The New York herald., 1878-11-19
No Subsidies.


standing its aliases, yeritable body Of SUBJ
sidists packed in tLes interest OF the Texas
Pacific Railroad. The Chicago delegates
to the Convention are to be ex-
cepted from this description, since
they were fairly appointed by the Mayor
OF the city and represented the local senti-
ment of Chicago, which is sound on the
question of government aid to sturdy
and scheming beggars. The assem-
bling of that subsidy Convention
under false colors just in ad-
vance of the meeting of Congress isa symp-
tom Of an extensive conspiracy Tor robbing
the Treasury, after the manner of the too
famous Credit Mobilier All separate sets Of
schemers that desire grant Of money from
Congress, are to be organized into gigan-
tic combination for operating in Washington
during the approaching session. The Texas
Pacific would of course cheat its partners
and cut their throats if it could thereby
help forward its own project, but it will ac-
cep. their contributions for the support OF
a common lobby and promise its assist
ance in return for votes. None OF the
other schemers are in quite such resolute
earnest as this particular set of beggars.
who are the soul Of the movement; but they
can count upon allies enough to render
them truly formidable.
They are not at all discouraged by their
conspicuous want Of success at tho last
session. The session which Immediately
precedes the election Of new Congress is
usually more cautious, if not more virtuous,
than the expiring session which next fol-
lows. When members are about to appeal
can be kept under some restraint but
when elections have just been held the
defeated members are made reckless
by sense that they have nothing
further to lose, and the successful members
by hope that their votes may be forgotten
in the long interval before another election.
There is no longer any inducement to the
sham economy that is pnraded for elec-
tioneering purposes, and the motives for
real economy are considerably weakened.
Nobody SO well understands this state Of
the situation as the lobbyists who were so
unsuccessful last winter. and who even
then were too we'll acquainted with the real
character Of members to be discouraged by
the heavy rebuff which they met early in
the session. They were defeated rather by
management and strategy and by the pre-
occupation of Congress with the currency
question than by any sincere opposition of
the majority to their schemes. The broad
anti-subsidy resolution which was sprung
upon the House at an early stage and car
ried by coup de main made it awkward for
members who had voted for it to s.turn
their backs upon themselves" when their
rivals a. home were conspiring ts get their
seats. The situation has changed since the
elections, and the lobby will this winter
find more pliable material to work upon.
1t will require the most active vigilance and
the most strenuous efforts on the par. Of
the friends of honesty and economy to
hold these grasping gentry in check.
The two projects which are 70 be pressed
with most vigor are subsidy, under the
guise of loan, to the Texas Pacific Rail-
road, and subsidy, under the guise Of
compensate for carrying the mails, to
Brazilian line of steamships. We have no
hostility to either of these enterprises if
honestly prosecuted. We strongly approve
of the opening of new channels OF COM
merce wherever they are needed if good
judges have sufficient confidence in them
to embark their capital. What we object to
is the plundering Of the national Treasury
to enrich greedy schemers and spectators.
If the Texas Pacific were the only rail-
road company that would ever make such
an application, and if line of steamships
to Brazil were the only line that would ever
ask to be supported by a subsidy, we should
still Withstand them, because such hppro-
priations are wrong in principle and vio-
lation Of the rights Of taxpayers. But they
are Objectionable on the further ground
that as soon as one such enterprise is SUBJ
sidized the door is opened to numerous
others, which will plead the precedent and
insist on the equity of treating all alike.
If Congress grants q subsidy under the
name of loan to the Texas Pacific, then
.sshrieks of locality will be raised
for similar bounty to every Pacific
road that has been or may be projected.
And in the same manner, if Brazilian line
Of ocean steamers is subsidized By the gov
ernment in the shape of On enormous COM
pensation for carrying the mails, there will
be no logical stopping place and no method
Of resisting local cries until Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston,
New Orleans and San Francisco have one
or more subsidized lines connecting with
European or South American or Australian
ports. On what ground, or by what process
Of reasoning. or in pursuance of what prin-
ciple Of equity, can Congress refuse sub
sidy to the Northern Pacific Railroad after
having granted heavy one to the Texas
Pacific? And SO Of all other transconti-
mental roads and Of the equal claims Of all
81 txl