The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-04-18
OUR RUINED MARINE.
AMERICAN SHIPPING IN THE FOREIGN
TRADE WELL NIGH EXTINCT.

bors. but the Stars and Stripes Are Sell
dom Seems Some startling Statements.
Benefits of the Proposed New Law.
Excerpts from ii speech of Mr. Elkins
Ia the United States senate:
Under proper policy Of encourage
ment to American shipping the United
States, with its s, 600 miles of seacoast,
it's navigable rivers and lake coast, fine
harbors, variety Of climate, productive
capacity, rapidly increasing population,
its position on the globe-Asia on one
side with GOO 600, 900 and Europe on
the other with 400, 600, 900 of people
I should be the leading commercial and
maritime power of the world.
This would be the proud position of
the United States today had protection
to American interests Oh the sea granted
| by the founders of the government i'll
the early legislation Of congress been
continued. Our progress on land i'll a
century is unsurpassed in the history of
material development, while our prog
ress in shipping has languished under
the policy of maritime reciprocity until
our flag is unknown on many seas and
with some nations has almost become
myth.
No nation has ever been truly great
or an important factor in the affairs of
the world unless it has been great on
the sea. The United States cannot reach
its full growth and measure of progress
until IFS shipping and commerce are rel
atively equal to its industries on land
During the last 30 years the people Of
the United States have been so occupied
with internal development, exploring
and exploiting the far west, building
railroads. opening mines, establishing
manufactures, that they have not given
that attention tor shipping it deserves.
The time is at hand, however, when the
opportunities on land have so diminish
ed that br siness men seeking careers and
fortunes in the commercial world must
turn to the seas. The advice of Horace
Greeley, good at its time, go west,
young man, and grow upwith the coun-
try" has ceased to be good advice now.
The west has been seized, occupied, and
the opportunities for making money are
no greater there than in the east, so
that advice to young men of the country
should be to return to the pursuits, prac-
tees and customs of their fathers, go to
the seas for a career and gather wealth
from shipping and trade with foreign
lands.
The United States pays $500, 900
every day, or nearly So per capita per
annum, to foreign shipowners for carry
ing what its people sell and buy. This
enormous sum, or most of it, should be
saved to the people and the country and
would be under a proper policy of aid
to shipping.
Apart from the Importance of encour-
aging shipping purely as a branch of
industry that brings returns to those
engaged i'll it, employment for labor and
consumption of raw and manufactured
material, it has an added Importance
and becomes matter Of national con-
Germ from the standpoint Of national de-
Tense.
Any plan or policy that may be de-
vised for building up American ship
ping will meet with serious opposition
from the shipowning nations of the
world. Even among our own people OPP
position will be developed. But we
must not be deferred from the perform
ance of plain duty because of difficult
ties and opposition at home and abroad
Difficulties lie in the pathway of prog
ress. No great thing comes to a nation,
a community OF an individual without
effort and difficulties to be met and
overcome.
The United States has common in
terest i'll the oceans and seas of the
world and should share in the fruits
and benefits that arise from occupying
them with its vessels. Especially should
it have the largest share in carrying its
own foreign trade. Because of the op-
position of Great Britain and countries
which control the shipping of the world
and enjoy what we once had and lost
we must not surrender our rights on the
seas and fail to reach out and take again
what naturally belongs to us.
To restore our lost shipping and place
the United States where it belongs in
the carrying trade of the world will in
volve great contest, chiefly with Eng
land, not of arms, but as friendly rivals
for commercial supremacy. Great Brit
ain will resist every step in the direc-
ton Of restoring American shipping.
She would not be true to her people, her
commercial instincts, traditions and in
terests were she not to make every effort
in her power to maintain her supremacy
on the seas. What agriculture is to the
United States shipping is to England,
and England will use all her endeavors,
through wise craftsmanship and di-
plomacy, to protect the same. Against
this there can be no reasonable objection
on our part.
1t is the province of English states
manship to maintain the commercial
supremacy of Great Britain on the seas.
1t is manifest destiny that the United
States shall dispute this supremacy ind
from its position control not only its
own, but the larger part of the carrying
trade of the world
Great Britain will not easily give up
what she has gained ON the sea in 200
years. She knows that struggle with
| tho ITpited States for oO,,,,noro;a1 -,