The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-10-18
REvlVlNG AMERICAN SHIPPING.

The American flag anoat in every
hafbor of the world. American bottoms
carrying the products of mill and field
to distant ports. the seamen of the Ma
ton spreading the fame of the coi.n-
try In all lands which deal win tho
Yankee trader. has been the dream Of
the latter day statesman. Steadily has
the merchant marine declined under he
influence OF competing foreign bounty
rad bottoms. until Its recovery va;
seen to be matter for strong remedies.
Then II was that the Republican party
took up the matter seriously, and tire
dream now promises to become realty.
The shipping bill which bears TIPS
name of the president protein of Dc
senate, Frye, and not that of the junior
senator from Ohio. as the opposition
press insists, will be one Of the fore.
most Of party measures In the coming
session of Congress, and that it will
become law very soon Is more than a
hope. With the amendments whicn
have been prepared during the recess,
there seems no block in the way but
the opposition of the Democracy, and
that, while it may delay action, viii
hardly be sufficient to prevent vole
during this long term. There VIII be
the same fractional opposition which
was aroused during the last SESSION,
but the fighters against progress have
been practically disarmed by the
changes suggested, and the bill viii
command the entire Republican vote
when 1t comes up.
The point upon which the greatest
amount Of fighting was done during
the last session was the high limit
placed upon the speed of the ships
which might earn an added amount Of
freight charge. There was, of course,
much opposition when the speed was
put as high as sixteen knots. At that
figure there was objection that the most
of the millions appropriated would go
to the fast liners, which as express
ships, carry only mail. But the speed
of ships will be lowered, the crews will
have to be of American sailors and the
supplies will have to be bought in our
own country, in so far as possible.
With these changes there will be little
opposition which may be urged to the
bill, and the arguments in it's favor
will be so many and so solid that there
promises to be early passage for the
measure.
What the bill will do for American
shipping seems to be easily estimated.
The same kind of tactics have made
merchant navies for Norway and Italy,
for France and Germany and will be
as successful in America. Opposed to
1t is the old cry of free ships. but what
this country wants is not so much the
ships, as that they shall be built In
our own yards, that our own mechanics
may be permitted to have the work OF
their building. 1t is not too much 10
say that the magnificent cargo boats
now plying between this port and New
York are owed to the fact that the
Republican party made its declaration
that all possible advantages would be
given TO our own ships.
The great impetus given to the build
ing OF vessels for trade in this ocean
is primarily due to this same fact, and
there Is every reason to believe that
once II becomes settled beyond perad-
venture that the shipping bill is to be-
come law, there will be a fleet of great
vessels under the Stars and Stripes
blowing the Pacific. which will make
this port the verltable cross roads, and
the benefits which will come to the
proportion.
This, as all other beneficent policies
Is Republicanism pure and simple, and
President Roosevelt stands for 1t as did
President Mckinley.