Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-09-10
coAMeRrk

Few subjects ave eiiated moro discussion
CT excited more general interest than that of
o recovery by the L ilted s,a:es of its appro-
pirate share of the oreaa carrying trade
This SUBJECT touches not Sn.y oun..pockets, but
our national pr IA Practically all the
freigiits Tor transporting 10 Europethe enor-
nous ani:,IRl supplies II pro; istoas furnished
by this enG:ttrr, spd for tAe large return of
manufactures products Lave FOR many years
been paid b. ;o' -ign sh-p-owcers
Thousands Of erhieI Arts Annually seeking
homes un,ic;, ou:- flag haze been denied the
sight OF It t;u,H tS.'y e,,tsisd Sandy Hook,
while i1croa>ing Thousands of American
citizens lpnt On European travel, have each
year step;,el into a foreign jurisdiction at
tho Nav York dock. The merchandise
balance OF ;rndc, which the treasury books
show is largely reduced by the annual tri-
butte which we pay for fright and passage
moneys.
The great ships-thc fastest upon the goa
which are now in peace profting by cur
trade, arc. in a secondary sense, warships of
their ro> passive goSrrpmcnts an in time of
war wcc;d Under existing contracts with
those e0v-,nrrt.ls. sTssIiiy tak1 on the guns
for which thrr leChs are already prepared
aud enter wI7a terrible efficiency upon the
work o! destroying sur commerce. The I'M
Disputed fnct IL tat the great steamship
lines OF Eatcpe were built up and are now
in part sustsins,i ~ direct or indirect gov
einneut aid. this latter taking the form of
literal psY .nr carrying the mails or of an
nual bUnu. gi9ca IN consideration of agree
merits to onstrhct tie ships so ns TO adapt
them for carrying an armament and to turn
them over 10 the government on demand,
upon 81 &c fed terms. II was plain to every
intelligent American that If the United
States would have such lines similar policy
must be entered upon.
The FiftY-tirst Congress enacted such
American steamships Of an aggregate tonnage
of ~ COO IONS, and costing s., 10000 have
been built or contracted to be tutlt in Ameri-
can shpyards. In addition to this it is now
practically certain that We shall soon have,
under the American flag, one OF the fine>t
steamship lines sailing out of NeN York for
suy European port, This contract will re
suit in the construction in American yards
of four new passenger steamships of 10000
tons each costing about -, 00J9o0 and will
add to our naval reserve six steamships, the
fastest upon the sea. 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 b. these ports.
and when their people are II ore fully alive
TO their interests. | do not doubt that they
viii be able TO SECURE the capital needed to
enable them to profit iy their great natural
advantages
The Democratic party has found no place
on its platform for any reference to this sub
ject, and has shown its hostility to the gen
eral policy by refusing to expeud an appro-
priatlon made during the last administration
for ocean mail contracts with American
lines. The patriotic people, the worknen in
our shops, the capita lists seeking new enter
prises, must decd, whether the great ships
owned by Americans which have sought
American registry shall again humbly ask a
place in tine English naval reserve; the q cit
ships now on the designers tables 80 to for
eign shops for construction and the United
States lose the now Frightening opportunity
OF recovering place commensurate with its
wealth, the skill of its constructors and the
courage of its sailors in the carrying trade
of all the seas.
RECIPROCITY.
Another related measure, as furnishing an
increased ocean traffic for our ships aud of
great and pera anent benefit TO the farmers
and manufacturers as We ], is the reciprocity
eotiey declared By Section 3 of the tariff act
of 20, and now in practical operation with