La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-10-08
MARINE PROTECTION.
HOW ENGLISH SHIP SUPREMA-
CY WAS ESTABLISHED.
By Favoring British builders, Owners
and saiior.. and In Every Way Dis
criminstin. Against the Vessels of
ForeIrn Maritime Competitor.

Continuing our examination of the
principles OF ship protection, We shall
DO well to neglect the theory till we
know the practice Imaginative phil
osophers have taken the other course.
Noting that the sea may be made
track for 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-
ployment 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 tha, 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
the rule. Her policy has been forceful.
arbitrary or cunning, as seemed the
best, but liberal never. Her obserV-
ance of reciprocity" has been diplo-
matte. tricky and fraudulent. Her pre-
tensions to free trade and open doors
are designing and circumventive.
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-
tenn pursued until her supremacy was
firmly rooted took this principle for
its polar star 1t may be thus de-
scribed:
The Successful British system.
/. The bulky articles imported in
British ships only.
3 Products OF every continent but
Europe imported in British ships only,
or in vessels OF the country of produc-
tion.
8. Entire British dominions includ-
ed in domestic trade. foreign shipping
prohibited therefrom.
L. No carrying of goods from one
British colony to another in foreign
vessels.
5. No importations into British
possession by foreign vessels, except
those belonging to the country OF
growth, production or manufacture. ana
then only when three-fourths OF the
crews we're citizens OF the same coun-
try.
G. Only vessels built under the Brit
ish nag. owned, ofilcered and three
fourths manned by British subjects
could obtain papers as British ships
z. For period of seventy-six years
a system OF export bounties on grain
prevailed. with British ships only ell
gible for its transportation.
Policy Persistently Maintained.
Such were the salient features of the
effective British charter martina.
1t favored foreigners not at an: 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 it was modified in 1873,
"a. 80 and 40, the Identical objects
were kept in view. Such care was
taken by the government. and such
skill 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 it. II
privilege was granted. there was a
way to countermine 1t. In 1S49 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 e1igencies. 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
nj protection were devised that we shall
describe in future, but all looked 70 the
getting of cargoes for British ships, and
10 their steady employment.
Query.-while all this was going on
what we're we Americans doing? Whit
Ting sticks. since 1850! boasting of our
great country--anything but taking
care of the commerce and navigation
handed down by the Fathers!