Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-11-23
REVlVING THE MERCHANT
MARINE.

The leaven produced by the eXhi- I
lition of the American nation lack .
ing sufficient ships to carry coal for
its navy, is working.
1t may be that the advocates of
ship subsidy who expect favorable ac- I
ton at this coming session of Con- |
gress will be able to overcome the
rhloroforming influence that an APP
uoaching Presidential election usu-
ally has on positive legislation pos
gessng elements of political trouble.
The people who refused year after
year to heed the warnings contained
IN the figures demonstrating the
steady elimination of the American
merchant marine have become really
aroused at the fact that the country
Ut such tremendous resources cannot
get enough of its own steamers to
carry its naval coal. They didn't
know 1t before. They had to be hit
18th the fact before they really could
understand.
California is beginning what APP
pears to be an active campaign for
the ship subsidy. This is assumedly
a part of a concerted effort to take
advantage of the national awakening
and get something accomplished be-
fore the country goes to sleep again.
1t would indeed be disastrous for the
fleet to make the trip to the Pacific
ON coal carried by foreign ships, and
allow the incident to pass without
notice. When the murmurs of war
ceased, the people would feel that as
the fleet got around safely once, it
would be safe to chance it for anoth-
er generation.
All through the country the news
papers are taking up the shipping
problem, and while they do not all
agree they are keeping constantly at
it and something definite should re-
suit. One of the recent comments is
from the St. Paul Pioneer Press. 1t
Is not in line with some of the prin-
riples on which the strength of the
country has been established but 1t is
valuable contribution to the agita-
ton.
The Press says:
We shall never be respected as
naval power. to the extent of patriot
ic desire, so long as practically our
only representation on the ocean Is
in battleships, and these dependent
on the services of vessels of other ma
tons for the ability to keep up
Lteam. The gibes flung by free-trad-
crs, at a system which compels the
ignominy of such dependence, are de-
served. The Gripping of our ocean
lie is not a necessity to the preser-
walton of any American industry.
The friends of national protection
should bestir themselves to take from
the enemies of the protective tariff
the weapons of accusation barbed
with truth.
Germany, buying ships in Great
Britain, has in few years built up a
wonderful commercial navy, which Is
not only carrying German manufac-
lures to every port on the ocean, but
Is doing large part of the carrying
trade which Americans might just as
we'll do for themselves. And coinci'
dentally Germany has developed a
splendid shipbuilding industry. No
ether nation, that we are aware Of
prohibits its citizens from buying
vessels abroad, by denying them the
protection of its flag. No other ma
ton piles upon vessel-owners such
onerous requirements as those impos'
I'd by our laws upon the operation OF
American bottoms.
1T is plain that the conditions
which prevail in the quartering
feeding, discipline, etc, of the sailor!
TT other countries, and with which
they are cheerfully content, must bt
accepted by the American govern
ment as good enough for sailors