The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-03
OUR GREAT PROBLEM.


Whatever may be the outcome Of the coming in
ternational yacht there will be to seri
ousy question the ability Of the American people
to build and man a sailing vessel to render it
worthy competitor in speed and endurance of any
vessel afoat
What have so often demonstrated through
out century over of national existence with refer
ence to sailing vessels have also demonstrated in
the very beginning Of creation Of adequate
modern navy. Whether propelled by steam by
the wind whether engaged in peaceful commerce or
scenes of war, the American sea-going vessei-that
is, the vessel manned and built by Americans-s i'll
feror to nothing afoat. Concededly England is to-
day, she always has been only competitor in
peace the She is not only
petitor. but she is infinitely superior in both di
rections; and judging from the relative disposition
Of the governments of the two peoples she is destined
to remain superior for indefinite period. SO
completely has she left us in the in the matter
of merchant marine that in certain ports what
little marine commerce we do has been charged up
to England.
1t is of good moment to inquire how these
later conditions have been brought about They rep
resent accomplished fact. 1t is the remedy not
the cause, that most concerns For cause that
might have operated greatly to disadvantage in
the past may not today furnish the basis of the
remedy to be adopted.
AS is said in the English jingo refrain, we have
the men and the money, too, which should suffice to
produce the needed remedy Both equally
available to us. We seem to have assured the
permanent relationship toward England Of of
nautical dependent. She does for what
unable to do for ourselves; she carries for to for
eign ports the immense exports which are
tnually Dragging about. Recently have set
selves doing something. That something takes the
of "a
which finds it's basis purely in the idea that
reach control of marine carrying with
out levying tribute the national treasury Nor
indeed, according to that measure. do we seem to
have the courage to levy that same tribute in any
amount which could be expected to promote our ends
permanently.
From the foundation of present consttu
tional system up about the end of the first quar-
ter Of the nineteenth century we were able to adj
vance the proportion in which did our own for
egn shipping from about per cent to something like
80 per cent We didn't raid the treasury dollar for
the purpose either. We simply protected ship
ping against successful foreign competition. We
built our own ships and when they went into COM
mission gave their and operators such
advantages by dscrminative revenue acts and other
wise as enabled them to control the trade Of their
people.
1t Is right that the socaed Hanna-Payne
IL
demned almost universally. 1t would be impossible
to induce the American people to bear the burden Of
taxation which would be necessary to enable to
meet the subsidies of England and the bountes Of
France. They will not endure it; and any INSULT
cient measure of that nature will but enrich indi-
vdual American ship owners without accomplishing
the national purpose. We must protect, not sub
sidize A large craftsmanship readily devise the
means to this end By encouraging shpbuildng
industry and by deysing an adequate system
of marine insurance by the treasury de-
partment Of American vessels which will
save the cost to the ship do
much. Since have discriminating import duties
why not extend their Determinations in favor of mer
chandise carried to this country in American bot
toms and thus aid in securing return cargoes for
vessels?
Until we have established department which
will have the control and supervision of everything
that relates to foreign shipping, the lines Of
the British board Of trade and corresponding bodies
we can never hope to see in force uniform and eff
fective system which will give the control in this
direction which Americans Of every form of political
belief are now satisfied we should have