Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-21
The American Shipping Question.

OF the worlds ocean shipping, but "a
per cent. is American, while So per cent. is
British. About 70 per cent. of the for
eign commerce of the United States is
carried in British ships, and only II
per cent. is carried in American ships.
Our foreign commerce consists yearly
of imports and exports aggregating be-
tween billion and a half and two bill
lions of dollars in value. The earnings
of the ships employed in carrying the
freight. passengers and mails to and
from the United States. annually ag-
gregates close to $500 eco, o0o The coast
wise and inland commerce of the
United States is carried exclusively in
American vessels, foreign vessels he
ing prohibited by our laws from ca
gagins therein.
The Republican party has this year
declared in favor of the readoption of
an old American policy of protection
for our ships in the foreign trade. 1t
is proposed to exact a higher duty
from imports in foreign ships than is
eXactcd from imports in American
ships. This policy is described as that
of discriminating duties" The first
act of the first Congress. signed by
George Washington, July 4, 1883,
granted protection to American ships
in the foreign traue by this policy.
American ships then carried but % per
cent. of that commence, although they
were built from SO to 80 per cent
cheaper than foreign ships were, and
ours were better, lasted longer. and
sailed faster than foreign ships. Tn"
Il II,
ton was Immediately beneficial The
first year after its adoption American
ships carried 40 per cent, the second
year they carried IS per cent, the third
year 81 per cent, the fourth year ~
per cent. and the fifth year IS per cent.
Of our foreign commerce. Thereafter
with the exception of the period of the
war of 1872. 30 per cent. of cur foreign
commerce was carried in our own
ships, until 1928. when the discriminate
ing duties. act was repealed. and free
trade in the carriage of our imports
and exports substituted. and free trade
has ever since been in force in the car
riagc of American foreign commerce
The result of that free trade has been
that in 1861 American ships carried Sc
instead of 80 per cent. of our foreign
commerce, q loss of "a per cent in SO
years: at the close of the Civil war or
ships carried but IS per cent. and today
but II per cent. of our foreign COM
merce.
Thus, we have the experience of 50
years of protection and 6S years of free
trade in the carriage of our foreign
commerce. During the period of pro-
lection we almost continuously carried
80 per cent of our foreign commerce.
and as result of free trade we carry
but II per cent of it. Were cause and
effect ever more clear?
AS consequence of these facts and |
this history, the Republican party IA
vOrs the old discriminating duties |
policy. Nearly all of our commercial |
treaties with foreign maritime nations
will have to be changed. But The
United States, being a sovereign ma
ion, can change its treaties, and if the
republicans win this fall those treaties
will be changed in the interest of
American ships. To that the party and
is candidate for the presidency are
pledged
Republicans believe that to retain
nearly $30o,000o00 annually in the
United States. most of which is now
'aid abroad in gold to foreign ship
Wners. by diminishing the foreign de-
nand for our gold to that extent. will
GRITTY our national treasury in exactly
hat amount. And this is a consideJa-
ion of the greatest Importance at this
ritica1 period in our national finances
% spend $500 600 600 in pivinr an,,lox, ,
nent to American citizens ashore and
float, would result in the turning oyer
t that vast sum, annually to those
mployed upon our farms, in our mines.
ur forests, our mills, our factories. |
nd in every industry and in every part
f the United States. And to spend the
800, O00.o0O among American workmen
instead of as now. almost wholly upon
oreign Workmen, would enormously