The New York herald., 1921-10-09

convinced that q merchant marine OF
our own. II for no other reason than
the national defence. for use as auxil-
iariss to our army and navy in time OF
war. 10 as necessary as a navy. We just
cannot afford to go without it.
The policy Of discriminating duties
was IN force from the beginning OF our
Government under the existing Consti-
tuition until II was suspended In 1850.
It has never been repealed. It was 30
successful when first adopted that the
reduction In revenue through the growth
OF American shipping caused the appli-
cation Of the policy to be reversed. that
is by imposing an extra or higher duty
ON imports than the regular duty when
brought to us in foreign vessels. instead
OF reducing the duty on imports In Amer
lean vessels. Although generally sus-
pended In 1850. It had been In full or
partial effect for so long-17s9 until
1s6o-that there was no great impair
ment in our shipping growth during the
next decade. or until the civil war. and
during that entire period OF ssventy-two
years the average Of our imports and
exports carried in American ships was
80 per cent.
As result of every possible retalia-
tory and countsrvaiiing measure foreign
nations availed Of they succeeded In car
rying an average of but 20 per cent. Of
our imports and exports during seventy
two years. In the light Of that result.
In the light Of ineffectivsness Of retalia-
ton when tried and in view Of the kind
of q marine we developed under tho pro-
tection Of our discriminating duty policy
In ante-bellum days ! am convinced that
It Is the policy for this country again
to: put into operation for the protection.
maintenance and development or expan-
sion of our chipping In foreign trade.
The discriminating duty policy diff
fers from the so-oalled subsidy or bounty
policy in that tho former adds to the
revenues Of the Government II It falls
to protect our ships. while subsidies and
bounties take money directly out Of the
Treasury. The former Is indirect and
the latter 10 direct The former pro-
tects our shipping against foreign COM
petition through the tarin. just as every
other American product Is protected
against foreign competition.
During all Of the time-more than
two full generations--the discriminating
duty policy was in force we had a great,
growing and profitable American mer-
chant marine. Instead OF shipping
problem we had shipping policy that
protected our ships on the seas. Tho
reason our ships were driven of the
seas was not because Of the change from
sail to steam, or from wood to iron. or
because Of the civil war. but because
protection had been withdrawn. When
the war of 1912 ended American ships
hocked back upon the seas in ever in
creasing numbers because they were pro-
tected against foreign competition; but
when the civil war ended. lacking pro-
lection. being compelled to meet free
trade competition upon the seas, our
ships found themselves unequal to It and
they withdrew.
During the half century after the close
Of our civil war whenever American
shipowners and shipbuilders appeared
before Congress to explain why our mer-
chant marine In foreign trade was stead
lily dimtnishing and what was necessary
to revive and sustain 1t, they answered
Protection. The same Is true now or
win be in normal times. For It to suc-
ceed our merchant marine must be pro-
tected. and It b up to Congress to pro-
tect Il generously, adequately. perma-
nentiy, whole heartedly.
ALEXANDER r SMITH,
Editor Of the MarIne Journal.
RosuBANX, October 8.