The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-28
FLAG MUST FLY
IN EVERY PORT
Charles H. Cramps Views on Ship
ping Bill.
AMERICA ON THE SEAS
AMERICA ON THE SEAS
The sh.pbuilder Says Great Steam
ship Lines Arc Essential
TO Our Pros
perity.

PHILADELPHIA. Nov e!.-Mr. Chas.
81. Cramp. the great sl,ipbuilder. gives his
views on The shipping Oil as follows:
Ono OF the great measures of national
importance TO which the Republican party
in the late campaign stood committed was
the extension OF our foreign commerce
and. as a means to that desirable end, the
improvement and enlargement OF our MGR
chant marine. THIS patriotic policy WIS
eEnphaticaiiy declared IN the PLATFORM 1t
was explained and advocated in thousands
OF speeches all over the Union, discussed
IN the leading newspapers Of the party,
and consequently becomes one OF the an
per1tiFe duties that the people have au-
therszed and directed Their representa-
uves In their legislative and executive ca
pacihes TO perform,
President Mckinley in his letter ac-
ceptsng the nomination, clearly defined
his position with respect TO the question.
He recalled the fact that in his annual
message of December, 1897, he had urged
Congress to enact the legislation necessary
TO enable the United States TO grasp thetI
fun share of the carrying trade OF Inc
world. He pointed out that IN his annual
message in December. a year ago. he mad
pledged his continued support in the event
of reelection. Congress on. its part mas
not been inactive in the matter, commit
tees of both the Senate and House having
agreed upon the reported bills when are
well calculated to attain the objects IN
view. Crystali1ed into law these meas
ures would enable us to begin at once the
work of resuming our old position on the
seas when The flag WAS seen in nearly
every port in the world.
THE PRINCIPLE.
The greatest OF Democratic Statesmen
and prg;idents laid 1t down as principle
of H.; administration and OF American
policy for all time that we should do our
own carrying trade, taking to Europe and
elsewhere what We have to sell and re-
turning with what we bug. And he favor
ed any policy that would accomplish that
result. He pointed out that allowing 9th
err r,ntions to perform this work placed
our whole commerce in peril when those
nations happened to be al war; that only
under our own flag could 1t be assured OF
safety These views are as sound to-day
as when they were set forth three-quar-
tiers of a century ago. Our situation on
she ocean at the present tine is deplor-
Gble. Foreign ships carry 81 per cent of
the stupendons volume of exports and I'M
ports. and for ocean transportation alone
we pay to foreigners the enormous sum
of Size. 900 0ha annually, nearly one thou
sand millions Of dollars every SIX years.
Adopt the measures necessary to extend
our commercial marine and these millions
or large part Of them will go into the
pockets OF our own people adding SO much
year by year to our prosperity and imam
cial strength. As It IS now, the foreign
ship-owners are growing rich at our eX-
pense while thousands Of Americans Who
,nEglt be employed IN this vast trade are
compelled to seek livelihood in the
crowded ranks OF other departments OF in
6ustry. The situation IS certainly one
that ca.lls for radical reformation, so that
we may round out our prosperity and take
the rank that naturally belongs to us
among the great maritime powers Of the
world.
The question is one Of vital importance
to our agricultural, manufacturing and
other interests. Foreign markets are es-
sent.al TO our national well-be!ng. Our
surplus products and manufactures are
becoming larger and larger every year
and an outlet must be found for them.
To do this effectively we must have COM
mand of our own shipping. be able to
send it where we please and seize every
opportunity that presents itself. This
cDnnot be doce while we are dependent
upon other nations 10 act as our car
,iers. Their policy is to safeguard their
uHu interests, leaving us TO look out for
ourselves.
THE CONTROL.
Then again il must not be forgotten that
ell these foreign lines are under the con-
trcl of their respective governments. Were
a war that should involve England,
France md Germany to occur next month
or next year in what condition should We
find ourselves? Our carrying trade would
practically be suspended While hostilities
continue. The resultant loss would be in
selcuiable, and ii would extend not to one
but to every branch Of business. The
South, the East. the West would all feel
its disastrous effects. while every railroad
would slhfer enormously in its receipts.
Surely. these are periis that it is incum-
rent on wise and patriotic craftsmanship
to avert n every way possible
Immediate action IS needed on the lines
suggested by the President and practically
embodied in the pending oils is Congress-
They are not satisfactory in every respect,
but they make beginning and they can
be added to and Improved as time and eS-
3,erience shall develop their imperfecttons.
The responsibility devoives upon the Re-
publican party. and in view Of the vast
interests at stake. it should meet lie
emergency with courage. and resolution
1t Is in line with all is splendid progress
siye measures Of national DEVELOPMENT
A NEW ERA.
In facing this problem It must be re-
lnennbered that new and unprecedented
conditions present themselves 10 the Re-
publican party as the governing power of
the republic. The shatter5ls OF Spanish
colonial rule. its obliteration in the Antil-
les and the Philippines is one thing: the
advent of the United States into the in
ternational arena IS another. Destiny.
or whatever II may be called. drove us for
hos la II
cided upon was the superheated contention
OF presidential campaign falsely labelled
.nonnrehiai imperialism. New. with the
smoke cleared away. we see that 1t is the
imperialism of genuine Dcmocracy-the