Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-03-28

ErvIvAl OF ANrKicAN CcuxErcs la
. running debate last xeek in the House
o. Representatives On the Post Office =ppro.
pria,ion B:ll, tn. suhjec, of the revival Of
Of american Commerce being INTERCEPTED.
our Immediate and able representative.
Hon. Wan. NJ. Mesriek, took occasion to
express himself on the subiec. of special
subsidies to Commerce. and in terms so
reasonable aud sensible. that we have
thought our readers would be pleased and
benefited by giving his remarks place
in our columns.
Mr.. MERRicK Mr. Chairman. the mot
to of my State. Increase and multiply"
calls upon me in its just Interpretation to
promote industry. to foster agriculture. to
favor commerce. Recognizing fully that
principle. I am in favor Of everything
which tends to develop commerce or any
other interest Of the country. But these
interests mus. be promoted in the RICH,
way. They must be promoted according
to the Constitution and laws, and within
the restraints which equal justice should
impose upon all. l recognize that under
the Constitution the proper mode Of foster
ing commerce is to open harbors. to re-
move the distractions in rivers, to
create breakwaters where they are neees-
sary. to erect piers where commerce re-
quires them. But such measures. Mr..
Chairman, are TO my mind entirely differ
ent from proposition to gran, subsidies.
This proposition is one providing for spc-
cial interests. giving special patronage.
while the line Of legitimate protection to
which have alluded scatters benefits alike
upon all, as the rain Of heaven falls alike
upon the just and the unjust.
Sir. am in favor of no hot house mode
ofpromotiug the commerce Of this country.
Ii it cannot stand by its own energies. let
it perish that should be the sentiment of
every American. Let the commerce Of
the country develop itself Sir. the COM
merce of the country has not persisted it
never will perish. The pre,e1t made on the
other side is that our Atlantic commerce has
persisted. that the cross OF St. George has
driven the stars and stripes from the At
lantic ocean, and that we must now do
what we can to build up our commerce on
the Pacific. That very argument is the
reason with me why l should oppose this
subsidy. l am not in favor of fleeing be-
fore the flag of St. George would turn
back aud meet St. George upon the Allan
tic ocean and fight him there in noble and
Just com petition.
Mr.. DlcKsY. What would he fight
him with?
Mr.. MERnlcK. would fight him in
noble end just competition. as we fought
him before. We fought him upon the
Atlantic in 1912. and the Guerrero went
down before the Constitution manned by
generous hearts; and have no doub, so
again will the commerce of st. George go
down before the stars and stripes when We
meet in equal competition upon the Attain
tic.
Let US meet the commerce of Great
Britain fairly. according TO the true laws
of trade. Let US have no merccnary COM
merce. Sooner than have a merccpary
commercial nation. let us not have a COM
mcrcial nation At all. Ii we have fallen
into such poor repute as that We require
subsidy of S3OO,0C0 year to maintain
our commerce before the world, then let
us reject the subsidy. The moment tina.
degradation is seen. there is sense, man.
hood. energy enough in the American
heart to apply the proper remedy AIN
IN favor OF an appropriation for the com :
nercc OF this country, but am not in ia ,
vor of promoting the commerce Of this
country by any hircling measures, any
special fsvors like this.
Here the hammer fell