New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-19
THE DOCTRINE OF RECIPROCITY.
COMBINED WITH AN ADEQUATE AMERICAN SiAAS
MERCHANT MARINE THE M'KINLEY ACT
BASIS OF NATIONAL SUCCESS.

ToThe Editor The Tribune.
sir. Commercial economists, orators and EDITORS
have explained TO countrymen the great 'peieh's
10 be derived from reciprocity in connection with the
v,Vin,ev act still the most important connection
oor,s N have escaped their minds. While doubling
1homases I'M all political parties during the paSsaso
~ the act believed that confusion ana des'rucuon
would overwhelm the country II IL went ih'o opera
ton still there Is consolation, ana tna' s' 'n"s
during the past year their fears have been reversed
hv the results produced, and the figures are sucleht
~ convince the most sceptca inasmuch as the bai'
ance OF trade in our favor amounted to over S22o'-
600 OOOO Men OF affairs, whose commerciai opera
tons extend all the globe. appreciate the spieh
aid triumph thus far achieved under the MCKINNEY
act and vet after all It is but the beginning OF
oa, commercial, revolution No matter TO which
party the reader may owe his allegiance all must
admit that statistics always standing arguments
II they represent Republican thought and erort IL ID
no that they should be msrepresented anu us
ored by free traders and theoretical and Impractical
college professors for, after ALL examine the act %
We will the Mckinley bill is a practical scientino
xnostion OF our internal and traffic. acting
simultaneously as a commercial protectorate by re-
pellng foreign invasion.
Prior TO the ratification OF reciprocity treaties be-
tween the United States and foreign countries, we
hid no merchant marine. As a matter OF fact we
have hid no merchant marine since 1881 Az one
time the stars and Stripes could have been seen on
our grand clipper ships throughout the world, but
TO- day only feeble remnant OF that once maghinceht
commercial navy can be seen ON tho Auahuc COAST
plyng our domestic ports. Consequently IL "ust pe
apparent TO every American that the time has come
when we must transport all OF our agricultural ana
Industrial products. Since 1861 our eAportauohs
have rs n rule been carried by foreign steamships.
For many years exports to the West indies ana
South American countries have been shipped rom
New York to London, Liverpool and Hamburg, ana
thence to the West indies and the South American
countries instead OF sailing directly from Newlors
and other ports Is not this humiiang reflection
and spectacle TO every true Americana Even to thn
day we are pursuing the course, supporting the
owners OF foreign vessels. hope In the near future
we shall see how blind have been not to encourage
American shipbuildng. and will demonstrate to our
countrymen that with proper banking facilities ana
an American steam merchant marine, having quick
regular communication, our traffic W1hin the next
three wears can be increased tenold and In fact our
commerce will increase everywhere the moment we
haye direct lines OF communication whether IL De Id
South America, West Indies Europe Asia, Africa OK
Australia.
When the wisdom Of the Congress Of the United
states orers sufficient stimulus 10 shipbuildeS and
capitalists such England. France Germany Italy
and other countries possess, depend upon It, there
Will be dawn OF and unparalleled prosperity.
insurng us the position that We should have held ten
years ago. not only carrying our own agricultural
products, but demonstrating to the world that We
pration Of SlOOoO,O00, granted as direct subsidy
Or postal grauity tcall 1t By any name you Will. pro:
yided the appropriation Is madel. for the creation Of
new lines. viii bring back to the people profit Of
more than SlO,OOOOOO a sum that Will be distributed
throughout the entire country. Every State In the
Union will receive It's proportionate share.
Steamships a great deal like the representatives
OF our mammoth industrial Institutions that travel
the world over for business they create business
wherever they go. We produce the goods. and oue
manufacturers and merchants the most enterprsne
in the world. but alas! what avails our push and
duets throughout the worlds Therefore the SOONER
Homanizing doctrines and retrograde legislation
served with Injunction by the people, the better
for the best interests OF the public welfare. The
warmth OF a general extension Of new business viii
be felt by the farmer the wage Garner and the manu-
factr-r and indirectly by the trader and all those
citizens in the body polite that suhsst the fruits
Of industrial prosperity who represent the great
army OF non producers. but who nevertheless bene
dcaries Of protection. All are co-partners in the
profits from increase Of exports insured through
reciprocity treaties.
Therefore. the highest possibilities under TIE Nc
Kiney act. which Is In Its infancy. only he
secured through tfe enlargement and creation Of an
adequate steam merchant marine service
GEORGE j. SEABURY.
New-York, September 10, 1902.