The Philipsburg mail., 1899-05-05
OUR RREPUBLIC'SDESTINY
A Most Glowing Picture Painted by Senator
Frye Of Maine.
is FOR THE NICARAGUA CANAL
Strongly Advocates That Measure As Well
As the Retention of the Philippines.
The Gratifying Outlook for
American Commerce.

Senator William P. Frye of Maine,
chairman Of the senate committee on
commerce. was given a dinner last
week at the Waldorf Astoria, in New
York, as testimonial for his efforts in
obtaining for that city the improve
ments allowed in the recent river and
harbor bill passed by congress. The
dinner was given by the leading COM
lnercial organizations of New York.
Nearly 600 guests sat down to the fif-
teen tables in the grand banquet hall.
The room was resplendent with flags
and flowers.
Senator Frye spoke of the vast re-
sources Of America, it's wonderful
progress in the line Of production, of
the over production which ensued and
the necessity for the development of
foreign commerce. He recited the
brave efforts in this line and the meas
ure of success met with. He con-
tinued:
The commercial war upon which the
world has entered will become fiercer
and tiercer. Germany will be our most
dangerous rival. Germany is our most
forminable commercial enemy. She is
skilled in the arts of commerce and
mechanics; she is persistent, aggress-
i've, annoying and indOmitable. 1 tell
you, gentlemen, that we have more to
fear from Germany than from any
other nation OH earth.
But despite all her efforts we will
surpass her and be more successful
than she in the contest for prestige in
foreign commerce. Her wages paid
are not one.half as much as ours.
Shall we reduce ours to the plane of hers
That might breed a discomfort which
would endanger the republic would GER
tainly reduce the purchasing power Of
our people and still more increase the sur
plus. Shall we run our mills on one
third or One-half time? That would
largely increase the cost of our prod
uct I do not believe that our rail.
roads can reduce freights much unless
new motive power is found, but our
water carriers can and probably will
rying capacity and rates will be still
further reduced. Let me illustrate the
effect of such increased capacity.
When the larger freighter was 1000
tons the rate across the Atlantic was
IS. 80 ton when 5000 tons, Sc ton
when 5000 tons, So. 80 a ton; when
10, 900 tons, 50. 80 ton.
All the necessary facilities for these
deep-draught ships must be provided
for. 1t was just a look into this future
which compelled me to insist even to
the point of obstinacy that 81, 600, COO
should be expended in New York har-
Dor. and that our ships should find
there channel 1000 feet wide, with q
depth of forty feet, and ample dockage
room. trust, too. that the time is
not far distant when we shall have a
deep waterway from the great lakes to
the Atlantic ocean, still further in
creasing our facilities and decreasing
our rates.
Another thing, in my Judgment, is
imperatively required. We should car
ry in our own ships, under our own
flag, all Of our imports and exports.
We should pay to our people the $780,
900 day we now pay to foreigners.
We should make of the officers of those
ships active, intelligent and interested
agents for the discovery of new mar
kets and the promotion of our trade.
Suppose to accomplish it, it does cost
us $4,000, 600 or $40, 900, 900 annually !;
will not there be ample compensation
Great Britain, Germany and France
will not surrender this carrying trade
without a determined conflict. which
alone will reduce freight rates at least
25 per cent. The best estimate, and
think a correct one, of the amount in
tons Of our foreign commerce is about
80. 600, 900. The average freight rate
the world over is 81 per ton. Twenty
five per cent reduction on rates will
save to our people $50, 900, 900 annu-
ally.
Consider for a moment, another and,
in my opinion. most important aid
to our foreign commerce. Where is
the most promising field for it in the
near future? Surely in the Orient.
Humboldt more than fifty years ago
declared that the commerce of the Pa
cific would in time exceed that of the
Atlantic; and what intelligent man
today doubts the realization in the
near future of what then seemed a
dream? Do not England. France, Ger
many. Russia and Italy, by their con-
duct, recognize that the prophecy is to
be fulfilled? How shall we secure our
share of this commerce?
The Suez canal was opened in 1870.
Before that New York was almost as
near the Orient as Liverpool was, but,
after, Liverpool had the advantage by
from 5000 to 1000 miles From 1870
to 1883 England's commerce with the
East increased 40 per cent, with the
rest OF the world only II. Shortened
routes and lessened freight charges had
their Legitimate freight results. Our
government should construct the Nj.
caragua canal or some other isthmian
water route at the earliest possible
time, making it neutral to the world,
except to any nation at war with us.
This would bring New York one day s
sail nearer Shanghai than Liverpool