The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-14

through marine insurance underwriters
and mail subsidies, through her con-
sular system and her submarine and
overland electric cables, with agents
and ships crowdlng every port. He pre-
sents the astounding fact that at many
important ports of Europe where we
have consuls not an American vessel
was seen In 1895, Not only did we lose
the trade, but national character and
prestige, by having no feet to evidence
to the people at theae ports that we had
any commerce or shipplng-nothing TO
tell OF the magnitude OF our commerce.
How humiliating even in the harbor of
New York, the gateway OF Europe to
our continent, the flags OF foreign ships
that crowd our docks are almost the
only ones that greet the vision, while
the stars and stripes OF ocean-carrlers
are rarely ever seen,
Senator Elklns sums up the benefits
to be derived by the passage of the
pending bill-the carrying OF all our
imports and part OF our exports, and
part Of the carrying Of countries that
have no ships; the increase In shipbuild-
ing and the new shlpyards that would
start up along our vast eastern and
western coasts, and the employment
they would give to countless thousands,
besides giving new life and activity to
other industries; the saving OF 100000
600 now paid to foreign ships for car,
rying our imports, while We would en-
large our trade in all the worlds mar
kets, Shipbuilding would not only kin
die the fires OF industry along our vast
ocean fronts. but would consume the
products OF the farm as well as those of
coal, lumber, iron, steel and zinc, CIV
ing employment to thousands at home
and upon the seas These statements
are sustained by the facts that for a
hundred years we have built our own
ships for our lake and coastwise trade,
and have derived great advantage from
this policy
The senator takes issue with the pro-
position to buy foreign-built ships and
admit them TO American registry by
showing that this would reduce US TO a
state OF dependence and vassalage, and
we would never have q merchant ma
rine or navy; that II would be the OPP
poslte of the policy we have adopted
for our home industries; that by buy
ing ships we should send that much
money abroad; that we do not want
ships so much ms to secure business for
them after we have them.
One of the strongest reasons urged by
him for supporting the bill, is that when
In our early history, we had dlscrimI-
nation duties England adopted the
same policy, and though she attempted
10 retaliate In every form and manner
against our carrying trade her efforts
were failures. and our trade increased
year by year. He points out that II
England did take from us, under the
protection proposed for our merchant
marine, the carrying OF our exports,
our loss would be only $4,000, 900 while
our gain in carrying a thousand mill
ions of imports would be one hundred
millions per annum. Does the American
Congress realize the tribute we pay to
foreign ships and the resulting loss to
our own people? The cost OF carrying
l,7OO,0OO,OOO of imports and exports is
$200,000.O00 per annum. Add $4,000, 900
more for carrying passengers and we
have $230,000,000 we pay annually to
foreign shlpowners-an amount In thlr-
ty years equal to the total cost OF our
civil war. Shall we continue for another
century to pay this enormous sum to
other nations, and thereby strengthen
their power upon the seas?
strengthening Rivals Hands.
Private individuals or corporations
would not, for the loss they would sus-
tain as well as the risks they would in,
cur, lntrust oil their carrying, all they
buy and sell, to the hands of others
who might at some time be unable or
refuse TO attend to the transportation.
1t Is shown that the present policy
strengthens the hands OF our rivals in
shipping and commerce. while our
own people should enjoy the fruits and
in case OF war be independent, with
out fear OF injury to our commerce We
have by protection made this nation
stronger and more independent on land
than any other of the great powers. II
Is only on the ocean that we are weak.
powerless and dependent and we have
less reason for this condition of things
than any other nation. ours is the only
one on the globe whose shores are
bathed by the two great oceans-sleep,
less sentlnels at midday and midnight
that with open arms for eight thou.
sand miles welcomes our commerce. and
beg to carry 1t to the rising and setting
sun. We heed not the caresses OF old
ocean. but acknowledge our dependence
and humiliation while other nations
reap the fruits OF the ocean harvest We
sell to Great Britain annually, 1925, OOO,-
900 of our products, and pay her for
shipping them, instead of employing
our people and ships Of our own. We
buy from her a little over 100000 900
and pay her to bring the products to
our chores. Is this wisdom? Is this
craftsmanship? Is this following the
counsels of the fathers or listening to
the voice OF experience as taught In the
first forty years Of our national llfe2
We are told that we are not able 10
compete with England in the carrying
trade. We were In the days of our in
fancy; why not In the time OF our ma.
tured and vigorous manhood? Have we
not thousands In our own land skilled
In shipbuilding ready to match old
England in strength OF build, beauty of
finish and speed Of movement in any
vessel she can place upon the seas?
Have we not mines Of metal iReXhaus-
tible and forests unbroken for three
thousand miles, with all the facilities to
build along our ocean fronts shipyards
that will surpass those Of the great
powers that now claim the ocean MS
their dominion and the worlds harbors
as the refuge for their seals2
In the pending bill there Ia not a de-
mand for dollar from tho public
treasury. It ia an invitation to our
countrymen who have capital and
brains, enterprise and energy to build
from our forests and mines ships that
can meet upon the ocean highways the
ships Of the world, and contest with
them the supremacy OF the seas. Let
Us roposG more confidence In the tlreless