The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-08-22
QUESTIONS OF AMERICAN COM
MERGE.

importance in the control of the future
commerce of the Pacific ocean and the
. degree Of publicity recently made in
their efforts to become a part of the
| United States forms an important
factor in the problem of commercial
supremacy in these seas. Away back
in the periods of forgotten history and
coeval with the first ages of man the
monumental remains Of Asia tell us of
an ancient commerce that existed at
that time and controlled a little coun-
try along the shores of the Persian
Gulf. known as Chaldea. Coming
down to that period known as authentic
history we find on the eastern banks Of
the Mediterranean race of Hamite
origin, emigrants from the Persian
shore teaching to the western world the
art of shipbuilding and the science Of
navigation, as well as furnishing sailors
to the nations of the maritime world of
that day Following them came their
immediate pupils, the CarthagenienS,
who for ages controlled the commerce
of the world and taught to the Romans
the secrets of eastern comforts and
luxury. Then came the Venitians,
and after them the Spaniards, followed
by the Hanse-Town league, who in
: turn gave up the supremacy of the seas
to the English speaking race of Great
L Britain Thus we see that from the
beginning of time to the present the
! commercial supremacy, having its birth
t in the east, has travelled westward and
I the United States will next in turn lay
claim. Before this can be accomplished
. the American merchant marine engaged
" in the foreign trade should be placed
{ upon an equality with that of other
( nations. The problem is most diff
P icut one and Involves the restoration
and maintenance of a commercial
( marine adequate to the shipping in
y terests of the country, and notwlth,
y standing the able efforts of statesmen
the great problem has not yet found
> legislative solution.
AT present the American mails,
freight and passengers cross the ocean
under foreign flags at an annual cost
of more than two hundred millions of
" dollars, that 60 to enrich rivals,
y whereas the country has vital interest
L in the carrying trade, and every dollar
: paid for freight imported or exported
= should accrue to American labor and
It capital. During the first twenty-five
. years of existence the United States
!" successfully competed with Great Brit
} ain, and that, too, at period of dis
terminating duties on the part of Eng
81 forbade the naturalization of vessels
e built outside of their own dominions.
q The termination of the war of 1872
e brought a treaty by which direct
l. trade with Great Britain was established
al on principles of reciprocity, and Amer
a lean shipping increased with wonderful
Fl rapidity. The American vessels made
II quicker passage and delivered their
d goods in better condition than their
e rivals With the Introduction and de-
d velopment of steam freight carriers,
h the navigation of sailing ships ceased
he to be profitable. America was slow in
d beginning to build ocean steamers,
d slower still in adopting improved meth
lie DDS of construction and propulsion.
* The Collins line came into the field
e. years later than the Cunard line, and,
though stimulated by high subsidy,
II it did not secure increased freight
r. capacity or marine economy, failed to
a carry out the mail contract, and aban.
ID doned the business. The protection
n and substituting of the foreign trade, as
,e an experiment in political economy,
a commenced in 1916 by an approprl'
is alton that was divided between severa
le lines of steamers under varying condi
,e tons and with increasing demands
Sc These bountes were continued unit
r 1855, and then ceased, not to appear
ry again until 1865, when Congress sub
re sidized Garrison's line to Brazil, anC
in later the Pacific Mail and Roach Brazi
y line. In nearly every case, protected
er lines have failed, and in the pas
&c the Collins, the Transatlantic and thu
In Brazilian companies were beaten b.
n unsubSidized foreign steamers Freight
n were not rendered cheaper, no foreigl
10 trade was developed, but, instead, ne'
Nv burdens were placed upon the produce
st and consumer for the benefit of priv
of legged distributing agent, besides max
~ ,,ot;,, ,tealf n