Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-06-09
TIE SUBSIDY GRANT.
Disgracefui Attitude of the Repubticsr
Party Regarding 1t.


Dfsgracefui Attitude of the Republican
Party Regarding 1t.
The Joy of the republican protection
organs over the action OF congress in
the matter of allowing a change Of
register for the steamers of the Inman
line is one OF the most amusing things
of the time For if there ever was a
distinct condemnation of two of the pet
theories of party this action of con-
gress bears that relation to republican
pets. 1t condemns in the first place the
system of navigation laws on the MAIN
tenance OF which the republicans have
particularly prided themselves as pro-
tective measures for American shipping
and shipbuilders- And it contradicts
emphatically the whole theory on which
the subsidy system Of the last repub-
Hcan congress was founded and for
which republicans have had but one
criticism since-that the subsidy grant
was not big enough.
Under our system of navigation laws,
the pride and boast of the republican
party. the carrying trade of the world,
including our own, has been given to
ships of foreign build These laws
have been kept up on the plea that if
Americans Were permitted to buy ships
abroad the shipbuilders of this country
| would be at hopeless disadvantage be-
cause of the higher price of labor in
| this country. It has been shown. over
and over again. and on the testimony
OF American shipbuilders themselves,
| that with free raw materials the build
| ers here could compete with the build
ers anywhere; but the great party OF
/ protection and restriction has stuck to
the tariff and insisted that the Ameri-
can flag should be confined to our coast
| ing trade. 1t is exceedingly funny,
| therefore, to see this restrictive party
| clapping its hands over the practical
repeal OF the Anticipated and oppressive
navigation laws, Notwithstanding the
repeal originated with a democratic and
tariff reform congress. Had the house
Of representatives done what it did in
! the matter of its own motion without
| any request from vessel owners the 2.
o. p. we venture to say. would have
howled itself hoarse in denurciation OF
| the act and demanded its defeat in the
| senate. But because it was asked for
by leading men of the very class in
whose interest it has been pretended
the laws were maintained, the hypocrit-
zeal old party has to approve of the ac-
ton of the democracy.
The party of restriction and repres
sion was. if possible, more ardent in
| support of the subsidy act than of the
navigation laws, and the chief ground
of its support was that England and
| France and other countries of the Ole
world were granting subsidies. 1t wa:
for this reason, they contended, ani
| not because of the navigation laws and
| the prohibitive duties on raw material:
! that England retained the carrying
trade and that the American who
wished for share therein was com
| PEELED to buy British ship with Brit
ish register. And since the subsidy
was granted they have rejoiced over i
| as the salvation of the American carry
ing trade. regretting only that the sub
| Sidy was not larger, SO as to allow o.
competition On better terms with Grea'
Britain. Andnow come the vessel own
ers, who ought to be good judges, i
anybody is a good judge of the subsid
les, and say in so many words tha:
those OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES British
| subsidies are not as attractive as tn
American subsidies which have beer
sneered at as altogether too low.
If the party which got the reputation
at one time of being the party OF grea
moral ideas had any such thing in it
outfit as shame it would blush at tn
exposure it is making of itself in its re
| joicing over the bill in the Inman lin
| caSe-DetrOit Free Press