Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-03-26

we want to build our own vessels, that In
this pursuit. as In our avocations upon the
land. we should be independent of other
! nations. In case of war we want the plant,
| the appliances, and the skilled men to fur
nish a navy as rapidly as it was done In
the commencement of our late civil war.
No great maritime nation ever existed
which relied upon others to build its ves-
s.ls, and certainly no nation can be truth
fully called independent which relies upon
another people, people which may at any
time become an enemy. to furnish it with
its power upon the sea.
In this view the measure before the
House becomes of great national impor-
lance. If, indeed, the purpose were sim
ply to protect a great industry, the indus
try of shipbuilding. in which many thous-
ands of our people might be probably en-
ployed. thus taking so many competitors
! from among our farmers and merchants
and miners and making home market for
their products; and also, the industry of
carrying our imports and exports. for which
we now pay to foreigners nearly $500, 900,
600 annually, then, indeed, we should be
warranted in extending to our foreign
merchant marine all the aid which the bill
before the House provides. Then it would
be but the truth to say that every industry
in the land would reap an advantage from
| it.
With our harbors along our coast, our
lakes and rivers swarming with employed
and well-paid shipwrights. our farmers
and merchants and manufacturers and our
citizens of all pursuits, who have their Ia
boI or its products to sell, cannot but be
/, very materially benefited; for this reason
! alone our shipbuilding and carrying trade
/ deserve no less to be protected than any
of our most important industries on the
| land.
But as means of national defense,
economical and at the same time eff. ctive,
the fostering of our merchant marine
should be of paramount consideration.
Our forefathers acted upon this principle
when they gave q bounty to American
fishermen. They saw In them the best
nursery from which to man an American
navy. In this they were not disappointed.
and in the unparalleled achievements of
| our Navy in the wars of the Republic New
| England fishermen have shown q bravery
and efficiency which have shed undying
| luster upon the American name. Our ship
| yards must be depended upon to furnish
the plant and skilled workmen always
available to construct vessels of war. and
our merchantmen, both foreign and coast
wise, will furnish, when needed, the ex-
| perienced sailors to man them. He who
would pass free-ship bill would deprive
| lis of the one, and he who would not re-
store our merchant marine by sufficient
/ encouragement would prevent us from OBJ
| tanning the other, and without either ship
/ yards or American ships we certainly can
not hope to make formidable stand in
any contest upon the ocean,
| But will it not be much cheaper for the
nation To paw the bounties provided by the
| bill under consideration, and SO secure the
construction of class of vessels built to
admiralty requirements which could upon
occasion be utilized as vessels of the NAVY
as is now being done by other countries.
than to use the same amount of money in
building ships of war!
The English, encouraged by Government
subsidies, are now constructing three
steamers, to he of 500 tons legis-
ter, with engines of 10000 horse power,
intended to have a speed of 10 knots per
hour, to ply between Vancouver and Hong
Kong. Their armament is to be stored
at the two termini of the route, so that
they can be converted into armed cruisers in
few hours when in port either in Asia or
in America.
This, Great Britain is doing all around
the globe. She is seeking out new routes
of ocean travel where she may establish
new lines of ships which shall not only
carry her flag and put money into the
pockets Of her people in time of peace but
become formidable additions to her navy
in time of war.
The subsidy which she pays to encour-
age these lines is but an inconsder A bic
fro ti..r ~
| vessels, and at the same time that they are
available for purposes of war they are a
source of great revenue to her people
1t is to me strange that gentlemen on
this floor will not recognize the advantage
of establishing for our own country a
militia of the sea The bounty provided
by this bill l believe would do it. | be-
lieve it would give an impulse to our mer-
chant marine that would place again upon
the ocean American ships which in a few
years would carry rs per cent. of our com
merce, and which could at the same time
be made available by the Government for
war purposes. Why should we not ac-
complsh this desirable result?
| Gentlemen will vote millions of dollars to
| construct navy which is to be continual
expense. This | am In favor of doing SO
far as needed But why should We not at
stone? Why not, by comparatively
small outlay in bounties, create merchant
marine that shall employ our people in our
shipyards and upon the decks of great
American fleet, which may be utilized in
time of war for naval purposes, but which
at all other times will be source Of profit
| instead of great expense to our people?
| If we do this not for ourselves, then We
| shall do it, as we are now doing it, for
others. The $500, 900 600 which we are
| now paying to foreigners for freightlng
our merchandise is paid to build and main
tain 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, or shall we revert to
the wise and patriotic policy of our fore
fathers when they gave bounties to our
| fishing vessels as measure of great nation
al importance-yes, rs an economical as
| well as effective measure of national de-
| Tense?
| 1t would be consistent with our military
policy on the land. We keep no standing
army more than is sufficient for police pur-
poses and to take care OF the aborigines.
1t is on our militia that We rely, saving the
enormous expenditure necessary to sup
suppress the rebellion has proved that
braver and abler armies were never mar
shaled than that militia composed. On
our merchant ships quite as well as in the
| Navy our people can learn all the ways of
the sea, and If ever a contest upon that
element comes l am not in doubt that
American sailors hereafter, as in the past,
will prove superior to any foe they may
meet on the ocean. To that element our
people are adapted. Upon it they above
all others are at home. They are acquaint-
ed with it. 1t washes 10000 miles of their
shores, and the glory of their achievements
upon it have never been.excelled from the
palmy days of the Greek navies down to
the present time.
Shall we abandon the sea, surrender
that great realm to others, when, indeed,
from our situation, we should be the great
est maritime nation upon the 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
and growing stronger. Every year We see
our foreign merchant marine dwindling at
about the rate that the tonnage of other
nations advances; and unless something
is done to arrest its decline the time is
close at hand when the American flag will