The Washington herald., 1908-06-19
Our Merchant Marine.


Before the graduating class OF the Uni
versity OF Illinois, his excellency Minister
WI Ting-fang. who has long been known
as a close observer of our affairs IN their
relation TO his own country. took oppor-
tunlty to predict that the commercial ac-
tivity OF the Pacific Ocean would ere long
eclipse that OF the Mediterranean Sea in
It's palmiest DAYS. He does not believe
that the old quotation. Westward the
course Of empire takes its way" loses
force when 1t reaches the Western coast
Of this continent but will go on and on.
Minister wu said:
TT seems 70 us that your national prowtb and
Development. always along peaceful lines. are des-
tined IN tho next few generations 10 evolve not
so much in your Eastern States as on your Western
coast Foremost among the nations of the world
as tho advocates Of peace and the exponent Of ms
teo and fair play. your evolution as a Pacific
power viii guarnntee the good order and peace Of
tho far East"
Further along he pointed out the obvi-
Gus fact that with the awakening OF
China she would furnish one Of the biggest
markets in the world; he showed that
imports into China are increasing by leaps
and bounds. and he said that the enor-
nous possibilities OF China's foreign trade
could best be appreciated by the fact that
at present it amounted 10 only 81 per
capita, and he added: IF you are wise.
and I believe you are. your commercial
supremacy in the far East is assured"
All this is very gratifying and fatter-
Ing, but It fails 10 take into account the
fact that Japan is doing most of the ex
plotting Of China just now. and that that
same Island empire has arrogated to It.
self the position OF supremacy in the far
East. Surely the foreign trade OF China
will grow, but It Is extremely doubtful
II II can be forced. In the meantime
American merchants are so busy at home
that they have hardly had time yet-nor
have cared 20 take the trouble-to study
the conditions strict compliance with
which alone makes trade with the Orient
possible or profitable.
But one outgrowth OF Minister wu's
speech Is a reerudescence Of the arEu-
ments in favor OF a merchant marine for
America, even II It has to be subsidized
The time may come whom we shall find
II profitable to grant governmental boun-
ties for special trade service on the ocean.
but that time Is not yet. When the sea-
going trade between the Orient and our
Pacific coast has attained a bulk that
makes It profltable-too profitable for us
to allow the japanese or the British 10
monopolize tive may be quite sure that
there will be plenty OF American ships
Forthcoming.
No proposition 70 tax ourselves so TINT
the Chinese may secure goods from our
market at low freight rate is likely to
be looked upon with favor-ff II IS un-
derstood. It Is fine to talk patriotlcauv
about the American flag waving over our
shipping in foreign ports. but II Amerl-
can traders want 10 see It there let them
carry it. paying the expense out OF their
profits on the voyage. not out of the
pockets OF the American people. We need
a merchant marine; II Is a highly deslra-
bic thing. but we can afford TO wait until
We can get IT in the right way-in the
natural course Of trade growth.