The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-02-04

that the treaty should be followed by
commercial convention that should
establish a policy OF maritime reel.
procity"-an open door" 10 freight
ing-under which the present state OF
our marine might be brought about
We had to treat our enemy or fight
him single-handed-So we treated. To
enable the executive TO meet In "cor
vention" our exacting friend, of the
firm and universal peace" just ratified,
congress passed the first act for strip.
ping off our ship protection, March ,,
1918, as follows:
That so much OF the several acts impos-
ing duties on the tonnage OF ships and ves-
sells, and on goods, wares. merchandise Inn
ported into the United States. as imposes
a discriminating duty on tonnage between
foreign vessels and vessels OF the United
States. and between goods imported into the
United States In foreign vessels and ves-
sells OF the United States, be. and the same
are hereby repealed such repeal TO take ef-
feet IN favor OF foreign nations whenever
the president OF the United States shall be
satisfied that the discriminating or coun-
tervailing duties OF such foreign nation,
SO far as they operate TO the disadvantage
of the United states, have been abolished.
Dust for the Public Eye.
The assumption thatany discriminate
ing duties OF foreign nations operated
10 the disadvantage Of the United
States" was false and absurd. Besides,
the British system Of ship protection
consisted for the most part OF prohibit
tions, as already shown. Several OF
these IL was not expected they would
give up, nor did they. We had no pro-
hibitions. but were to give up all our
system; the British only part OF theirs.
We have had historians whose ac-
count OF our submission 20 fate wells
the truth. The experience Of 90 years
had proved that our diScrimina;ive du-
ties were highly protective, much more
than offsetting those OF other nations;
ard especially effective In securing to
our vessels cargoes in foreign ports for
carriage homeward. On this security OF
employment abroad rested the whole
advantage Of ship protection. This II
was that Great Britain wanted re-
moved. Only the prohibitions ~ for
eign nations INSTRUCTED our navigation.
These the act OF 1915 did not touch. The
only gain from the convention OF July
3, 1915. at London. was the continuance
OF the peace provided for by the treaty
OF December "a, 1914, AT Client. That is
TO say. our ship protection as against
the British was cast away as the price
OF pacifoation. The convention" Of
1915 provided as follows:
The Reciprocity Convention.
Article l. Freedom OF commerce and nav
igtaion. as to ''the territories OF the United
States OF America, and all the territories
OF his Britannia majesty In Europe" but
not elsewhere.
Article 2 No discriminating duties on
imports. exports or vessels: equality OF
duties and drawbacks. and reciprocity in
freighting; but intercourse with the West
Indies unsettled. prohibition In force there.
Article g. American vessels TO be adj
m'tted TAT the principal settlements OF 'he
British dominions In the East Indies" but
cargoes must be carried to the United
states-not eisewhere-and IN time OF war
x.~uhlhffnH MI 40 a rar "A n