New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-05
4 Plea EoR AMERICAN SHIPPING.

Il y III
Senator FIyc's speech at Woodstock on
American shipping, of which nearly the full
text will be found on another page, deserves
to be read with deliberaton and filed as a
work of reference for permanent Use by all
interested in this question. 1t brstles with
facts and figures contains lucid exposition OF
an exceedingly intricate subject and exposes
the destructive tendencies of Democratic agita-
ton in favor of free ships. A stronger and
moro reasonable argument in favor OF drastic
methods for the restoration of the commercial
marine has never been offered to the American
people We hope that the shipping leagues of
the country will take measures for keeping
this speech in general circulation, and for
making it the basis for future operations in
securing legislation for restoring the flag to
the high seas. Senator Frye Is not only the
highest authority on this subject now in pub
lie life. but he is also n keen cOntroverslallSt
who has mastered the art of convincing OPP
ponents As stumper in political campaigns
he has an unrivaled reputation as vote
winner from the opposite camp. The same
quality is displayed in this speech Every
argument of the opponents of American ship
ping interests is taken up, analysed and refut-
cd, ana tne acceptance OI HIS O"i
becomes a matter of necessity.
For thirty years the decadence of the for
eign carrying trade under the American flag
has been explained by Free-Trade theorists as
one of the results of Protection. Senator Frye
overturns this stock Democratic argument with
remarkable facility. He shows the absurdity
of the pretence that the decline Of American
shipping comes from lack of freight-a want
created by tariff legislation then demonstrates
that the heaviest percentage OF loss in the
carrying trade occurred between 1856 and
1860 under a low-revcnue tariff and finally
masses the evidence with cumulative effect
in support of his position that it has not been
Protection but the absence of it, which has
wrought the ruin of this important industry.
These points have been discussed on this page
SO frequently during recent years that it is
unnecessary for us to follow the argument in
detail, but the general conclusion we regard
as irrefutabe, namely, that the decline OF
American shipping in foreign trade is directly
attributable to neglect and lack of protection
The prosperity of the coastwise and lake ma
rines, which have been Systematically pro-
tected by law, emphasizes the correctness of
this view So far as the decadence of the
commercial marine on the high seas has any
bearing upon the protective policy it offers
negative proof of its utility. This is almost
the only National industry which has not been
protected, and it has steadily declined. All
other industries have been protected, and they
are Furnishing.
With reference to remedial Legislation Sen
ator Frye speaks with uncertain sound
Free ships is the Democratic nostrum, pre-
scrbed by English Frce-Trade theorists. Sen
atOr Frye does not find it difficult to provo that
free ships will involve the destruction of the
shpbuilding industry and the abandonment Of
the coastwise and lake traffic to foreign built
ships without promoting the revival of the
carrying trade under the flag. The privilege
of raising the American flag over foreign
built ship will not enable our vessel-ownerS
to compete successfully with rivals employing
cheaper labor and receiving in many instances
aid from their own Governments The true
remedy lies in systematic protection of the
shipping interests of the Nation by liberal mail
payments and navigation bounties. When the
United States ceases to be the only great
maritime Nation which neglects its CONNER
cial marine the flag will be restored to the
high seas. That is the National policy to
which the Republican party is fully committed.
The Democracy stands for free ships as well
as for low tariff and if it be allowed to
carry ont its policy as embodied in the Fithian
bill now before Congress it will destroy the
shipbuildng industry and abandon to foreign
ers the coastwise and lake fleets. That is an
issue which the patriotic Senator has done
well to present with fine argumcntative power
en- Independence Day.