PLANS THE American Doctrine of Shipping Rights An American Marine for American Commerce BY WILLIAM W. BATES Former Commissioner of Navigation. Author of Ameri- Reprinted from "THE ARENA" For "The Shipping Society of America" October, 1905 Copyright, 1905, by Albert Brandt. A TWENTIETH CENTURY REVIEW OF 'OPINION EDITED BY B. O. FLOWER This high-class original review has recently been purchased by Albert Brandt. It is the purpose of the management to make "THE ARENA" indispensable to men and women who think. Eminent and authoritative contributors will from month to month give their best thoughts on Ethics Politics Science Literature The Drama A number of improvements and popular features will be introduced, among the first of which will be the reintroduction of finely-executed frontispiece portraits of leading thinkers and contributors. Each month it will contain a full-page cartoon drawn expressly for "THE ARENA" by Dan. Beard, the famous artist and cartoonist. Beginning with the July issue we shall publish a monthly editorial survey of the most momentous happenings in the political, economic, religious and educational worlds, together with a summary of scientific discoveries and an epitome of advance movements in art, literature and the drama. This department will make “THE ARENA" especially valuable to current-event clubs as well as to the general reader. Subscription price, $2.50 per annum. Single copies twenty-five cents. Boston, Mass.-The Arena-Trenton, N. J. ALBERT BRANDT: PUBLISHER IT BY WILLIAM W. BATES, Ex-United States Commissioner of Navigation. IS the teaching of history that contact with the ocean has been highly influential in forming the character of nations-increasing their courage and love of freedom and developing the means of their wealth and power. This is why in every enlightened country the benefits of navigation are fully appreciated. Every people whose territory touches the ocean, its rivers and harbors furnishing sites for towns and cities and abodes of civilization, are naturally blessed in great degree. To other industries they may add shipbuilding, transportation and trade with foreign countries. If well-governed, they may grow rich and powerful on land and sea, and exert much influence on the progress of mankind. But native skill must be applied; shipping must be homebuilt and home-employed and commerce conducted by citizens, or its natural advantages will do the nation little good. Alien merchants using foreign shipping will not aid very much in developing industries away from home-they work for their own country and flag everywhere they go. Only one of the larger nations of the earth-the United States of Americahas failed for some time to prize and protect a large part of its navigation-that engaged in foreign trade. This part, by a mistaken policy, virtually thrust upon the government by a rival, has long been unprotected and consequently is now an almost vanished industry. It is hoped, however, that this policy will be soon corrected and that once more the American ship will win her way and enjoy her rights. In February, 1904, a joint commission of Congress was appointed to investigate the situation of the American merchant marine during the recess and to prepare a bill to meet its demands in a constitutional manner. It was developed that 66 the view of the country favored the reestablishment of our early policy. This called for discriminating duties of tonnage and of tariff, as regulations of foreign commerce, the constitution not sanctioning the payment of "bounties" or "subsidies" to the marine in general. Contrary to expectation, the commission reported a subvention" or subsidy bill, which, however, was not put upon passage, the report in its favor by a majority of the commission being weak and unsatisfactory. It is possible that this measure may be offered at the next session, but is by no means certain of enactment; for ample discussion must show that its principle is false, and that unless our present policy shall be discontinued there can be no hope for an American marine, no matter how much treasure may be squandered on the experiment. ADVANTAGE OF SHIPPING POWER. The relations of national advancement to navigation and commerce are naturally such, that the nations accomplishing their improvement and extension have ever developed a power of controlling the circumstances of others. An intelligent observation of Sir Walter Raleigh was grounded on this fact: |