The times., 1892-10-07

sands OF American cltlZenS, 0ent
| on European travel, have each year
the New York docks. The merchan-
die balance of trade, which the treas
ury books show, is largely reduced by
the annual tribute which we pay for
freight and passage moneys. The
great ships, the fastest upon the sea,
which are now in peace prohting by
our trade, are, in a secondary sense,
war ships of their respective govern
ments, and in time of war would, un-
der existing contracts with those gov
ernments, speedily take on the guns
| for which their decks are already pre-
] pared, and enter with terrible efficiency
upon the work of destroying our COM
nnerce. The undisputed fact is that
the gre at steamship lines of Europe
were built up, and are now in part sus-
tanned by direct or indirect government
aid, the latter taking the form of lib
eral pay for carrying the mails, or OF
an annual bonus given in consideration
of agreements to construct the ships so
as to adapt them for carrying an arma-
ment, and to turn them over to the
government on demand, upon specified
terms.
The Work Begun.
It was plain to every Intelligent
American that If thn United States
would have such lines similar policy
must be entered upon The Fifty-frst
congress enacted such q law; and, un.
der its beneficent influence, sixteen
American steamships of an aggregate
tonnage OF 81, 400 tons and costing ST.
400, 900 have been built or contracted to
be built in American shipyards. In
addition to this 1t is now practically
certain that we shall soon have under
the American flag one of the finest
steamship lines sailing out of New
York for any European port. This
contract will result in the construction
in American yards of four new passen-
ger steamships Of 10000 tons each,
costing about IS, 900, 900, and will add to
our naval reserve six steamships, the
fastest upon the sea.
For the Patriotic to Decide.
A special interest has been taken by
me in the establishment of lines from
our South Atlantic and Gulf ports, and,
though my expectations have not yet
been realized, attention has been called
to the advantages possessed by these
ports, and when their people are more
fully alive to their interests / do not
doubt that they will be able to secure
the capital needed to enable them to
profit by their great natural advan-
tages. The democratic party has found
no place in its platform for any refer
ence to this subject, and has shown its
hostility to the general policy by refus-
ing to expend an appropriation made
during the last administration for ocean
mail contracts with American lines.
The patriotic people, the workmen in
our shops, the capitalists seeking new
enterprises, must decide whether the
great ships owned by Americans which
have sought American registry shall
again humbly ask a place in the Eng
lish naval reserve; the great ships now
on the designers tables go to foreign
shops for construction, and the United
States lose the now Frightening OPP
portunity of recovering place commen-
surate with it's wealth, the skill of its
constructors and the courage of its sail
ors in the carrying trade of all the seas.
Credit to Blaine for Reciprocity.
Another related measure as furnish
ing an increased ocean traffic for our
ships and Of great and permanent ben
efit to the, farmers and manufacturers
as well is the reciprocity policy de-
clared by section of the tariff act of
1890, and now in practical operation
with five of the nations of Central and
South America, San Domingo, the
Spanish and British West India ISL
ands, and with Germany and Austria
under special trade arrangements with
each. The removal of the duty upon
sugar and the continuance of coffee
and tea upon the free list, while giving
great relief to our own people by
cheapening articles used increa asingly
in every household, was also of such an
enormous advantage to the countries
exporting these articles as to suggest
a in 6aro 4 rf ~
favors should be shown in their tariffs
to articles exported by us to their
markets.
Great credit is due to Mr.. Blaine for
the vigor with which he pressed this
view upon the country. We have only
begun to realize the benefit of these
trade arrangements. The work of
creating new agencies and Of adapting
our goods to new markets has neceS-
sarily taken time; but the results al
ready attained are such, am sure, as
to establish in popular favor the
the policy Of reciprocal trade, based
upon the free importation of such
articles as do not injuriously compete
with the products of our own farms,
mines or factories in exchange for the
free or favored introduction of our
products into other countries.
Large Increase OF Our Trade.
A few details only as to the increase
of our trade can be given here. TAX
ing all the countries with which such
arrangements have been made our
trade to June 80, 1892, had increased
23.S8 per cent-with Brazil the in
crease was nearly II per cent. with
Cuba during the first ten months our
exports increased $5,7O2, 1893, or "a. SO
per cent, and with Porto Rico $500, $50,
or 81 per cent. The liberal participa-
ton of our farmers in the benefits of
this policy is shown by the following
report from our consul general at
Havana under date of July 26 last
During the first half year of 1891
Havana received 140, 058 bags of flour
from Spain, and other ports of the
island about an equal amount, or ap-
proximately 2s0,1 bags.
During the same period Havana re-
ceived 13, 976 bags of American flour,
and other ports approximately an
equal amount, making about $4,000
bags.
"But flor the first half of this year
Spain has sent less than 1000 bags to
the whole island, and the United States
has sent to Havana alone 1853, 4S7 bags
and about an equal amount to other
ports of the island, making approxi- |
mately 337, 900 for the first half of 1892. "
Partly by reason of the reciprocal
trade agreement, but more largely by |
reason of the removal of the sanitary |
restrictions upon American pork, our
auno,fo - ,,nrlr v,rnJnofo 90 nar,x,