The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-02-28

clipper ships which then bore thres-
fourths of our carrying trade the freight
for which amounted to hundred mil
lion dollars in cash per year. Where is
1T now? Gone, as | have already stated
Commissioner Matthews says in his last
report, that not single ship has been
built III the shipyards of Maine the past
year; and this where the Pattens of Bath
| bad in former days owned hundred
ships floating the stars and stripes on
every sea.
Several causes have contributed to this
disastrous result; but the chief cause
has been hurtful legislation. Are we
never to have this splendid ocean marine
| restored. 1t seems as though our people
our legislators could not be much longer
blinded to the harm they are doing. 1t
Is a og-in-themanger policy, unworthy
| the Intelligence of the American people.
1t has been said, and / think truly, that
ships and obsence literature are the
only articles that Americans are not al
| lowed to purchase aud import. "Protec-
ton" has driven our ships from the
ocean; why not trv the other alternative,
| free trade? 'If this is coffee, will take
| tea," said the guest at the hotel, ftIf 1t
| is tea | will take ooffee'' Our policy has
extinguished the finest merchant marine
In the world. Let us try the other poll
OF. There is nothing to be hurt by 1t,
and many believe 1t is the proper
papacea for the present dlsgraceful con-
dition OF ocean shipping interests.
TAE "OFFICIAL LOG"
Capt. James Reazer presented some
statistics Of the Society, in true sailor
fashion. He called it reading the off,
cial log" 1t was one of the hits of tho
evening We give it In full below:
| Mr.. President and Gentlemen:-As 1
have the honor OF being the f irst M ate
OF this old packet Portland Marine So
| clety.' after a voyage Of 100 years, and
before these sailors get ashore, I suppose
1t becomes my duty to read to them the
| off cial log, as some of them have kept a
private log and will have US up before
! the courts for not keeping our side lights
burning. Since the old ship sailed. Feb.
81. 1895, we have enrolled on Our papers
S73 men. and today we have 53 men. This
is the largest number we ever had at any
on tins. That is what these dinners
have done. We have collected by the 10
cent monthly payment fees and the "slop
chest" the sum of ST., 492. Since 1906 we
have paid to the widows. orphans and
needy seamen S45, 7o6, have salted down
S26, 1860, and are paying now about
| VI, 100 year to our benefctaries. our ex-
penses. and keeping soma on hand for a
standby. heard merchant say "old
| 6hAlols ssEe Soou loI uOtuiuE- also
heard a minister preach a sermon on
| sailors, and W hen no had got done with
them left them whore the old lady's son
was. She was asked where her son was.
She said: He is nowhere on the face OF
Gods earth; he has gone a fishing.
Now, MIR. President, do you know where
there is q society of SO few members as
this society has had that has furnished
more members to TIL places of honor and
trust than this Society?
After voyage Of 100 years, through
thiok and thin, storms and Gains, when
We had almost got into port-we were
struck NATURALIZATION for the first time
for the voyage all hands were called But
having an able captain, he got her around
again and got her safely to port at the
Falmouth Hotel where she is safely
moored head and stern, everything
squared by the lifts and braces, with az
fine a crew rs ever trod ships deck.
feel proud that am with these old sail
ors tonight, but doubly proud to have al
our guests SO many distinguished gentle
men.
Hon. Charles H. Chase, the Oldest liv
ing ex-president of the society then paii
worthy tribute to the memory of Cap
tain John Thorlo, the founder of the as
ISOLATION. This ended the speaking, ani
after all had risen to their feet and dranl
in silence to the memory of the members
who have gone on before, the cele bratior
closed with the singing of Aud Lang
Syne.