The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06

gotiated and proclaimed think without
disclosing. an executive secret, l may tell
you that the arrangement with Brazil is not
likely to abide in lonesomeness much longer.
That others are to follow, and that as a re-
suit of these trade arrangements the prod
ucts of the United States--our meats, our
breadstuifs, and certain lines of manufac-
tured goods-are to find free or favored ac-
cess to the ports of many Of these South and
Central American states. All these states
will share in these benefits. We have had
some analysis of the manifests OF some of
our steamers now sailing TO South Amer-
can ports. And in single steamer it was
found that twenty-five states contributed
to the cargo.
THE NEED OF AMERICAN STEAMSHIPS.
But we shall need something more. We
shall need American steamships to carry
American goods to these ports. The last
congress passed bill appropriating about
81 300 600 and authorizing the postmaster
general to contract with steamship COM
panies for period not exceeding ten years
for the carrying of the United States mail.
The foreign mail service is the only mail
service out of which the government has
been making a net profit. We do not make
profit out of our land service. There is
annual deficiency, which, my good friend,
the postmaster general, has been trying
very hard to rescue or wipe out. The
theory of our mail service is that it is for
the people, that we are not to make profit
out of it, that we are to give them as cheap
postage as is possibla. We are, many of us,
looking forward to time when we shall
have One-Cent postage in this country. We
have been so close and penurious in dealing
with our ships in the carrying of foreign
mails that we have actually made revenues
out OF that business, not having spent for it
what we have received from it. Now we
propose to change that policy and to make
more liberal contracts with American lines,
carrying American mail. Some one may
say we ought not to go into this business,
that 1t is subsidy. But, my friends, every
other great nation of the world has been
doing it and is doing it to-day. Great Brit
ain and France have built up their great
steamship lines by government aid, and it
seems to me our attitude with reference to
that Is aPtly portrayed Ivy an illustration l
mentioned the other day. In the mean
time no wholesale merchant sent out
travelling men to solicit custom, but he
stood in his own store and waited for his
customers. But presently some enterpris-
ing merchant began to send out men with
their samples to seek the trade, to save the
country buyer the trip to New York or Phil
adelphia until finally that practice has be-
come universal and these active intelligent
travelling men are scurrying this country
over, pushing and soliciting In their several
| lines of business. Now imagine some con-
sentative merchant in New York saying to
himself: "All this is wrong; the trade
|
! to adopt these modern methods what would
be the result? He must adopt the new
methods or go out Of business. We have
been refusing to adopt the universal method
of our competitors in commerce to stimu-
| late their shipping interests and to have
gone out of business. Encouraged by what
| your spokesman has said tonight, / venture
to declare that / am in favor of going into
business again, and when it is re-estab-
lished hope Galveston will be in the part
| nership.
1t has been the careful study of the post
master-general, in preparing to execute the
law to which L have referred, to see how
much increase In routes and ships we could
| secure by it. We have said to the few ex-
listing American lines " You must not treat
this appropriation as plate of soup, to be
divided and consumed. You must give us
new lines, new ships, increased trips and
new ports of call" Already the steamship
| lines are looking over the routes to see what
they can do, with a view of increasing their
tonnage and establishing new line The
postmaster-general has invited the attention
and suggestion of all the boards of trade
of all our seaboard cities. Undoubtedly
| you have received such letter. This APP
| preparation is for one year. What the future
is to be must depend upon the deliberate
| judgment of the people. IT, during my
term of Office, they shall strike down law
that believe to be beneficial or destroy its
| energy by withholding appropriations / shall
bow to their will but l shall feel great dis
| appointment If we do not make an era for
| the revival of American commerce. j do
much want that the time shall come when
our citizens living in temporary exile in
| foreign ports shall now and then see steam
| ing into these distant ports a fine modern
man-of-war, flying the United States flag,
with the best modern guns on her deck
| and brave American crew in her fore
castle. l want also that in these ports, so
| long unfamiliar with the American flag,
there shall again be found our steamships
and our sailing vessels flying the flag that
| we love, and carrying from our shores the
| products that these men of toll have
| brought to them to exchange for the products
of other climes.
THR PRESIDENTS VISION.
/ think we should add to all this if hap
PLY it is likely to be accomplished by indi-
vidual efforts, the early completion OF the
Nicaragua Canal. The Pacific coast should
no longer be found by sea only by the pas
sage of the Horn. The short route should
be opened, and it will be, and then with his
wondrous stirring among the people of all
our states, this awakening to new business
| plans and more careful and economical
work, there will come great prosperity to
| all our people. Texas will spin more of the
cotton than she raises. The great states of
the South will be in discomfort with the old
condition that made them simply agricul-
compete with the older manufacturing
states OF the North and East. The vision
have, all the thoughts have, of this matter,
embrace all the states and all my country
men, | do not think of it as question of
party; L think of 1t as a great American
question. BY the invitation OF the address
which was made TO me l have freely spoken
my mind to you ON these topics. | hope |
have done so with no off nee or improperly.
/ would not on an occasion SO full of gen
eral good feeling a. this obtrude anything
that should induce division or dissent. For
all " no do dissent l have the most respect
full tolerance. The views | hold are the re-
suit of some thought and Investigation, and
as they are questions Of public concern L
confidently submit them to the arbitrament
of brave and enlightened American suffrage.
The people Of Galveston We're worked
up to the highest pitch of enthusiasm
by the presidents address and fire.
quently punctuated his remarks with
cheers, sgualizug the closing para