Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-01-17
OUR MARINE COMMERCE.
Complete Development Of Ocean
7 Trade Hampered by Inimical
LeEislation.

~ 10 d ludGUef u TeBTcG UllttU ITcss
ident Roosevelt did not in his message
enter more fully into the question of
"ship subsidies" and at least have
given some suggestion as to the best
method of building up our merchant
marine" More of the message could
have been most proftably employed
had President Roosevelt entered into
historical detail, which, while it would,
perhaps, trenched on the pet theory
Of the policy of the republican party,
would have solved the reason why the
commercial marine of the United
States is now in a dwarfed condition.
1t was not always so. Within As years
the commercial marine of the United
States was not only the pride of this
country, but was the envy of ali peo-
pies who, in 1856, sent their hardy
sailors to all lands in a commercial
marine. President Roosevelt in that
decade had not made his infant ar
rival, and consequently 1t was not pos
sible for him to have personal expe-
rience, as had other, but not better,
statesmen, who had been born in the
earlier decades of the nineteenth CEN
fury.
However, President Roosevelt has,
no doubt, thoroughly Investigated the
causes which gave to our country it's
remarkable success in the construc-
ton of a commercial marine during
the fourth and fifth decades of the
century which closed year ago. He
is familiar with the fact that between
the years 1s46 and 1861 the barks, brig
antines, clipper ships, stout three
masters, with spars crowded with can
vas, visited all waters, and bore the
flag OF our country to the view of the
peoples of all lands. These fleets were
not subsidized. They were not built
in foreign shipyards. They possessed
no advantages over the fleets of other
countries, except the skill of our ship
builders and the exceeding cheapness
OF the material used in the construc-
ton Of our then commercial navy.
Every important city on our coast
lines had well appointed shipyards.
The din of the industry filled the air
with the Sound Of hammers closing
rivets up"
To a very large degree this active
and profitable industry is among "the
things that were." Would it not be an
exhibition of wisdom if President
Roosevelt were to make diligent in
quiry into the causes which have
brought this sad change about? It is
believed that the president is wise
and courageous man-that no fetch
spirit inhabits his mental and physical
make-up-that he is able and is COM
petent to sound the depths in which
the merchant marine lies buried, and
that he has the courage to set forth
the causes and the means used in the
destruction of the ships which visited
all seas, and carried the benign in
fuence to all the people of the earth
that there existed land known as
the United States, where all people
enjoyed liberty, and were untram-
meled by restriction laws, says the
Cincinnati Enquirer.
Probably no man knows more fully
than does President Roosevelt the rea-
son which caused the decay of Amer
lean shipping. Let him courageously
set forth his opinions. Let him explain
to the people the character and effect
of the operation of the navigation
laws" Let him seize every opportun-
ity which has never, in the history OF
our country, been given to it's chief
ruler. Let him meet this opportunity
fully and courageously.
The trade of this country, notwith.
standing the inimical influence which
legislation has conceived to hamper a
complete development of it, is larger
more prosperous and more profitable
than ever in it's history. Why should
not the president aid to enlarge it?
Why should he not recommend that
all barriers shall be removed? Why
should not the president lessen the
burdens of indirect taxation, which
goes to the benefit of few men, and
which is really paid to them by the
people who furnish every ounce of
freight which is sent from our ports,
and nine-tenths of which is carried in
foreign bottoms. Is not the national
treasury overlooking with money
raised from indirect taxation?
Are the people not paying millions
of dollars by the nonuse of their nat
ural materials? Is the commercial
freight undesired by American ship
owners? Can President Roosevelt re-
inaugurate the shipbuilding industry
without bribing the shipowners, and
impose fresh robbery on the people
The administration will have a
busy time if it undertakes to put the
gag law upon all who side with Dewey
against Long or to suppress any fur
ther discussion Of the naval infamy. "A
gallant hero, a victorious commander
has been cruelty and shamefuly
wronged and the whole country re.
sents the injury and will not rest quiet
until the wrong has been in some way
righted. Mr.. Roosevelt has not been
long enough in Office to subordinate
his instincts as brave and honest
gentleman to the supposed require.
ments of political expediency, and he
Will find that expediency will not con-
done crime against the patriotic
sense OF the American people.-Phil.
adelphia Times.
America is the only civilized
country in the world whose citizens
cannot buy ships where they please
Until we allow this privilege those who
claim to be the special champions Of
the American merchant marine have
m TiCht to n slr tho 1,aorIa = - = a =, ~, -.