Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-03-29
Steamship Subsidies.

The following pointed remarks were made
by our representative, Mr.. McrricIs, a few days
ago, on The subject Of granting additional aid
to Ocean Steamship Companies The speeches
on The subject were limited 10 ten minutes:
SIR MERRICK Mr. Chairman, the motto
of my state, " Increase and multiply calls
upon me IN its Just Interpretation to promote
industry, TO foster agriculture, to iagur com
MERGE Recognizing fuzzy that principle, am
IN favor Of everything which tends TO develop
commerce or any other interest Of the country.
Bat these interests Must be promoted in the
right way. They must be promoted according
10 the Constitution and la"s, and ~ithin tho
Tcstiainls Z" hieh equal justice should impose
upon all. recognize, that under the COusti-
luton the proper mode Of fostering commerce
Is to open harbOrs, to remove tie distractions
in rivers, TO create bre.dSwalers where they arc
necessary, to erect piers where commerce re-
qulrcs them. Bat such neasures Mr. Cha r.
man, are 10 my mind entirely different from
proposition o graut subsidies. This PROPOSE
ton Is one providing for Hpccnl interests, Civ
Ing specin' patronage, while the line Of lcgiii-
mate protection 10 which bave alluded seat
trr5 benefits alike upon all Hs the rain Of hca-
ven falls alike upon tho just and the unjust.
sir, am in favor Of no hot-house mode OF
promoting The commerce Of this country. II
II canuot stand by Iis own energies, let it per-
ish; that should be the sentiment Of every
American, Let The commerce Of the country
develop itself. Sir the commerce Of the coun-
try has not persisted; it never will perish
The prctc1i made on the other side il that our
Atlaniir commerce has persisted, That The cross
OF st. George has driven the STARS and stripes
from the Atlantic ocean. md that We must
nov do what Wc can TO bali up our com
merce on lho Pacific That very argument is
the rcnson with me why / should oppose this
subsidy. am not in favor Of fleeing before
the flag Of 81. George. ! would turn back
and meet 81. George upon the Atlantic ocean
and fight him there in noble aud just compe-
ttion.
Mr. DICKEY What would you fight him
wirh2
Mr. MERHCE. | would fight him in noble
and Just competition, rs we fought him before.
We fought him upon the Atlantic in 1912, and
tie Guerrlere went down before the Constitn-
ton, manned by generous hearts: and have
no doubt so again will the commerce OF 81.
George 20 down before tho stars and stripes
when we meet it in equal competition upon
the Atlantic
bet ne meet the commerce Of Grea Britain
fairly, according 10 the true laws of t-ads.
Let Us have no merccnary commerce. Sooner
thau nave u mercenary commercial nation, let
~ not nave commercial nation AZ all II we
nave hiien INTO such poor rcpute as that we
require n subsidy Of $500, 900 q year 10 maif-
tam our commerce before the world, then let
US reject that subsidy The moment that deg
radiation Is seen, there is sense manhood, en-
ergy enough in the American heart to apply
the proper remedy. | am in favor of an ap-
preparation for the commerce Of this country.
but am not in favor Of promoting the com
mfrce Of THIS country by any hirolins meas
ures, any special fayors like this
filels the hammer epif