Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-25
A Question That PerpIexes Them.

A Question mat FerpiexeS IHem'
The Stars and Stripes, a pamphlet
Issued by the Merchant Marine League
of Seattle and pledged to the rebuild
ling of our ocean-going service has
dropped a bomb among the Democrats
who oppose ship subsidies by quoting
from President Tyler's message to
Congress of the date Of December 3,
LISA, in which that distinguished gen.
tleman advocates mail subsidies; and
from the message of President Polk in
which he commended the mail sub
sides enacted under Polk. The Stars
and Stripes then asks the following
question:
with our steam tonnage ris-
ing from 1851 tons in 1S47 to
115.O45 tons in 1855, although we
were fully ten years behind Eng
land in inaugurating subsidy
system. why should the present
Democratic members of Congress
refuse to support measure SINH
lar to the one that brought forth
such praise from Democratic
Presidents in 1874 and 1S4S?
President Tyler's message con-
tanned the following paragraph:
Il cannot too strongly urge the
policy OF authorizing the establish
ment of line of steamships to ply
between this country and foreign
ports. and upon our own waters for the
Transformation of mail. The example
OF the British government is well
worthy of imitation in this respect.
The belief is strongly entertained that
the emoluments arising from the
transportation of mail matter to for
eign countries would operate in itself
as an inducement to cause individual
enterprise to undertake that branch of
the task and the remuneration of the
government would consist in the addi-
in case of emergency by the ships so
employed. Should this suggestion meet
your approval, the propriety of placing
such ships under the command of ex-
perienced officers Of the navy will not
escape your observation. The appli-
cation of steam to the purposes OF
naval warfare cogently recommend an
extensive steam marine as important
in estimating the defenses of the coun-
try. Fortunately this may be obtained
to Us to a great extent without mean
ing any large amount of expenditure.
Steam vessels to be engaged in the
of the mails on our
water courses, lakes and
ports of our coasts, could also be so
to be efficient as war ves-
sells when needed and would of them
selves constitute formidable force in
order to repel attacks from abroad.
We cannot be blind to the fact that
other nations have already added large
numbers of steamships to their naval
ornaments and that this new and
powerful agent is destined to revolu-
tionize the condition of the world. 1t
becomes the United States. therefore,
looking to their security, to adopt a
similar policy and the plant suggested
will enable them to do so at small
cost
President Folks words Of approval
are equally significant inasmuch as he
was a Democrat and had a Democratic
Senate and House behind him. The
following paragraph is found in his
message of December 5, 1S4S:
THE contracts for the transporta
ton of the mails in steamships, con-
vertable into war steamers promises
to realize all the benefits of our COM
merce and to the navy that were
The first steamer thus
secured to the government was
launched in January, 1S47. There are
now seven and in another year there
will probably be not less than II
ahoat While this great national ad-
is secured our social and COM
mercial intercourse is increased and
promoted with Germany, Great Britain
and other parts of Europe and with all
the countries on the West coast of
our continent. especially with Oregon
and California and between the North
srn and Southern States of the United
States. Considerable revenue may be
expected from hostages but the con-
nccted line from New York to Chagres
and thence across the Isthmus to
Oregon cannot fail to exert a beneficial
influence, not now to be estimated, on
he interests of the manufacturers,
commerce, navigation and currency of
he United States. AS an important
part of the system. | recommend to
your favorable consideration the es-
Adjustment Of the proposed line of
steamers between New Orleans and
Vera Cruz 1t promises the most
happy results in cementing friendship