our 10
Foreigners hundreds of millions to carry
our merchandise? DO we not need his
vast amount of money at home a much
as We need that sum earned in any indus.
try upon the land? Can We AaJrd to
contribute so much to build vessels which
may at any dine be armed ard used to
destroy our domestic commerce and bat.
ter down our seaport towns? Can We
all ord to withhold this pt'ance iu houu.
lies when by cxpendina it we may furnish
a Formidable naval fore, that will require
no additional Government outlay except
in time OF war; do not believe We can.
To-day every civilized nd enterpflsing
nation IS struggling for asccndcncY upon
the ocean. En-. land, France, Hermany,
Italy, Spain, are striving by subsidies
and snbventlonS 10 multiply their ships
and increase their carrying trade. ne
VINO sits sun and makes no tnprt WI L.
others strive and push forward, must be
overcome or left di~iancod and driven
out Of the race. Shall we accept the lat
ter sttuationf
have been amused while have been
not niue Disguised to observe now IN
larry TINS Ol'l mas been antag 1ni1ed, and
how every o her industry than that which
it proposes to protect has been endeav-
ortd to be arrayed against H.
The gentleman from Missouri Mr..
Bland says, 81 VIII take 1t home 10 the
farmers of the West, when 1t was stated
that the bill was not expected SO much to
cheaper freleht@ AS to place the American
marine upon an equal footing WITH the
'htf9hau. marine ~ o'hfr na'I"ns' ~ ="
cause iIs Ie'V"' sliou' nc St"l'et "a, Nj
noo" h"' nav :" ~" NY 'u''''al.' e''"'
MS I'llai NS WE io' Aod'V N9uH"'''t IN
'L'g ."t' 'eu ~ inc NECESSARY eN'"eu'e'
Oh liAt iact pelo'e,
Let him carry 1T to the farmers If h.
will. | know that the farmers Of my
State AS intelligent class of peorla rs
anywhere live, are as anxious to see the
American merchant msrlne rebuilt and
again assume commanding place upon
the ocean aS any class of leopie amorg
Us. NO more patriotic people than they
exist whiting the borders OF our land,
and nobody would feel more earnest
pride IN the prednmlnance OF their
cpun'fys nag upon the ocean imam they
~" w. "'"iu NC in"te s'i,, oleH 10 ueaI
ga" wv I'l'N W '"e I'M "a."'.,e'
" "it',r5 ,ta,, RI. 49,, ~
s an u" .''au W. ~ >, ~ ,h,t 1,i,
w., o. a" ,,as, no, go ana ana LAW
a''u .t,'f ma ,''ae 80 ny Huu e.eiN
spa, ''a' - -, "ur n,s 49, '", o., .'a ~.
~ "m' co. ~ ,ha,'s,
souS, INK ~ ",eu' a 49, '"o" S t"nSu'N.
rs y, ~ .,,. ""o t".u",' ioa
nh 80, j., ~ ,,.,,
WI" inc IA :" 'iN' '"A '''"'''n'
Yes carry II 10 the FARMERS mat pVuu
men, many OF whom now compete WIN
them are gong 10 occupy Inc sh'pyatds
ana Sali-io,'s VI tne country ana thHt
they, toge'her win thousands OF others
VINO cut ana get out snip l'rhoer, iurhlSn
the IRON ana woo" anu the mul'ituue OF
materials OF SNIP are gong 10 become
their customers "hie .ney nulla up the
commerce Oh Tue country ana JUS 'el' me
truth anout II, anu l. 10 hos rear 'nelr re-
ply, Inc farmers nao" ; VI ,n no new W,
uustry can De eiea'.u III tnls country
withou, oenen.lns .ne.I own WI, anu /
shouil oe s'aa W leiei ta.s ''',, 70 tne
farmers Oh :, m ,hnir .ou.aeu a .ns, 'nes