Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-22
New York Herald, Nov. 18th.


American steamer St, Louis at Philadcl-
phia to deliver some bold and ringing
words in behalf of the freedom OF
American commerce and for free ships.
His speech was most telling and Timely,
eliciting even from some of his political
opponents praise for his courage" and
"absolute frankness in the stronghold OF
his adversaries." The Philadelphia
Ledger says editorially:
His contention was, pure and simple,
for free ships, for the unquestionable
right of the American citizen to buy his
ships in that market in which he can buy
them most cheaply, to the end that he may
thereby compete successfully, under his
cotintry's flag, with his foreign rivals. His
assault was upon the navigation laws OF
the United States, which deny the citizens
of this country the privilege OF buying
| foreign-built ship at any price, and receive
an American registry for her, or the right
| to fly his country's flag at her peak. or OF
claiming, even i'll our own ports, the pro-
| lection al his government for her.
The President himself on this occasion
forcibly said:
There should be no more delay i'll the
work of reiEs.ating American commerce
not only by the inspiration supplied by
such events as we have this day witnessed,
but by such legislation as will set free
| American mechanical industry and excite
/ American enterprise. Commerce is the
| life-b blood of nation, and no country that
loses or impoverishes it can reach and
maintain a commanding position among
the nations of the earth.
am not able to see why American ships,
navigated by Americans and carrying
American cargoes, should in any case be
driven to the protection of foreign haSi
and it seems to me that the Stars and
Stripes entering port of the United States
and spread over AMERICANS and American
property, should never be frowned upon
and repealed by American officials acting
under the mandate OF our navigation laws.
Under these navigation laws, enacted
a century ago, the protection oil the
American navy is denied to any Ameri.
can ship not built and registered in this
country. They therefore virtually for
bid Americans to buy any ship abroad.
AS the Philadelphia Ledger clearly states
the case "Under our laws an American
can buy and obtain absolute ownership
of anything made in any country on the
face of the earth except counterfeit
, money, indecent goods and ship
: Under these antiquated and odious
: laws, which have long since operated
with ruinous effects on our merchant
, marine, we build up great navy, but
refuse to allow it to be used for the de-
, fence of our own merchants ships, even
| if assailed by foreign cannon, unless
they have been constructed in American
shipyards. :,
There are now many foreign built
vessels owned by American citizens
+ who have been forced by these laws tc
' sail them under the shelter of the
5 British or other foreign flag. Should
: one of these vessels, though owned by q
: New York merchant, be attacked by
!, pirates off Sandy Hook its owner coult
/ not claim the protection of our new
United States naval cruisers. NJ
? wonder such laws maintained for {
!, century to "protect" domestic ship
+ builders have ruined our ocean-marint
e and crippled our foreign commerc'
!. until now the Stars and Stripes have beef
= almost driven from the high seas. AL
!, who desire to sec better and brighte
d future for the country will, we think
e hail with pleasure Mr.. Cleveland
i patriotic words
}. In the interest of a revival of American
Is commerce SO much needed, and for tn
e honor of our flag so dear to us all, an
. willing that the defence Of ourgovernmen
y and flag shall be accorded to all ships o
y American ownership, wherever built.
. hope it is not anss for me to say tina
e shall deem myself especially fortunat
if in time to come it can be said that
!. have done something during my presen
u incumbency in aid OF the freedom and e.
9 tension of American commerce and tn
e consequent further growth OF America
y shipbnilding.
i Under the commercial restrictions an
IS slavery imposed by Republican "prt
1t tectiye" high tariffs from 1861 to 1894
is was idle and impossible to try to regal
a the splendid prestige American shippin
g. once enjoyed on all the oceans. BIZ
" now that the work Of commercial an
ts industrial emancipation has been il
ne augurated by the Wilson tariff, and ca
is be further advanced next month
lie Congress, great possibilities will 500
I'd arise for the development of our foreig
ie commerce and carrying-trade. Doub
~ less, if we had our own ships running
~ every great seaport of the world (as "
ed did during the regime of "the free-trac
he tariff" from 1S46 to 1861 they woul
il, find larger and new markets for a
Sc products of American industry, whic
III would prove of great and lasting benei
men and agricultursts. Abolition
the navigation laws and passage of
or free.ships bill are, however, indi
pensable to achieve this immensely d
le slrable result. 1t should be remembers
J. also that we are now paying foreiguo
err from $150,0o0,000 to $20O,0O0,000 ever
er year to do our oversee carrying-trad
en- We cannot afford to keep this up fl
I'd the sake of foreigners.
10 We need sorely to adopt, and TO ado
s.; at once, a policy by which this va
sum will be rather spent annual
among our own seamen and merchan
m and help to give scope to America
en- labor and nautical enterprise. No matte
he can ever be more than second-ra
he power while content to leave its foreis
let commerce to languish and die. BIT
sitter doing this for the past 30 veal
r the United States is now confrontt
with the most urgent necessity for 4
,r- immediate extension of its foreign tra
40 and ocean. marine. The day has pass
M when thinking people will consider d
rel obsolete and exploded plan of buildil
ell up commercial marine by bounties al
ed subsidies. Even were this not imprac
OF cable it would take many years to eife
ne any considerable result. for which o.
res present emergencies will not permit
ire to wait.
all Congress ought early next month
ny pass free.ships bill, and give a nj
impetus to American enterprise. I'll
would be of untold value to the who
nation. The time for discussion h
his expired and immediate action is il
Ill peratively needed. 1t is to be hop
ms that the Presidents ringing plea for fl