New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-22
THE DAY IND THE FLAG.

ingtOns Birthday in this town. The raising
of the American flag over the steamship New
York denotes the conversion OF one OF the
most powerful and successful transatlantic lines
into National enterprise. Followed as It
will be by the transfer of the Paris to Amcli-
can registry and the construction during the
next twenty months Of five merchant steam
ers of superior tonnage and the highest speed
in the Cramps shipya,ds, it marks the open
inR OF new era of American shipping in
terestS 1T is an event which deserves to be
commemorated by the presence of the Presi-
dent and civic dignitaries from Washington
and by unwonted festivities. 1t also cOnsti
tuteS a most fitting observance of day OF
patriotic memories. Washington and the
founders of the Republic considered merchant
marine as hardly less important than Federal
Constitution Among the earliest measures
adopted by the first American Congress was
an act for the protection of shipping interests
on the high seas and in inland waters. That
measure when signed by the first President
increased the tonnage from $4,000 in 1883
TO 900 900 in the course of twenty years. and
transferred to American bottoms over 80 per
cent of the export and import trade. To-day's
celebration signifies that the traditional mar
thine policy has not been abandoned, that the
flag has not been furled on the ocean, and that
Americans will not give up the ship
Since the restoration of the flag 10 the ocean
is high National policy sanctioned by the
example of illustrous statesmen OF the indie
pendence era, we consider il a most fortunate
circumstance that both political parties have
been associated in legislation which has in
viewed the conversion of the Inman into the
American line. That transfer, it is true would
never have occurred if a Republican Congress
had not enacted the Ocean Mail bill in the
face of most determined opposition but
prominent Democrat piloted through the pres
ent House the Registry bill which is u be
carried into practice to-day. That bill. while
il involved a departure from the original legs-
ation of Washington'S day, was statesman
like compromise to which the Republican Sen
ate could not refuse assent. 1t conferred regis
try upon two foreign-built ships; but it pro-
vded, directly or indirectly, for the immediate
construction of n merchant fleet in American
shipyards the creation of powerful auxiliary
navy, and the restoration of the flag TO the
Transatlantic trade with ports Of three Euro
rean countries. While there was a conditional
suspension of the Registry law the objects TO
be attained were the same which the founders
of the Republic contemplated in the earliest
shipping legislation. BY their navigation laws
they protected the shipping and shipbuilding
interests alike and created a maritime Nation,
with Navy as well as a commercial marine,
with American sail whitening every sea and
with the coasts lined with shipyards. All
these patriotic objects will be promoted by the
Io0i for no of bo il
can line.
Surely no argument is required on Washing
tons Birthday to prove that dependence upon
foreign flags is discrcditable and dangerous.
While men may differ respecting the causes
of the decline Of American shipping on the
high seas, they will unite in deploring mar
itime decadcnce which is the source Of Ma
tonal humiliation and disgrace. They will
also agree that the country would be richer
rather than poorer if their own people could
have large share of the $500, 0O0, 900 annu-
ally paid to foreign shipowners for ocean
freighting to and from American ports. What
ever differences OF opinion there may be re-
sDecting the best measures for restoring the
merchant marine, poor in spirit and false to
the traditions of the home soil must be the
American who cannot rejoice over the victory
for the flag which is to be celebrated to-day
on the decks of the New-York If the lead
ers of both parties can find in their own records
evidence that they have contributed to this
result, so much the better; for it will be an
incentive to patriotic and intelligent corpora
ton in the future on behalf OF American ship
ping interests.
A century ago American legislators protected
by legislation the shipbuilder and the carrying
trade in domestic and foreign service. That
protection has never been withheld from the
coastng and inland marines, and both have
prospered. 1t never ought to be withdrawn
by the passage of such measure as the Fithian
bill, nor ought the Registry law TO be sus-
pended except in such instances as that of the
Inman Line, when National policies are pro-
noted and the interests of the shipyards are
not sacrificed. The restoration of the COM
mercial marine on the high seas, from which |
protection was Withdrawn during the period
from 1915 to 1850, can be accomplished by !
a reversiOn to the enlightened Democratic pol |
icy adopted under the administration OF Presi- |
dents Pierce and Buchanan when SO, 00O, 600 |
year was paid for the transportation OF mails |
in American ships. That is the policy which |
has brought about the transfer of the flag to |
the New-Yorl< to-day, and no Democrat who |
is mindful of the best traditions Of his party !
will assail it, 1t is the time honored English |
method of making the mail service a medium |
for the development of shipping interests and
no alien economist is justified in railing !
against it.
Not even Mr.. Holman can say aught against |
it, for it is obviously cheaper to provide an |
auxiliary navy by liberal mail payments than
it is to build and maintain cruisers beyond the |
requirements of peace. Tell it not in Gath.
but the New-York and the Paris are equal to
twenty Alabamas. and tho i've ships 10 bs !