Passaic City record., 1900-06-30
A GREAT NATIONAL DANCER.


Gb ChfTy OuT
The present disturbed condition of
Europe, with reference to far eastern
complications, as well as those arising
in Morocco and elsewhere, has called
attention to American dependence upon
foreign shipping for the carriage OF
their foreign commerce. If the ra-
tions of Europe should become involved
in great war, which many believe
to be imminent, there would be IL
wholesale withdrawal of foreign ships
from the channels of trade to provide
transport for troops and munitions of
war
AS nine tenths of our foreign COM
merce is carried in foreign bottoms, it
is obvious that the withdrawal of a
large portion of that shipping for other
than commercial uses would deprive
our people of their only means for sup
plying our constantly growing foreign
markets. Freight rates would rise to Il
prohibitivc amount in respect of many
of our commodities. Our surplus pro-
ductions would accumulate upon our
hands in enormous quantities, prices
would fall, wages would be reduced
and Industrial stagnation and loss of
employment would be widespread. The
conditions existing between 1913 and
1896 would be re-established in even
more intensified form.
This country is the leading export
nation of the world, and the future
growth of that trade seems illimitable,
provided, always, that we have an
abundance of ships in which to send
our products abroad. But a check at
this time, when the broad foundation
for an enormous export trade is being
laid, would have a most serious and
far-reaching effect upon our people and
our resources.
The stability OF our foreign trade can
never be assured so long as 90 pei
cent. of it is carried in foreign ships.
We send three-quarters of all of our
exports to Europe, and American slips
carry the ridiculous proportion Of but
1.30 per cent! Foreign ships carry
billion dollars worth of our products
to Europe, and our own chips carry
less than thirty million dollars worth.
No greater danger concronts the
United States to-day than that caused
by our dependence upon foreign ships
for the carriage Of nearly all of orI
exports. OF our exports to all tie
= world less than Z per cent. are carried
in American ships. Apart from The
commercial calamities possible, and
as some people believe, probable,
through the Withdrawal of the larger
part of the vast foreign shipping upon
which we are row dependent. for the
auxiliary naval and military uses OF
the great powers, our great weakness
upon the sea emphasizes our only real
national danger
Congress cannot remedy this condi.
tion too soon. Proper provision must
be speedily made for the attraction of
American capital into ship-building and
ship-owning, so that at the earliest
moment possible we shall become pos
sessed of the ships we may require for
all of the necessities Of our foreign
commerce. Our export trade is closely
approaching a billion and half dol
lars in value. At its present rate OF
growth less than score of years will
find it valued at three billions and re-
quiring double the shipping of to-day
for its carriage. Foreigners will then
have us all the more at their mercy Il
we do nothing to establish ou. own
ships upon the seas.
Foreseeing just such o possibility as
this, Thomas Jeff -rson, as long ago as
1893, in a great state paper, predicted
that a nation which allows foreigners
to do the great bulk Of its foreign car
rying, Twill be disarmed of its de-
fense. it's productions will be al the
mercy of the nation which has pos.
sessed itself exclusively of the means
of carrying them, and its politics may
be influenced by those who command
it's commerce" These words were PRO
phetic of condition that actually eI.
lists in respect OF the United States to-
day.