St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-03-26

snrunk from 2496894 tons 1861 to 940O6S tons in
1908 shrinkage of 1556s26 tons 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
Peru.
The most convenient travelling from any of
the great Atlantic ports of the United States South
america is by way of Europe involving two VOYAGES
across the Atlantic That too is the most regular
and sometimes the quickest route for between the
United States and South America-our greatest natural
market which defend from foreign spoation accord
ing to the Monroe doctrine There is absolutely no
American mail service south the Caribbean sea-
Two years ago the Oceanic Steamship Company of San
FRANCISCO Withdrew its steamers carrying
mails to Australasia. Even with the mail subsidy of
$16,659 voyage paid by the United States it could not
compete with German subsidies of s41,eo4 voyage
French subsidies of $4784 voyage Japanese subsidies
OF $21,S17 voyage and British subsidies of $23O77
voyage
In three years the number of American steamships
regularly crossing the Pacific has shrunk from to
Alas for renown maritime nation and for
the past prestige of flag in the commerce of even
the most distant countries Where is the American
merchant fleet that every seattle nurs.
cry and background of our naval power.
1t is almost gone. No American vessels are
being built for the foreign trade and ships
die, few years under present conditions will see
the American flag disappear from International COM
Our hearts beat high when we think of our noble
array of battleships. We cheer the mighty Utah is
launched We watch with growing thrill of pride the
now We sit in the world council G. the great powers
We are the protector of the American republics We
saved Chinese empire from destruction We brought
peace to Japan and Russia Our foreign has ex
banded three and third billions of dollars annually
But in 1926, So years ago, 90 per cent. of
merce with other countries carried by American
ships to-day only 10 cent of imports and
exports is borne under the American flag than
ca per cent British foreign trade is
ships
We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to
build a great navy. We have added empire
national territory and hoisted flag in the Philippines
Hawaii Porto Rico and the Panama canal Yet
nnetenths all foreign foreign
flags and it is estimated that American shippers pay
5000 600 0e0 annually in freight rates
our rivals in American trade.
Not a new American ship being built for that trade
the remaining few rapidly wearing out and flag
being hauled down some of these.
But beyond the dwinding of the American ship build
inc trades: beyond the surrender of 5000 000O 900
freight charges to foreign rivals beyond
honest and wholesome pride in flag sea; beyond
the notifying of mail service possessed
nv other nations-there graver consequences
tn the disappearance of the American ship from
national trade
We send great fleet to show both the civilized
and uncivilized world immensely of power.
THAT fleet is poweress without COAL Yet all but 10 per
cont of the coal keep battleships alive
carried in foreign merchant ships
n is a matter of record that the small army provided
hv the United States for the last Intervention in Cuba
was taken in foreign ships under foreign flags
Even American war material sent recently to the
pbinpnes was carried in Japanese ships under the
onanese flag; and that too while there widespread
nowsnaper talk of possible war between the United
States and Japan
II was Washington who declared that "to active,
external the protection of naval force is