The Globe-republican., 1900-05-10
TROOP TRANSPORTS
Need

The Boer-British war has demon
strated to every nation the necessity
ice, making each nation feel keenly
that to the extent 1t lacks in merchant
shipping it lacks in essential of ma
tiona1 defense They will certainly
apply themselves as a consequence to
the creation and maintenance of a
home-bui1t and manned shipping, first
for the national defense, and second,
for commercial advancement
The total population of the two
South African republics does not ex-
coed 10000, and yet 10000 tons of
British shipping have been and still
are employed in transporting $50. 900
British soldiers, their accoutrements
and supplies of all kinds to the seat OF
war Great Britain alone is capable
of. producing merchant shipping
equal to such an emergency The great
powers are saying to themselves, IF
this be so when pitted against only
5000 people, what will be the case
when the number is greater?
The Philippine islands contain
nearly 5000, 900 people. Cuba contains
1878 ,00o- With a general revolt In
any of them, our need of merchant
ships for transport and other service
auxiliary to naval and military opera
lions would several times over exceed
our present supply Were we to en-
gage 100000 tons of our merchant ship
be left in its present employment 1t
is impossible for this country to do
what Great Britain has done, simply
because we have permitted foreigners
chiefly Britons-to absorb the bulk
of our ocean carrying, so that her
withdrawal of that shipping has least
affected her maritime interests. The
cost of ocean transportation has risen,
however, 80 per cent as consequence.
Since this country pays 20o,oo0,000
year in ocean transportation, that in
crease if continued for only one year
means that the British-Boer war will
cost the United States $50 200, 900 in
extra ocean transportation charges,
the bulk of which goes to British ship
owners 1t is easily possible that the
increase in ocean transportation
charges levied upon the commerce of
other nations, will reimburse Great
Britain, through her shipowners. for
the entire cost of the British-Boer
war.
Our war with Spain has caused this
country to create fleet of magnificent
transports. But they would be entire
ly Inadequate for our needs in any
great war, while we have nothing upon
which to fall back-nothing common
surate with our needs Moreover, it
is but one year in ten, at most, that we
are at war; during that time our mer-
chant ships should be employed in
carrying merchandise, rather than in
being in immediate readiness for
transport service But to have the
ships available must encourage
their construction by effective 1egisla-
ton, and congress has not begun the
broad consideration of this subject one
moment too soon.
Our foreign trade is increasing won
derfulIy. The increase in our exports,
and in the exports the increase is
wholly in manufactures. When our
great trade was in raw products which
furnished employment in manufacture
ing to Europeans, they content.
But now, when rival them in the
worlds markets in manufactures then
our real serious danger threatens. The
nations of Europe will not stand idly
by and see themselves denuded of their
foreign markets They will CONNER
cia1ly combat our progress until they
see how futile such opposition is;
and then, we may be sure, resort will
be had to less peaceful methods to
stif1e our growing trade. Without
merchant ships of our own we are at
the mercy of our great commercial
rivals. This robs our progress of sta
bility. We cannot permit this condi-
ton to exist moment longer than is
necessary to secure the adoption of
such legislation will inaugurate
new departure. We must have an
American-built merchant marine. 1t
must be owned and manned by Amerf-
cans. That shipping must be adequate
| to all our commercial needs Only
| then shall we be commercially indie
pendent and properly REINFORCED in
a naval sense
Possessing of ourselves the means
| for commercial development, we
| also become possessed of essential
element in its proper defense. De
ve1opment is uncertain, lacking the
proper defense A merchant shipping
| & q m
| expansion Its production and main
| tenance is possible if congress does its
| duty. The knowledge that this coun-
| try is paying out 5000, 000, 900 in ocean
freight charges to foreign ships each
| year, when the money could easily
| be paid to our own shipowners, proper
| ly protected by our government. is
| humi1iating and CALLING. We are not
| lacking in anything necessary for the
| construction, ownership and operation
| of a merchant marine equal to all of
| our national needs. We are only lack
| ing in congressional legislation that