The age-herald., 1901-02-17
Htow to Create an Amerlcan MercMaut NLar,ne
sY MARCUS 4. HANNA, UNITED srATEs sENAroa.

I am glad to respond to the request Of the editor of the Age-Herald for an ex- 2resslon of my views on the shipping bill. And I am glad that he has asked me to specify why the representatives of the mineral and manufacturing sections of tho South should support this measure" Generally speaking, the reasons why the representatives of the mineral and manufacturing sections of the South should support this measure are the same reasons why 1t should be supported by all citizens.
 l. It will add to the naval strength of the United States to have merchant ships, soamen and flremen ready to respond to any clll
 .. Our present use of foreign ships for the carrying of over 90 per cent. of our foreign commerce contributes to the aux Hilary naval strength of our political, commercial and maritime rivals.
 3 Our present policy strengthens our ri- yals and weakens ourselves. Were I to stop right there, I would, in my judg ment have said enough to show why rep resentatives of the mineral and manufac- turing sections of the South should sup port this measure.
 It will add to our naval strength be- cause it will cause the construction of several hundred thousand tons of new American ships the ships will be officer ed wholly by American citizens; they will carry a large force of American boys, who will be taught seamanship, naviga- ri nd be made up of American citizens to the extent that such citizens are obtainable. These ships, officers, boys and men will be q resource of defense for the nation, and whatever expenditure Is required from the national treasury to secure them should be unhesitatingly contributed, not primarily for the benefit of individual shipowners, nor indeed for the benefit of the producers of our exports, but prima- rily for the defense of the nation, and secondarily for the increase of our ex- ports the greater employment of our peo- pie, the assured stability of our foreign markets. our greater dependence upon ourselves and our diminished dependence upon our foreign rivals.
 The people should carefully consider what will be obtained by individuals If the pending shipping bill Is passed, and should criticse the measure If the com pcnsation can be shown to be excessive. But the consideration of the measure '!at ceases at the point where the gov
 nment's contribution to the individual tipowner has been ascertained, and that sregards the national safety, the na- pnal strength and security, the employ ont of our people In mine, forest, farm, ctory and mill, in shipyards and on ard ships, in the production of materi- used In the construction of ships, in
 ! shaping of these materials into the
 ms required in ship construction, into
 assembling of these forms into the
 shed ships. and into the operation of
 SC ships when built, utterly disregards
 primary and fundamental purposes
 the measure.
 {. Is not to be denied that national ben
 is to he secured through the indvid-
 benefit to those citizens who invest cir capital in ships engaging In our for
 n trade. And 1t Is not to be expected
 Il any citizen however great his com md of capital, will be willing to invest
 in a business way unless he Is reasona- assured against its loss. The nation. 'erefore. for 1t own protection, for it's
 Il security for the greater employment
 it's people, and thus for the more wide bread prosperity of the whole country, ust lock beyond the individual ship iner and the benefits he may receive, hich arc merely incidental to the na-