The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-06

tf e. .s t . 49, " T-7f 49, lEE t-E-rt
Tue Poiio5 e. DISCRIMINATION prties . seaer-
senian Pelfcy. +,

Tse Policy 81 nfhcrinathatins Druss . seaer-
ssHisn Policy. t,..
To TIE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: The re.
establishment OF our ocean commerce 10 one of
the greatest problems of constructive states
manship now awaiting solution. 1t 10 the qucs.
ton that above all others should engage the at.
tention Of Congress at It's meeting in December.
for tho tariff is fortunately out OF the way. and
I believe the wisdom OF those in power will see
in our revived prosperity, and consequently
sound financial condition, that the best thing to
do with the currency is not to touch it.
The fret step toward regaining what OF right
and accordir0 to every sound principle OF gov
eminent we should possess, namely, the trans
portation of our own products 10 market and of
tho commodities. whether OF necessity or luxury,
that we may require for our own consumption
and tho profits arising from that transportation.
was taken by the introduction In the Senate of
the Elkins bill reviving the wisc policy OF dis
eliminating duties in favor of American ship
ping. The principle involved in this measure
built up our mercantile marine In tho infancy Of
the republic and carried our flag into every sea-
port In the world. And IL helped to main
tain us we'll in tho lead Of all competitors
in tho carrying trade until 1t was unwisely
abandoned. Then began the period of our de-
cline. Civil war and the unfriendly, not to say
hostile. action of q foreign rival, swept our flag
from the ocean. since Lnon many chuseb naVo
contributed toward keeping It in that PROSTATE
condition, 30 that, at the present time. the Stars
and Stripes are seldom seen afoat abroad except
on one OF our wal vessels or on tho yacht Of
some rich fellow citizen. Tho nag 10 banished from
international trade, almost as completely as TX
1t had ceased to exist.
The effort to restore the nag to Its riRhtful
place on the seas should receive the support Of
every Jeffersonian Democrat, for the control OF
our carrying trade Ia one of the robust principles
OF sound Jeffersonism. In his famous report to
Congress in 1898, On the privileges and restrio-
lions on the mmer OF the United States in
Foreign countries, whlch ID considered tne eoiest
oocument on that sup1ect ever WritOen " an
American statesman. Jefferson set forth the Inn
portance OF navigation In these words:
Its value as a branch OF industry IA enhanced BY the
dependence OF so many other brancbes upon II. In
times OF general peaoe IL multiplies the competitors
for employment in transportation, and 90 keeps that
at Its proper level; and in times OF war, that IL to say,
where those nations who may be our principal car.
riers shall be at war with each other, II we have not
within oureelyes the means OF TRANSPORTATION. our
produce must be exported in belliRerent vessels, at
the Increased expen,e Of war freight and insurance.
and the articles which will not bear that must perish
on our hands.
In the same report, .JefYerson advocated thu
impositiop Of discriminating duties an veapona
| OF Attack against those nations antaROntSt1C to
us commercially, and duties of this character
wore imposed in the frat revenue hill of the
First Conpross. That hill was. Mt the same tims
a measure for the encouragement of our manu-.
features. This was supplemented by subse-
quent acts, all looking toward the same end.
JEFFERSON never abandoned this ground. was
opposed to the policy OF so extending our COM
merce that we should become the carriers for
all nations" q course which, he believed. would
Involve US IN needless wars out ne never y'eideo
~ III 'n"' "o 'nou n''o
wv "" A
seeohu annual message ne saio'
On the restoration OF peace in Europe that portion
Of the general carrying trade which had fallen TO
our share during the " ar was abridged by the return
ing competition of the benlgerent powers. This was
to be expected and was Just. But, in addition. we
fnd in some parts Of Europe monopoliZing discrlmi.
nations, which, in the form ofduties, tend effectively
TO prohibit the carrying thither our own produce in
our own vessels. From existing amiies and q spirit
OF justice 1t is to be hoped that friendly discussion
$50 80. = 1sa S.s, 80. ~
wuo.,s .,,h ,ss Ias..,..u,. ~ $500 .s.,ra. ~
wrI M, ma, ,,sonar,,.. .,ro., 10, oonn,.E.u
ing ineop.I,t,es nj home. or rrovtds for the ev,i in
any other w.r.
one of his correspondents on the same subject:
ihase ever "iSneo 'na' III hauons "ould adopt a
navigation law against those who have one. which
vvnuid Ia haftar than acaipsf ali pdyncrfuptpataI1
and while was in France las Minister 1 proposed II.
In February, 1909, a few days before his sec.
ond Presidential term came to an end, he ex.