The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-05-05

dies only by recalling our past expert
| ence. The Collins line was subsidized
| and recklessness, p~rodigality and cor
| ruption resulted. Government aid paral-
| Yves individual thrift. The friends OF
| subsidies argue that commerce will be
increased by granting subsidies But
during the Pacific mail and the Brazilian
subsidies the with the coun-
tries to which these lines ran actually
diminished. Foreigners will buy from US
j: We are able to produce cheaper than
others and not because we pay millions
to ~ship-oWncrs.
The American shipping industry Is
| enc Of the greatest in this country. 1t
employs thousands OF men. American
| ship yards now have contracts aggregat-
ing $3.50, 600. 900. 1t is true that the Am
erican laborer receives more wages, but
IL is because he is more efficient. Mr..
Cramp has asserted that the difference
in wages is more than overcome by the
economic superiority OF the American
mechanic.
The granting Of subsidies Is the signal
| fer corruption. When the Pacific Mail
Company asked for an increase in sub
sidy, 1t was discovered mat part Of the
original subsidy had been spent TO Sc
cure the additional subsidy. Eighty per
cent of the worlds trade is carried in
English tramp steamers which have new
er received one cent of subsidy. -,
Mr.. EVERETT REPLIES.
Mr.. R. o. Everett then closed for Caro-
lima with the following strong argument:
The American people constitute Only
is per cent OF the worlds population.
| yet they produce 20 per cent of all the
raw material, and SO per cent of the
manufactured goods, or in other words,
one-third the annual production must be
disposed of in foreign markets. IS the
condition of our marine adequate to the
demands?
'Our marine is dead. The American
! flag, has been swept from the oceans.
In 1861, our marine was one Of the great
est in the world, carrying 80 per cent of
American commerce. Today it is one of
the puniest in the world and carries but
50 per cent of American commerce. On
the one hand, the American people have
the problem of disposing of the greatest
surplus hat ever confronted any people,
and upon the wise disposal Of this surplus
depends our happiness and future de-
velopment. On the other hand
the marine, the great agent for
| disposing of this surplus, is in
a more decrepit condition than ever
before-92 per cent of this surplus must
seek an outlet through channels gagged
and regulated by our competitors.
The cost and dangers to which the
American people are daily exposed, as
the result of these discordant conditions
is manifest:
/. The annual payment of $500, 900, 900
- g 49, - 1911 o~l a~@-
.. The check to our commercial de-
velopment, in the new markets, due to
the greater cost and longer time of trans
porting American products. All the
great ship lines converge at a few Eu-
ropean ports, which necessitates the ship
ment Of our mails and products in tri-
angular routes to oil other than European
cOuntries-to the South American trade,
our products must be taken by Liverpool.
1t is thus in the new markets where our
interests are neglected. Yet future de-
velopment must be in these very markets.
SO. The present condition threatens
| with humiliation our prosperity-S0 per
cent of American m is carried
by three nations, and in case of war
among these powers, the results to our
commerce would be disastrous.
1.-THE fact that we have vital com
mercial interests in the worlds mark
cts, forces us into the arena as a world
political power. The commercial inter
ests cannot be protected, unless there is
political power behind and to nave this
political power, at a time when sea
power is national power, requires a
marine. as it's basis of naval strength.
But here our marine is inadequate as
demonstrated in the war with Spain.
when our officials had to ignore all
neutrality laws, in order to secure
transports.
These -four conditions create an i'm
mediate demand for a marine.
Now, the causes which have led to
the present conditions are threefold.
ID The % per cent cost Of European
ships. CD The 80 per cent cheaper cost
Of operating European ships. 60 The
foreign governmental subsidies. These
three advantages ave made Europe the
focus Of the worlds ship lines, and given
European marines an intrenched monopoly
III the carrying trade Of nations. These
forces, which nave destroyed our marine
were In operation before 1861, but the
marine was then firmly established.
| When the war ended 40 per cent Of the
marine had been destroyed and new con-
ditions were to be faced; the iron steam
er naQ replaced the wooden clipper. Inc
transition had been so abrupt. we Were
again in the position Of beginners. The
government did not again give aid, and
the marine has steadily declined to the
PROSTATE condition of Sc, and every in
d~ication points to its complete destruc-
ton. Against that condition every
American instinct Of independence and
progress revolt. Something must be
done.
"The logical thing is governmental aid,
and the only question is, What shall be
the form Of aida?
There are only two methods. ID DIS
criminative duties. Cd subsidies. Thirty
three international treaties make the
first impracticable. The subsidy is the
only remedy. By this policy each of the
three foreign advantages can be over
come, and thus place the American citi-
zen on equality with foreigners. This is
all that is necessary. We nave the ma
terial and labor; the capital ready to in
vest, and the demand, with these ele-
ments requisite, to become a maritime
power, apply the subsidy to offset the
foreign advantages, and the marine will