Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-03


radical departure in the direction Of
State socialism as government
owned merchant marine. That would
be the inability or unwillingness of
private capital to furnish it under fair
and feasible conditions. But no such
conditions have existed in this country
in the memory Of most Of the present
generation Of Americans.
The first act of the first Federal Con-
gress, in 1889, gave to the ship-owners
and seamen of the United States the
direct protection and encouragement
of the nation. This was accomplished
in the form of preferential tariff rate
of 10 per cent. on goods imported in
American vessels. Moreover. Amer
lean ships were at the same time CIV
en- further substantial preference in
tonnage taxes at all American ports,
and special inducements were offered
to American merchants to engage in
the long-voyage trade with China and
India, which had been a European
monopoly. This policy of the fathers
of the republic was so successful that
American shipping registered for over
seas commerce increased from $4,000
tons in 1889 to 667, 900 tons in 1900 and
I to 9S1 900 tons in 1910, while the pro-
portion of our own imports and ex-
ports conveyed in American ships rose
from 20 per cent. to 81 per cent. No
other American industry grew so rap
idly: none became so strong and pro-
fitable.
So strong did American ocean ship
ping become that it seemed to some
public men that this national protec-
/ ton and encouragement were no Ion
ger necessary. 1t is a long story
the gradual removal Of the preferential
tariff rates and tonnage taxes, first in
one trade and then in another. but to
some degree the old national policy
remained in force for many years, and
was not finally abandoned against
Great Britain, our principal Compel
itor. until 1850.
All this time, to some degree, Amer
lean overseas shipping was a nation
ally protected industry. So long as it
was protected it prospered beyond any
other business in the United States.
But the opening of the new West and
the rise of the sectional quarrel over
slavery distracted the attention Of
Congress from maritime affairs, and
made unjust legislation possible. In
an evil hour the agricultural South
and portion Of the agricultural West,
| Jealous Of the success Of shipbuilding
and navigation, joined to legislate
against this historic interest.
Meanwhile, the British and other,
European governments had begun to
apply the policy Of national subsidies
to the encouragement of new lines of
ocean steamships. For a time, on the
recommendation of Democratic Presi-
dents and by vote Of Democratic Con-
crosses. we pursued the same policy
Of subsidy to American ocean mail
lines. In the building and operation
Of steamships, Americans quickly
proved as adept as in sail ships, and
from 1850 for several years onward
the swiftest and best steamships on
the transatlantic trade routes flew
the American flag.
But because of pressure from the
South and West, coupled with a Sec
tIOudl StlOI W ACuACO dAu CItpplc tuc
United States navy, the mail subsid-
les were taken away from the success
ful American steamships between 1856
and 1855 At the same time Great
Britain, realizing her opportunity, in
creased her subsidies to British lines
and gradually the American steam
ships were driven from the ocean.
This was under Democratic Ad-
ministration Of national affairs: it was
under a Democratic policy Of tariff for
revenue only. In the year 1856 the
very large amount Of $4,000 tons Of
shipping had been built in the United
States. This fell off in rapid and
startling way, to 100000 tons in 1856,
to $4,000 tons in 1857, to 244,00O tons in
1858 and to $4,000 tons in 1s59-the
sharpest rate Of decrease in our his
tory. Democratic attack upon our
shipping industry was responsible for
it.
There followed in 1861 the war, and
then the depredations Of Anglo-Con-
federate cruisers, but the memorable
fact is that the decline in American
shipbuilding and overseas navigation
had set in before the Civil War began,
and as a direct result Of the complete
destruction Of the earlier policy of ma
tional protection and ENCOURAGEMENT.
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