Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-28

Siam w. Bates. ex-Cnited States Com
missioner OF Navtgat ton. Eou3 hton
Miffiin & Co. Boston and New york
1as, Spo, PIP. 4s6. Price, ST.
The book is commended by the pub.
,ishors as "a fun. thorough. ard compe-
tent review of American narine-coa-
sistins of historical survey OF It's rise
and Developments study Of its decline
and a presentation OF remedies. I,
covers very much the same ground as
shat OF the american Mercantile Ma
r5ac." by ". L. Marvin. editor Of the
Boston Journal. appearing almost con-
tcmporaneously from the press Of the
Scribners It lacks the interest. however.
nance of the seas which IS the great
charm FOR the average reader. But 1t Is
e much more comprehensive and salts
factory history Of American legislation
and regulation in regard TO navigation
and shipping. And In the remedies sug-
gosted the two books materially differ.
Marvin's book points steadily to the
adoption OF the subsidy policy. Mr..
Bates, however. disoaTis that policy as
altogether insufficient TO restore the
aforetime status and prestige OF the
American marine. and suggests what in
olden times were abundant objections In
the more than questionable constitution al
power Of the government to accept It.
The remedy which he suggests and adro-
Gates is much moro comprehensive and
clearly constitutional. He traces the
decline of American shipping to de-
parture from the carly policy of our gov
eminent and TO surrender of our ma
Gonal right Of absolute control Of our
own foreign commerce by treaty obi
cations conceding on the idea Of reci-
procity, equality Of right to carry our
commerce on the seas to other natiorali-
ties or promote by them OF Hike equal
ity to our shipping. And the second
be proposes goes to the root OF the evil,
and neceSSitates an ahrogation of these
reciprocity treaties and q return to the
policy which our revolutionary and proH-
innate post revolutionary statesmen be-
lieved to be essential to the protection of
our own nationality and our own foreign
commerce. If his premises be correct it
Is no easy matter to controrcrt the Wis
dom of his conclusion.
This book is dedicated to the memory
of James Madison, and the credit is right
fully assigned 10 the fathers OF our Nir-
Einih school Of political thought and con-
stitutional theories for the carly policy
of protecting and fostering American
lhtpptns.
Du, Ing the Colonial history the navi-
cation policy of the mother country was
sre Of the most oppressive features of
British Government. Under that policy
IN American cargo of tobacco or any
other production Of our soil could not
seek g market in France or upon the
continent without passing through and
paying tribute to the British custom
house. and even our commercial inter-
course with the West Indies Islands was
an Illicit traffic Great Britain nonopo-
Iized our harbor and either forbade or
dwarfed all Colonial shipping. When
the Independence OF eac-- OF the colonies
was acknowledged it carried with it full
control of the seaboard But without
concurrent and unanimous action OF all
tie States the aggregated capital and es-
fablished prestige of Great Britain was
sbundantly adequate to crush out ali
American aspirations for their rightful
rtareS Of foreign commerce with all the
world.
This was he Of the moving and mos:
potential considerations for the adoption
of the United States Constitution
The manifest and declared purpose OF
that Constitution, while reserNlns TO
each State every attribute of -undelegated
sovereignty at home and between the
States. was to constituts a common gov
crrnent Ger all these States with full
national powers to control commerce. and
to regulate all intercourse with foreign
,lat!onalities AS to all the outside world
though the plural was studiously observ-
ed ir the name and in all adjectives used
in the Constitution, the singular was en-
lhezised, and the great American Union
Of States appropriately adopted as It's
snibboleth Z Piuribus Unum.
There is no reason therefore for con-
founding any questions for the protection
of American shipping with. nlooted Ques~
tons about a protective tariff policy on
land.
AS to shipping and commerce, the
United States has sovereign powers. In
The imposition of duties upon merchay1-
5ize either imported or exported these
powers OF government are SHARPLY eS-
dressed and limited in the very
words OF the Constitution. As to eN-
ports, there is an express Inhibition
against imposition Of any TAX or duty
AS to imports the inhibition Is no less
pronounced in the expressed purpose fo-
which taxes or duties can be imposed
giz. ITO pay the debts. to provide Tor the
common defence and general welfare OF
The United States"
No power is given except TO raise re-
Senue and that only for specific purposes
The vice of the protective tariff pollcy IS
Mat under cover of raising revenue the
consumer is burthened with tax not for
me benefit Of the government but for the
manufacturer and to that extent 1t Is
robbery under color Of law from one
class Of the community to stuff the ple-
thcric purses Of another class.
In a line with this unconstitutional
Ind oppressive tariff policy are some
II the suggested experiments for q return
10 our old-time navigation policy. Sena-
Tor Elkins. Of Wnst Virginia, fathers
siIl to discriminate in favor Of American
shipping by adding 10 per cent of duty.
TO all goods imported In foreign vessels.
Well he knows that ii will take some
years for American ships to be built In
sufficient numbers and in the meantime
this added duty of 10 per cent. Will to
that extent enhance the Ubiquitous policy
OF the protective policy. If there be any
honest purpose to protect and foster
shipping let Mr.. Elkinss proposition be
revised by q rebate OF 10 per cent for
z all American cargoes IN American ships
The gross inequality in the practical
working OF reciprocity with Great Brit
ain IS clearly set out by the author and
,substantiated by the inexorable logic
OF official statistjcs. The theory OF re-
ciprocity imports equality In competition.
But this equality is altogether destroyed
by the British system os subsidies. and
even more by the crafty corporation
<rvfy5, no ne CHI ,,c.