The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-02-13
PROTECTION AT SEA.

PROTECTION AT SEA.
The people of this country have
tried protection as tariff principle
and are winning the worlds markets
by it. They have subsidized railways,
canals and public highways to the ex-
tent, in railways alone, of thousands of
million dollars and the internal devel-
opment of all sections has richly re-
paid the outlay. But there are those
who are afraid OF protection at sea and
who Shudder at the word subsidy" as
applied TO the merchant marine.
There is protection on sea as well as
on land Great Britain, with only the
products of her mills TO SELL and COM
PEELED TO buy heavily of larger and
more favored nations, quite naturally
has been a free trader on land, but on
the water her policy has been just the
reverse and her high protection to her
merchant ships made her rich through
her ocean carrying trade. She has
never been affrighted by any ship sub
Sidy, no matter how lavish in amount,
and while we have stood still i'll impo-
tent fear she has taken possession Of
the sea.
American fleets once rivalled the
fleets of England, but since the in
auguratiOn of British subsidies naviga-
ton has become the weakest OF all
great American interests. The time
has been reached i'm our history when
we must amend our shipping laws and
reach out after our share of the world s
ocean traffic. Our foreign commerce
has attained such magnitude that
foreign bottoms can no longer be de-
pended upon to deliver it at foreign
ports. James G.. Blame foreSaw this
time MANY years ago and said: 1.-The
most palpable and effective form of
protection is in the direct payment of
public money 70 line of steamers
that could not be maintained without
that form of aid" He said that if
the United States would give merely
the interest on the interest at five per
cent on the amount given to Ameri
can railways, every steam line needed
on the oceans and on the Gulf would
spring into existence within two
years after the passage of the act.
The American free trader has for
decades received from free trade Eng
land his inspiration and his arguments
against pro lection. but it is remarka-
bic that he should with equal credul-
ity accept from subsidized England
his inspiration and his arguments
against ship subsidies. And the steady
argument of the British-inspired
American flee trader is that, if the
steamship lines were established. we
could not increase our trade because
we produce nothing that can compete
in neutral markets with articles Of the
like kind from England. an assertion
that has been negatived with increaS-
ing force each month since the Will
SOn-GOrman mOnStrOSity was repealed.
There is the demagogue's Cry that
subsidies might enable shlp-owners TO
make a profit. Certainly: that is
what they are in business for. But
while they are making profits. thou
sands of American shipbuilders are
given employment at good wages, 9th
er thousands Of American sailors are
at work earning money, till other
thousands of American merchants and
farmers are supplying them with food
and raiment, and all goes to swell
the sum total of American prosperity.
There is no reason 10 be afraid OF
protection at sea, for the great doc
trine, like our constitution, will stand
salt water as well as fresh; and be-
sides We have before US the experience
of England with marine bounties for
sixty years, which was 50 successful
that Old Glory was a curiosity in any
foreign port.
Tro,,hIc< IF fhe C,rr;ere