Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-29
Steamship Subsidies.
70 the Editor of The EVENING STAR.

To the Editor of TIE EVENING STAR
Mr.. Roach's long article OF repetitions and self
contradictions in the last number OF the Pro
tectfo1,isf aimed at Mt. David A. Wells and the
New York EreniHg Post will meet with a re-
Spouse from them, IL they consider it deserving Of
their notice.
As the paper, however, is widely circulated In
washington, with hope that these statements
may influence congressional votes, IL Is not map
proprate TO call attention to It's fallacleS here.
Mr.. Roach commences his essay and argues from
Its commencement to its end IN style similar to
that one OF his countrymen, who convinced jury
OF his Innocence OF the crime OF drunkenness by
proving that he was not a thief. "A good deal has
been said OF late about the historic lie.' This
was called forth, i believe, by the statement OF
Mr.. A Foster Higgins, that England has paid and
does pay mail subsidies to her steamship Iineso
Nobody ever disputed That statement OF Mr.. Hig-
gins Therefore, it was entirely useless for Mr.
Roach to waste four columns in proving that any
one contradicting it would be a historic liar
Everybody knows that England has paid and does
pay mail subsidies to her steamship lines We
know, too, as MT. Roach admits that I'm times
past she paid for some services at Il greater rate
tnan she now pays. We know that as steamships
have become Self-supporting and competing, that
tne expense OF carrying letters, merchandise and
passenger has greatly diminished. We know all
ABOUT the Cunard line, how expensive IL was to
run, how little freight and how few p ssengers its
ship5 could carry, and consequently what high
rate for postal service the British government was
obliged TO pay in order to keep up communication
with this side of the Atlantic Perhaps Mr.. Roach
Will remember something about the trans-cOnti-
mental stage line TO san Francisco, which also
could carry but little freight and few passengers
ana, therefore, reasonably demanded and received
Now the 'hIstorlc lie" was not based upon what
ne records as having been said by Mr.. Higgins 1t
consists in the Oft repeated assertions OF Mr.
Roach, in season and out out OF season, in PAM
phlets distributed among our legislators that
England has given these subsidies and others to
all parts of the world where she has social,
political or commercial interests for the purpose
Of promoting her own shipbuilding That was
lilo ~ md
couth as the phrase may seem. ne holds himself
respons bic for its use. Mr.. Roach has frequently
Cunard line, first OF all, to promote shipbullding.
VIII he say that the subsidy was given to the
california stage coach line to promote the build
Ing OF stage coaches? Ii one proposition Is true
the other IS true also.
Ocean steam navigation was then In It's infancy.
NO one dreamed that steam would be the great
motor for foreign commerce. From causes entirely
distinct from subsidies, and as may be seen with
moments reflection; In spite OF subsidies and not
from their aid, screw steamers have largely taken
the place OF sailing vessels. Were it possible to
wipe out or existence all British ships not receiy-
Ing subsidies We might count her merchant fleet
almost on the fingers OF our two hands. Mr..
Roach Is lord of telling us to ''tO initiate the
ample OF Engiand' In the policy OF su6dhihg, but
ne never alludes 10 the policy of England when
she repealed her navigation Laws in OF der TO allow
her people to buy our clipper ships.
that she was obliged to injure oil her own carry
Ing trade that came in competition with her mail
steamers Mr.. Roach proposes to IN Ike postal ne
ceSsity where none exists to "build up the Ameri-
can carrying trade" which he maintains would be
benefited by the charity that would enable his
own ships TO carry freight at lower Rates than
others. have frequently shown that England
never made it condition of subsidy that her mail
steamers should be built at home That Is enough
70 prove that her subsidies are not given Tor the
object defined by Mr. ROacb,-the protection of
American ship building.
In the instance which he frequently quotes of
the preference given by her to ships under her
own flag mot necessarily OF her own build) we
have In this connection in the Protectionist an ex-
hp N r (ryay ford in narli
ment when he advocated the continuance of the
subsidy To the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship
company rather than It's transfer to foreign line.
cannos see how iC tells in any way In favor OF
builder.
The reason assigned by Mr. Crawford is salts
factory from quite different point OF view. He
Old not object to the MeSSagerleS Imperale3 be-
cause their ships were not built in England. for
actually some OF them were, and are to this day,
British built, but solely because In case OF War
they could not be utilized by Great Britain It is
In keeping with the provisions of wise policy
that government should be at liberty to use its
postal steamers when their services are required.
Italy, Turkey, Spain, Brazil and other nations all
make these conditions, although many OF the
postal steamers under their respective flags are
built In England Mr. Crawford said: 81 am con-
WINGED that the subject has not been sufficiently
considered. For what would be the position OF
this country In the event OF war, or any inter-
ruption OF existing relations, taking place. Sup
posing the MesSagerieS Imperiales, or any other
foreign company, be awarded the contracts for
our mail service, what would be the position of
our commerce In the event OF our being unfOr-
tunately engaged in hostiiites with the country
with whose people the contract has been entered
tntof Or even in the event OF that country being
at war with some other7 (Hear, hear.p
With only one more quotation from Mr.. Roach's
manifesto will leave the consideration OF his sub
sln- s-l9ine for the present. commencing to him
his own ~sTfs, "alwayS the last resort when a
man cannot an ~zUer with argument to answer with
aspersion and mis-, --aGresent st:Sn" When ne has
fnwardly digested thfs sea.,t ~ ne may neslIlte
70 speak OF those who differ from hi, as ~. ,.
nave no practical knowledge OF the SUI, n" 10
ever, and whose interest, like their knOwieu. - -
AL derived from foreign sources" i q