Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-03-10

shrunk from 2,496, 1874 tons in 1861 to 940,06S tons in
1908, a ~shrinkage of 1856, 1926 tons of American foreign
shipping in 43 years,
No American steamship line connects us with South
America, beyond Venezuela and Panama. Not a single
American steamship goes to Brazil, Argentina, Chilli or
Peru.
The most convenient means of travelling from any of
the great Atlantic ports of the United States to South
America is by way of Europe, involving two voyages
across the Atlantic ocean. That, too, is the most regular
and sometimes the quickest route for mail between the
United States and South America-our greatest natural
market, which we defend from foreign spoliation accord
ing to the Monroe doctrine. There is absolutely no
American mail service south of the Caribbean sea.
Two years ago the Oceanic Steamship Company of San
Francisco withdrew its steamers carrying the American
mails to Australasia. Even with the mail subsidy Of
$16.659 a voyage paid by the United States it could not
compete with German subsidies Of $41,604 a voyage,
French subsidies of $47,8l4 a voyage, Japanese subsidies
of $21,9l7 a voyage and British subsidies of $23,07 a
voyage.
In three years the number Of American steamships
regularly crossing the Pacific has shrunk from fifteen to
six.
Alas for our renown as a maritime nation and for
the past prestige of our flag in the commerce of even
the most distant countries! Where now is the American
merchant feet that once mastered every seattle nurs.
cry and background of our naval power.
1t is almost gone. No more American vessels are
being built for the foreign trade and, as ships wear out
and die. a few years under present conditions will see
the American flag disappear from International com
merce.
Our hearts beat high when we think of our noble
array OF DaLLleSnlpS. we CneeT as the mighty ULan Is
launched. We watch with a growing thrill of pride the
digging of the Panama canal. We are a great nation
now. We sit In the world council of the great powers.
We are the protector of the American republics. We
saved the Chinese empire from destruction. We brought
peace to Japan and Russia, Our foreign trade has ex-
banded to three and a third billions of dollars annually.
But in 1926, IS years ago, 90 per cent. of our COM
merce with other countries was carried on by American
ships, and to-day only 10 per cent. of our imports and
exports is borne under the American flag. More than
81 per cent. of British foreign trade is carried in British
ships.
We have spent hundreds Of millions of dollars to
build a great navy. We have added an empire to our
national territory and hoisted our flag in the Philippines
Hawaii, Porto Rico and the Panama canal zone. Yet
ninetenths Of all our foreign commerce is under foreign
flags, and 1t Is estimated that American shippers pay
$780, 00, 900 annually In ocean freight rates and fares to
our rivals in American trade.
Not a new American ship being built for that trade,
the remaining few are rapidly wearing out and our flag
being hauled down on some of these.
But beyond the dwindling of the American ship build
ing trades; beyond the surrender Of 5000, $1,000 in
freight charges to our foreign rivals; beyond even an
honest and wholesome pride in our flag at sea; beyond
the notifying lack of an ocean mail service possessed
by other nations-there are even graver consequences
to the disappearance Of the American ship from inter
national trade.
We send forth a great fleet to show both the civilized
and uncivilized world the immensely Of our armed power.
That feet is powerless without coal. Yet all but 10 per
cent of the coal sent to keep our battleships alive Is
carried in foreign merchant ships.
1t is a matter Of record that the small army provided
by the United States for the last Intervention In Cuba
was taken there in foreign ships, under foreign flags.
Even American war material sent recently to the
Philippines was carried in Japanese ships under the
japanese flag; and that, too, while there was widespread
newspaper talk of a possible war between the United
States and Japan.
1t was Washington who declared that ITO an active
external commerce the protection Of a naval force is