The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-15
Subsidies,

The commercial convention at Chicago
has adopted a lot of resolutions, the OBJ
jects of which if acted upon by the general
government would introduce more whole
sale business of jobbery and peculation
than the country has ever yet witnessed. |
The creation of enormous corporations like |
the several lines of railway to the Pacific |
coast, aud endowiDg them with mangnif |
cent subsidies, has only served the pur-
pose Of bringing into existence agencies
which are operated for private and selfish
ends, and which have already grown so
great as to set at defiance the power which
created them. The Chicago Convention
now proposes still more extensive grab
and presents list of enterprises for which
government aid is to be solicited to the
amount of thousands of millions. There
is just one thing to be said in regard to the
whole list If they are actually meritori
GUS and present features of probable fu
ture success and profit, let those who see
money in the schemes put their money
into these projects and take their chances
the same as men engage in any other plans
of business.
When it becomes apparent that a work
of great Importance in which the interests
of the whole country are concerned and
which is not of particular sectional
benefit or mainly for the aggrandize-
ment of private and Individual
ends is to be urged upon congress, it
should receive due consideration, and if its
character is such that it can be legitimate
ly deemedia national work it would have
claims upon the government, but other
wise congress should leave all such enter
prises severely alone. Already there ex
list huge corporations and speculative
rings sufficient to thwart honest Legislation
and evade their responsibilities to TIT
country, without the number being in
creased.
The plea made in behalf of the Texa
Pacific railway is more specious than real
Ii is urged that congress has lent thu
credit of the government to two other Pa
ci6c lines, the Northern Pacific and tn,
Union Pacific, both of which are in the in
terest and for the benefit of northern
states, and as a matter of equity the sam
assistance should be furnished for the goot
of the southern section of the country
Viewed as a subject of equalization il
gratuities from the government the CLAIM
is not unfounded, but as
matter of right or sound pol
icy in the government giving all
at all it has no proper foundation
and for that matter neither had the othe
roads. The plain maxim that two wrong
do not make right applies in this cas-,
with solid effect. The dog-in-the-mange
policy also is not the reasonable view
Uudeniably the North has got its roads ant
has the benefit Of them in It's business l
received aid from the government, ant
even larger aid than is now asked for tn
more southern route, but the halt must b
called somewhere or the government vii
presently be at the mercy of corporations
if it is not now, and it might as we'll b
made at this time as any other. The in
trinsic merits of the Southern route Civ
1t advantages over either of the NOR
northern ones. 1t will be shorter, hav
better grades, and will have immensel
superior advantages as q winter route owe
Its competitors. IF the necessities O
travel ard of commerce demand its con
struction it will sooner or later be bull
whether aided by the government or not an,
IT built by private enterprise and privat
capital il will be in sounder and bette
condition financially than its rivals, an
will escape the partial supervision and tb
legislative interference Of congress in tn
management of its legitimate affairs.
As to substituting steamship lines, dis
Rlng canals, and projects Of that characte
they are one and all still more objections
bic. Congress ought to afford all possibl
AID to commerce and navigation, to post,
arrangements by sea and land, and encoul
ago the carrying trade of the nation by e.
vorable legislation In whatever manner
can be done without subsidies and withou
aiding one class of citizens to grow wealth
at the direct expense of the rest. Bu
when 1t comes to enacting laws for tb
special benefit Of rings and monopolie3
Is tune to say no. The country alread
experiences In fearful degree the VI
n"ppy consequences Of too much speci,