The Elbert County tribune., 1898-10-06
MARINE PROTECTION.
HOW ENGLISH SHIP suPREm.
cY WAS ESTABLISHED.
by favoring Hritish Builders. Owner,
ana Sailors. and In Every Way Dis
erininatinE Against the Vessel. OF
Foreign Maritime Competitors.

Continuing our examination Of the
principles of ship protection, we shall
do well to neglect the theory till we
Know the practice. Imaginative mill
oeophers have taken the other course
Noting that the sea may be made a
track Tor trade, and that the wind blow
ing over its face is free to all. they have
argued. fancifully. that commerce on
the ocean should come and go like the
waves. without mans let or hindrance
the vessels of all nations getting en-
pioyment or going idle as chance may
turn up luck. In practical words, that
the carrying trade should ignore the
difference in flags, and perceive only
the sameness of ships. The fault in
this fantasy is that human nature has
not been consulted in its conception.
The control of international traffic
has always been exercised by the
stronger powers. The weaker nations
have participated only SO far as toll
erance proved advantageous to the
stronger. This is the situation to-day.
The course Of Great Britain illustrates
tho rule. Her policy has been forceful,
arbitrary or cunning, as seemed the
best. but liberal" never. Her observ-
ance OF reciprocity" has been dipio-
masic. tricky and fraudulent. Her pre-
tensions to free trade and open DOORS
are designing and clrcumventive.
Never has she taken down one fence
before she was ready to. or had, put
up another. The employment of her
shipping is ever in mind. The sys-
TEN pursued until her supremacy was
firmly rooted took this principle for
It's polar star. 1t may be thus de-
scribed:
Tho Successful British system.
1. The bulky articles imported in
British ships only.
2. Products of every continent but
Europe imported in British ships only.
or in vessels of the country of produc-
tion.
3. Entire British dominions includ-
ed in domestic trade, foreign shipping
prohibited therefrom.
.. No carrying of goods from one
British colony to another in foreign
vessels.
5. No importations into a British
possession by foreign vessels, except
those belonging to the country of
| growth, production or manufacture, and
then only when three-fourths of the
crews were citizens OF the same coun-
try.
G. Only vessels built under the Brit
ish flag, owned, officered and three
fourths manned by British subjects
could obtain papers as British ships.
Z. For a period of seventy-six years
a system OF export bounties on grain
prevailed, with British ships only eli
gible for its transportation.
Policy Persistentiy Maintained.
Such were the salient features of the
effective British charter martina" :"
1t favored foreigners not at all; even
violated their rights in some things, but
protected were British commerce and
navigation. The constant employment
and assured prosperity OF merchants,
ship owners. builders, masters and sea-
men were especial objects of its insti-
tuition. When 1t was modified in 1915.
"a. 80 and 40, the identical objects
were kept in view. Such care was
taken by the government, and such
skin and patriotism displayed by the
people, the new protection has served
to hold what was gained by the old.
Whenever change of plan was made
the British were prepared for 1t. If
a privilege was granted, there was n
way to countermine it. In 1849 the
risk in fully adopting maritime reci
procity," admitting foreign-built ships
to registry, and opening the insignifi-
cant coasting trade, was unsubstantial;
in fact, blank.
Both the old and the new systems
were suited to their exigencies. Brit
ish supremacy on the ocean made the
new possible The long start which
Britain had OF other nations in ocean
steam navigation was itself an assur
ance of success. 1t was relied on that
no other nation could or would pour
out its treasure like water in steamship
subsidies, as the British were deter
mined to do. Cost what 1t might, the
lead in steam navigation would be kept.
as kept it was Steam lines were sub
sidized to every central port of COM
merce. This caused the building, but
especially the employment, OF shipping,
while 1t extended trade. Other ways
of protection were devised that we shall
describe in future. but all looked to the
getting of cargoes for British ships. and
to their steady employment.
Query.-while all this was going on
what were we Americans doing? Whit
tling sticks, since 1880! boasting of our
great country-anything but taking
care of the commerce and navigation
DOWN hy the Father6t