The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-08
REVIVAL OF AMERICAN SHIPPING

AtE<b Nv AL OF AMEJHlCAN
What is sauce for the goose is not al
ways sauce for the gander The theory
that would protect infant industries of a.
new country from the competition Of old
er and well established institutions, by
revenue tariff on imports, has it's merits.
Like medicine when it is taken in limit
ed quantities by those who are in need
of stimulant, its effect is beneficial.
When, however, 1t is prescribed to every
body and in extravagant doses it often
works irreparable injury
The Republican politicians have used
the protective cordial as a remedy for
all evils, Industrial, commercial and
financial. Ignoring the plain teachings of
reason based upon indisputable facts.
they have argued that If protection be
good for one industry it must be good
for every industry. And if a little pro-
lection be good larger amount Is bet
ter.
Starting with the premises, that the
first duty of country like the United
States is to become a nation of skilled
laborers, and that skilled labor must de-
pend upon the presence of manufacture
ing institutions, the conclusion followed
that all manufactures must be encour-
aged even to the imposition of a tax for
their support. 1t was in this generaliza-
ton that the advocates of protection
made their first mistake. They failed to
discriminate between the mandatory
or industry which would flourish after
the time when the protection was re-
moved and those which could in the ma
ture of things, never prosper. With the
constant cheapening OF transportation,
the necessity of home markets for the
also the necessity for protection of such
industries as the production of beet
sugar. It costs more to protect such an
industry than the general public can
gain from its presence. Another instance
is where the attempt to foster one in
dustry ruins another of greater value
The protectionist, believing that foreign
ers could build ships cheaper than they
could be built in this country, and desir-
ing to be consistent in his cherished
theory, sought to erect great shipbuilding
industries by enacting a navigation law
which should refuse the American flag
and the protection Of American laws to
all but American built vessels. The
scheme was logical, from the standpoint
Of the protectionist, as it would prevent
the man desiring to enter the shipping
business from going into the open mar
kets of the world and there buying ships
at the lowest figure The intention of the
coast great shipbuilding institutions.
which would employ thousands of Aneri-
can workmen. The theory was all right,
but it would not apply to this particular
case, because there was coupled with the
shipbuilding interest, another interest Of
much greater value-the shipping interest
the carrying trade. Instead of having
ships built under these restrictions, the
American shipper bought his ships where
he could get them the cheapest and re-
placed the stars and stripes with the flag
of other nations having more liberal ship
ping laws. We have here the actual dem
onstration of an instance where the pro-
tective idea defeated itself The driving
of the American flag from the seas re-
acted upon the American shipyards and
rendered them incapable, until within the
last few years, of competing with those
of the Clyde. In an attempt to protect
the American shipbuilder, the American
merchant marine was sacrificed and our
commerce utterly destroyed. Notwith-
standing this demonstration of the utter
uselessness of the navigation act in the
fostering of American shipbuildipg, con-
gress steadily refused to change it. While
seeking for some means to revive the lost
prestige of our shippn g, the Republican
decline
The purchase of the Leyland line of
ships by the Morgan steel syndicate for
the purpose of forcing the products of that
great combination into the markets of
the world. will be apt to open the eyes of
the blind puppies who have their nests
in the federal capitol In this purchase
there is no sentiment-it is matter OF
business If the present laws be allowed
to remain in force, that magnificent fleet
bought by American money and managed
by American brains, will continue to
float the British flag and be subject to
British laws. The pleadings have been
brought to a definite issne-there is no
room for theorizing~ will be
brought face to face with the cold
facts that unless foreign built vessels
are allowed American registry the Amer
lean man Of business will buy his ships
in the foreign market IL there he can get
them cheapest, and operate them under
whatever flag he chooses.
1t has been demonstrated within the
last year that ships can be built in the
United States cheaper than In Europe
If the navigation law was based upon
the fear of foreign competition, ana NJ
doubt it was, then has it become obsolete
by reason of the failure OF the original
consideration. With intelligent laws to
govern American shipping. the American