Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-06
FOR SHIPS,

The declaration of the republicans of
Iowa in favor of the enactment of legis.
lation which will regain for American
ships the carrying of our foreign com
merce voices the practically unanimous
sentiment of republicans everywhere.
This legislation is urged "for the ma
tional defense, for the reinforcement of
the navy, for the enlargement of our
foreign markets, for the employment of
American workingmen in the mines,
forests, farms, mills, factories and ship
yards" This sums up the argument for
a merchant marine commensurate with
u foreign commerce and it is sufficient.
That such a merchant marine would
be most valuable for national defense
will not be questioned. England, Ger
many and France have in their merchant
steamers an available naval reinforce
ment that would be of immense service
in war and the advantage in having
great ships that may be turned into
cruisers and transports was demon
strated in our conflict with Spain. The
four auxiliary cruisers from the Ameri-
can line, thoroughly manned with eX-
%perienced seamen and engineers, saved
ever paid to maintain this line. The
starting of n Spanish fleet for Ameri-
can waters created panic in our coast
marine service. The sailing of u mer-
chant cruisers and the fact that they
could locate and report the Spanish
fleet, in ample time for i%ntercepting it,
restored confidence and saved our coast
wise trade.
That the enlargement Of our foreign
markets would be promoted by an
American merchant marine cannot
reasonably be doubted. Representa-
tive Payne Of New York, who was chair
man of the house committee on mer-
chant marine, says: 1--WE are ready to
compete with the world in everything
made from iron, steel and cotton, and a
hundred other things. We want a mar
ket for the central products of the north
west and the Pacific slope, without
oChuihS tiCIh W ihNCipOoit IL pay lhS
toll to Great Britain, before they reach
Asiatic ports. The same Is true of
the South American markets, both on
the Atlantic and the Pacific. To reach
these markets now we must send our
mail and often ship our goods by the
way of Liverpool. This is a terrible
handicap to our trade. American YES
sells, manned by Americans, would re-
suit in great advantage in marketing
American goods" Mr.. Barrett, our for
mer minister to Siam, says that one
great necessity to the increase of Ameri.
can commerce In the far east is the i'm
mediate improvement of the steamship
service of the Pacific. He urges that
vessels equal to those crossing the At
lantic should be placed on this route
''and as many as possible should fly the
American flag" At present the freight
facilities are not equal To the demands
made upon them. 1--WE cannot expect,
however" says Mr.. Barrett, that the
steamship companies will make the i'm
proyements needed unless the govern
ment is willing TO give them the neces-
sary subsidies" 1t is well known that
our trade with South America has suf-
fered because most of it has been car
ried on under foreign flags; there can be
no doubt that the experience will be re-
peated in the Asiatic trade If we shall
continue to depend largely upon foreign
vessels for carrying our products,
An American merchant marine com
m%ensurate with our foreign
would not only give employment 10 a
large army OF American w|orkingmen,
but it would keep at home a vast sum