The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-04-04
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.

There Is In this country very strong feeling
Of deposition to what Is termed class legislation,
md this feeling, as a general thing, is well
founded. without doubt the business Of the
country, and whatever In the shape Of real en-
terprises arc undertaken with view to develop
our resources, should be In the hands and under
the direction and management OF private indi-
rIdualsi but this should not prevent the Govern.
,nent from the bestowal Of such aid as the ne
ressltlcs Of the enterprises begun and pressed
iorw1rdby individuals may demand.
There are some works Of such trsuseendant
lubic benefit, the cost OF which are OF such q
magnitude as to preclude the possibility Of their
being undertaken and OF their being carried
Through by individual capital Such an enter
prise Is the Pacific railroad. The Government.
seeing this did, by acts Of Congress, give Its aid
so its behalf and we think that no one can re.
greet or complain that the Government did step
81 and give that substantial help to complete
this work which, beyond . peradventure, insures
jts final construction. And besides, 1t Is q fact
which Is patent to all, that the Government can.
not lose by its manifest liberality which has
been afforded In carrying through this grand
Undertaking.
The Government must reap many solid advaI-
fages when this splendid highway for the nations
s. opened up, connecting the Atlantic and the
Pacific oceans By one continuous railway. Mil
lions OF wealth will pour Into the Treasury OF
the nation, II not directly, sill Indirectly, for
whatever enriches the people also enriches the
Government. Railroads will not only be found
20 be great eivill1ers, but great sources Of
wealth to all the people, and rich people
iGake, in a country like ours, q rich Govern
Inent. The argument against enterprises Of this
iort that they the creatures Of class legisla'
tion loses its force, and cannot be applied with
any relevancy. Doubtless the Government
should in every instance carefully scrutinize all
propositions made to 1t for aid, and properly dis.
eliminate in favor OF such enterprises, and such
only, as, after mature elaboration, commend
themselves to the wise judgment OF careful and
rejecting legislators. 1t Is not every scheme
that can commend itself to Governme nt patron
age and favor, but such as do thus commend
themselves as mcritorlous should be cared for
aud should receive such Governmental aid Al
will render their success a certainty.
1t Is a fast, rs we said some days since, tina
between this country and Europe there Is not
single line of frst-class steamers that can b
called American in any sense OF the word, an
the reason OF this is that private capital Is no
able alone to cope with those rich companie
which are in receipt of large and liberal subsidie
from their Governments. The question is per
tinent-ought this state Of things to exist
longer The answer Is plain, and every one
must admit that this state Of things Is credf to
End, moreover, of no advantage to us as a people
IL thefe Is reason LOT consructing a railway
across the continent that shall be completely
under the CONT oil and management Of American
and no one will question this, for we shout
not allow Europeans to take into their hands tn
management of our Pacific railrosd-why, ther
should we sit down and allow that grand path
way OF the ocean which connects this countr.
with Europe to be entirely monopolized by fol
signeTs. when a subsidy from our Government
such as the Committee OF the House OF Repre-
sentAtives on Post Ofices and Post Roads pro
pose to give TO the Commercial Navigation
Company to establish a line OF steamers betweei
New York and Bremen, would secure the desire
result
The sum proposed In the shape OF a los
from the Government to this company is no
large, but the advantages to be derived there
from, both to the Government and the people
are immense. And besides, such an enterpris
ispurely American ia its character, and shout
be fostered.