Grand Rapids herald., 1892-09-06
OCEAN coMMERcE
1t. Has Been WaElike, II Should be
Made P-aceablr.

Made P-aceable.
Few subjects have elected more dis
cnsslon or excited more general atten-
tiOn than tEat of recovery by the
United states OF an appropriate share
OF the ocean carrying trade. THIS does
not only touch our pockets, but our
national pride. Practically all freignts
Tor transportation 10 Europe, the enor-
nous annual supplies OF provisions
furnished by this country, and Tor the
large returns OF manufactured prod
ucts have Tor many years been paid 20
foreign ship owners. Thousands OF
emlgrsrts annually seeking homes
under our Tag have been denied the
sight OF it until they entered Sandy
Hook; while increasing thousands of
American citizens on European travel
have eacn year stepped into foreign
Jurisdiction at the New York docks.
The merchandise balance of trade
which the treasury books show IS
largely reduced by the annual tribute
which We pay for freight and passage.
Merchantmen waging War.
The great shlps-the tastes: upon the
sea-whlch are now IN peace, prohtlng
by Ou- trade, are IN secondary sense
warships OF the respective governments
and IN time of war would, under eX-
sting contracts with those govern
ments, speedily take on the guns, for
winch their decks are already pre-
pared, and enter with terrible efficiency
upon the work OF destroying our COM
merce. The undlsputed fact is that
the great steamship lines of Europe
were built up and are now III part sus-
talCed by direct or indirect govern
ment ard; the latter taking the form of
liberal pay for carrying the mails, or
or annual bonus gwen III consideration
OF agreements TO construct the ships 80
as 10 adapt them for Carrying arma-
ments and 10 turn them over to the
government on demand upon specified
terms.
IL will be 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 n law, and un-
der it's benefcient influence, sixteen
American steamships of an aggregate
tonnage of 81 400 tons, and costing
81 400, 900 have been built or contracted
TO be built in American ship yards. In
addition 10 this, II 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 SO, ,000, 900 and will add to
our naval reserve six steamships, the
fastest upOn the sea.
Want the Trade OF all Our Seas
A special interest has been taken by
me IN the establishment of lines from
south Atlantic and gulf ports, and
though my expectations nave not been
realized, attention has been called to
the advantages possessed by these
ports, and when their people are more
fully alive to their interests, | believe
that they will be able To secure the cap
ital needed TO enable them To profit by
their great natural advantages. The
democratic party mas found no place
in is platform for any reference to
this subject and has shown Its hostility
70 the general policy by refusing to ex-
pend an appropriation made during
the last administration for ocean mail
contracts with American lines. The
pau tbtAI ptOlltt tAlU nOA Au oQl
shops, the capitalists seeking new en-
terprises must decide whether the great
ships owned by Americans which have
sought American registry shall again
numb bly, as place IN the
English naval reserve. the great
shlIs now on the designers
tables 20 to foreign shops for construc-
ton. AID the CnIted States lose the
now Frightening opportunity of recov-
erIng D acc commensurate with Its
wealth, the skill OF Its constructors and
the courage of It's sailors, IN the carry
ing trade of all the seas.
Another related measure, as furn-
ishIug an increased ocean traffic for
our ships, and of great permanent
benefit to the farmer and manufac-
turer as we'll, Is the reciprocity policy
declared by section of the tariff act
OF 1880. and now IN practical opera
tons with Central and South America.
the spanish ani British West India
Islands. and with Germany aud Aus
tria. under special trade arrangements
with each.