Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-11-20
But this Is a fallacy, for however

But this is a fallacy, for however
much our people may have invested In
foreign ships they are unavailable un-
der international law when at war az
naval auxilliaries.
The merchant marine not only car
ries the goods Of a nation; but each
ship is a missionary Of trade adver-
tising the goods Of the nation whose
flags she carries.
A ship owned by Americans and car
rying American goods; but flying an
English flag, advertises England in
stead Of the United States in every
port. II 1t be known In a foreign port
that the ship Is owned by Americans
and loaded with an American cargo
and yet Of English register. 1t is an ad-
vertisement Of the fact that the Uni
ted States refuses or neglects to give
the protection to an American ship
that is given to an English ship.
From an economic point Of view
there is every reason why the south
should desire an American merchant
marine. More than IS per cent. Of the
nations exports in 1900 were shipped
from southern ports, valued at $780,
343,912, while but six per cent. Of the
imports, valued at $52,413,541, entered
southern ports. Right here we find one
Of the cardinal reasons why the traffic
Of our southern seaports is not larger
than present.
The great bulk of our staple exports
originate either in the Mississippi val
ley, that drains into the gulf ports, or
in the south itself. Cotton, corn, wheat
and provisions form the bulk Of our
export trade.
I have gone to some pains to inves-
tigate, and I find that Of the vessels
entering the ports Of the United States
in 1900 from abroad, 20 per cent. en-
tered in ballast in North Atlantic, %
per cent. in Pacific and go per cent. in
South Atlantic and gulf ports.
You may be sure that this Is O hand
leap Of the most serious nature res
trictive of an increase in the trade Of
southern ports. 1t means that go per.
cent. Of the vessels coming to south
ern ports must earn enough on the ex-
port cargo to pay for the entire round
voyage. Perhaps you never thought Of
that, but it Is certainly worth your
most serious consideration.
Another reason why the south Is in
terested in American ships, is that
when the Isthmian canal Is construct
ed, we may be able to utilize 1t with
our ships and commerce. We do not
want to see the Isthmian canal become
merely a foreign highway of COM
merce. We do not want our millions ex-
pended merely to become a bounty to
foreign shipping. 1t should be an Amer
lean highway, and we should 80 de-
velop our mercantile parine that with
the opening Of this great canal our
own flag shall predominate at the
masthead Of a majority Of the ships
that 1t accommodates.
The south will be the immediate ben.
eficiary Of that great waterway when
1t Is constructed.
Our gulf ports will become great
marts Of trade, and our products vii,
invade Mexico, South and Central
America, the West Indies and the
Orient in ever increasing volume. Let
US be ready when the time comes. II
we hasten the construction Of our
shipping, we shall intensity the neces-
sity and thus hasten the construction
of the Isthmian canal.
The exports to South America are
mainly from England and Germany,
and they consist largely Of products
that could be furnished by the United
States, especially the south. This is
particularly true Of coal and all kinds
of cotton manufactures. With an as
surance Of return cargoes. the round
voyage could be made extremely pro-
f1table. once direct. regular and fire.
quent sailings Of steamship lines were
established.
In the senate last winter when the
shipping bill was under discussion, a
senator stated that he personally knew
of several steamship lines that would
be established to run between southern
seaports and foreign countries II the
measures were passed.
One Of the great southern railroads Is
anxious to establish a regular line Of
fine American. steamers between south
ern ports and Brazil and develop
markets for southern coal and manu-
facturers. But that piece Of new de-
velopment is held back awaiting the
action Of congress.
Within the past 80 days arrange
ments have been made to establish two
French lines in connection with the
French steamship company which
operates a line to the West Indies, for
the purpose Of taking away from us
the bulk of our carrying trade with the
West Indies. gulf ports and Brazil.
Out of nine lines Of steamships rum
ming from the port Of New York to
South America, only two are run un-
der the American flag.
The South American incurs his debt
in Europe for the imports he purchases
here, sends his products to us and with
the money we pay him meets his obli-
cations in Europe. Thus Europe is
both the merchant and the banker, we
being willing servitors Of our Europe
an rivals.
Europe buys its raw cotton from US,
carries it across the Atlantic, manufac-