Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-13

carried to the four corners of the globe
proofs of the constructive genius and
power Of our people, are all doomed to
abandonment and destruction by such a
law as the gentleman would enact. This
means the discharging from employment
of more than 10000 workmen and the
deprivation and distress of 100, 900 people.
There are no sturdier, steadier, sober
and more intelligent workmen in our
country than our shipwrights none who
contribute more to the wealth and great
ness of the American nation, and at the
same time give it as little trouble.
Where will they go? What will they do
when you have driven them from their
present avocation? Your policy of ruin
has closed every other avenue Of industry
to them. There is not an honorable pur.
suit in the land that does not find labor
begging at it's doors for employment.
Had you destroyed this great industry
two years ago, when the country was
safely under the protective policy of the
Republican party, when the factories
were all running, the furnaces blazing
the mines open and worked, the farmers
finding good markets, and labor every
where in demand, it would have been
nothing less than great national crime
but now it will be both crime and q
cruelty.
l lam not sorry that the gentleman
went to the length which he did and de-
veloped the animus of that side of the
House upon this subject We know now
who is the friend and who the enemy of
American shipbuilding; who would have
us employ the skill and genius of our own
people to construct a navy and merchant
marine, and who would give this indus
try to the foreigner who has a pride in
the splendid results of American genius,
and whose admiration is all reserved for
those who live beyond the ocean and carry
another flag than our own.
But said that the vocation of ship
building was of national Importance.
Every vocation of our people is indirectly
of national Importance, since no part of
our people can prosper or suffer without
affecting for veal or woe every other
part of them.
But shipbuilding is of national impor
lance directly and in the largest sense,
and for this reason our forefathers made
They enacted that no vessel should be
entitled to an American register and car
ry the American flag except it should be
built within the jurisdiction of our gov
eminent.
They also made laws protecting our
coasting trade What was the purpose of
these laws, which are almost as old as
the government? The motive of our an
sc Iair in led
foIesaw the great advantage to our people
of constructing our own ships and con-
trolling our own domestic commerce.
They knew and regarded the fact that
no nation from the palmy days of Athens
G pmmerce to their times had ever possessed
and retained great commercial marine
except it built its own ships. They knew
the value of our ship yards to our people
as a source of employment. They felt the
necessity of developing the skill of our
people in constructing ships as the foun-
dation of a navy and to make us indepen-
dent of the world in this calling. y
But the gentleman from Kansas and
most of the party on his side of the House
do not seem to feel it. He says we can not
build ships because we pay our shipwrights
high wages. But we can and we do it,
anu VIC inttiiuy IL pOSSlulc, uUb W
the rate of wages. The gentleman has
talked good deal about the wrongs of
che workingman. But now he proposes
to reduce the wages of the men who work
in our shipyards to the low wages paid on
foreign countries.
But, Mr.. Chairman, there is another
consideration in connection with this de-
To- tx.vx l.x no.
serious of all
The opposition which we find here to
building these battle ships and providing
something like adequate protection for
our nations interests, betrays a lack of
patriotic spirit on the part of certain
class of men in this House and in the
country, which is to be deplored. That
unpatriotic spirit seems to be popular
just now.
Why, we found it in the case of Hawaii,
when a President Of the United States
had signed treaty and sent it to the
Senate, a treaty that would have annexed
these beautiful islands to this country
and given us position that commands
the Pacific coast, position, too that
could be made as impregnable as Gibral
tar, and 1t was rejected, and every effort |
made to turn back the tide of civilization |
and restore a rotten monarchy. 1t was OPP |
posed in every way, and with bitter
ness that can hardly be accounted for.
Oh, would rather have the future repu-
tation OF honest intelligent, patriotic
John l.. Stevens, saying N his dying |
moments, Stevens pulled up the flag and |
he never pulled it down." than all that |
will remain of Presidents and Congresses |
that struggled to detach Hawaii from our
influence and interests, and return 1t to
q government Of barbarism. Great APP |
plause on the Republican side.)
In Samoa, too, somebody wanted to give
away all that we had there. In Japan,
also, this government, through certain
gentlemen, wanted to interfere against
the Mikado and in favor Of China, which |
meant to favor the British interests there.
And when, Mr.. Chairman, We came to