The new era., 1910-03-17


1908 shrinkage of 155e.s2s of American foreign
shipping in 43 years
No American steamship line connects us with South
America beyond Venezuela and Panama. Not single
American steamship goes to Brazil. Argentina Chilli or
Peru.
most convenient means of travelling from any of
the great Atlantic ports of the United States South
America is by way of Europe. involving two voyages
the ocean That too the most regular
and sometimes the quickest route for mail
United States and South America-our greatest natural
market which defend from foreign spoation
ing to the Monroe doctrine There Is absolutely
American mail service south of the Caribbean
Two years ago the Oceanic Steamship Company of
francisco withdrew its steamers carrying the
mails to Australasia. Even with the mail subsidy Of
$16.659 paid by the United could
compete with German subsidies Of s41.so4 voyage.
French subsidies of voyage Japanese subsidies
OF $21s17 voyage and British subsidies of $23677
voyage.
In three years the number of American steamships
regularly crossing the Pacific has shrunk to
Alas for our renown as maritime nation and for
the past prestige Of flag in tie of even
the most distant countries! Where the
merchant feet that every seattle nurs-
cry and background Of our naval power.
1t Is almost No American vessels are
being built for the foreign trade and, ships
and die. few years under conditions will
the American flag disappear from international
Enerce
Our hearts beat high when think of our noble
Of battleships. We cheer the mighty Utah
launched We watch with a growing thrill Of pride the
digging of the Panama canal. We a great nation
We sit in the world council great powers.
We the protector of the American republics We
saved the Chinese empire from destruction brought
to Japan and Russia Our foreign trade ex-
panded to three and third billions annually
But in 1925. IS years go per cent Of
merce with other countries carried by American
ships, and to-day only 10 per cent of imports
exports is borne under the American flag. More than
63 British foreign carried in British
ships.
We have spent hundreds of millions dollars to
build great navy. We added an empire to our
national territory and hosted in the Philippines
Hawaii Porto Rico and the Panama canal zone Yet
ninetenths Of all foreign commerce foreign
nags, and It is estimated that American shippers pay
600 annually in freight
rivals in American trade.
Not American ship being built for that trade
the remaining few rapidly wearing out flag
being hauled down OF these.
But beyond the dwindling of the American ship build
lng trades: beyond the surrender of 5000 100000
freight charges to foreign rivals; beyond an
honest and wholesome pride In flag sea; beyond
the mortifying lack Of mail service possessed
by other nations-there graver consequences
national trade.
and uncivized world the immensty of power
That feet is powerless without coal Yet all per
of the coal sent keep battleshps alive IL
carried in foreign merchant ships
is matter Of record that the small army provided
by the United States for the last Intervention
taken there in foreign ships under foreign
Even American material sent recently to the
philippines carried in japanese ships under the
Japaness nag and that while there Widespread
neWspaper talk Of possible between the United
states and Japan.
unknal commerce the protsctioa of Q naval force