Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-07-05
RAREST SIGHTS IS THE AMERI-
CAN FLAG

conducting that trade. That the de-
mand has grown In the South for ma
tional legislation for the upbuilding
OF our merchant marine seems to Mr..
Edmonds to be logical He sees In the
realization Of the growing hopes Of his
people In this respect much of per-
manent benefit to the section he repre-
sents. He has made an especial study
OF ante-bellum sentiment on the sub
ject Of American maritime develop
ment. and was surprised to find that.
as far back as
SIXTY YEARS AGO
the sentiment in favor of safeguard
ing and promoting our merchant mar
Inc commended the thoughtful atten-
ton Of the most advanced OF South
ern statesmen and business men. In
an address before the Cotton Spin
ners' association at Charlotte, North
Carolina. recently. Mr.. Edmonds
stated that In 1S45 John G. Calhoun
presided at convention in Memphis
at which the subject was discussed. In
1851 a report was made at Virginia
convention In favor of facilitating the
mails through the establishment OF
steamship lines running between
Hampton Roads and European ports. I
Another convention In Memphis held
in 1853 favored
GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGEMENT
AND PROTECTION !
In the establishment OF steamship lines
between Southern and European ports.
The Charleston convention of 1854
urged congress to encourage the es-
tablishment OF mail steamships, even
to the extent OF granting state boun-
ties In the form OF rebates to ship
pers employing American vessels. In
1856 Louisiana's legislature passed an
act paying IS per ton bounty on all
ships exceeding 100 tons burden built
In the state. A report made to tn,
legislature OF Alabama as far back al
1888 showed that her citizens contrib
uted $1,S00.000 year to get their cot.
ton to Europe. and contained tn,
query: "If this amount must be paid
why should II not be paid to our owr
citizens" No wonder a score OF yeari
later Alabama's legislature passed an
act granting bounty OF 81 per ton OF
all steamers built within that state.
AT CHARLESTON IN 1889
Robert Y. Hayne discussed the sub
ject before a commercial convention
held In that city, In which he said tina,
southern and southwestern states were
producing nearly three-quarters of tbs
domestic exports OF the Union, al.
though importing not to exceed one
tenth OF the foreign merchandise en-.
tering the United States, and that for.
eign commerce was causing cities OF
other states to flourish while Southern
cities were falling into decay" Lieu
tenant M. +. Maury, famous for his
invaluable aids to mariners upon the
oceans. was impressed with the
IMMENSE BENEFITS SOUTHERN
STATES
would derive from the establishment
of steamship lines between Southern
and European ports. For many years
he urged the investment OF Southern
capital In such lines. showing the
great and growing power her rich for
eign commerce was giving to New
York. and deploring the fact that the
South was missing its opportunities
to share therein. He saw for Norfolk.
Virginia. possibilities OF development
which have never been realized, but
which 1t seems possible are likely OF
fulfllment through the growing scar
city OF European coal and the inevlt-
able dependence OF the world In the
future for the greater part of its coal
supplies upon the United States. In !
OUR TRADE WITH OTHER AMER
ICAN REPUBLICS
Maury saw advantages even greater
than those possible through our com.
mercial intercourse with Europe, ana
he was never done urging upon the
people OF the South the wisdom OF
generously encouraging American
maritime development through the ca.
tablishment OF steamship lines to the
West Indies. Central and South Amer.
lea. He advocated ship canal across
the American isthmus and predicted
enormously beneficial results to our
trade and shipping to follow.
Away back In 1858 the assembly of
Virginia Incorporated a
100000 STEAMSHIP LINE
under the name Of the Atlantic Steam
Ferry company, but which failed to
carry out its designs because of the
sectional differences between the North
and South. The scheme involved thu
immediate construction Of four shIpa
OF the Great Eastern class, to regularly
run between Southern and European
ports. Their great value as auxilariea
to our military resources were then
clearly pointed out, as well as their
usefulness as nurseries for American
seamen who would be ready to respond
to their country's call IL needed No
wonder, in these circumstances, Mr.,
Edmonds in his speech made II very
clear that the revival Of our foreign
going shipping is
NOT A SECTIONAL OR PARTISAN
QUESTION,
but Is purely Industrial, commercial
and auxiliary naval question. He said:
Originating, as the South Is already
doing, about $500, 100000 worth OF for
eign exports a year. shipped almost
exclusively in vessels that fly the Brit
ish. German, and other foreign flags,
the South may well be deeply con-
cerned In the upbuilding Of a merchant
marine, because OF the magnitude OF
its present export trade" This trade
he expected would rapidly multiply.
and he predicted cotton crop In the
not distant future of o0000.00 balesl
II is not surprising to find that
p0III TILE nRl pNI In,Ic1