The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-20

its highest material development must
come from commerce. In Difference to this
sentiment a man from a sister city. Of
broad judgment, and who. has the merit
Of having the merit of his convictions
had teen selected to respond to the toast.
Maj. Hanson was introduced as a repre-
sentative of commerce in its highest and
most fitting sense.
Maj. Hanson sad that in the time which
the occasion allowed, it would be difficult
to elaborate his subject. To attempt the
discussion in detail would involve the con-
siderstion of an infinite number Of ques-
lions. The question is one which, he said,
covers the earth. The infant in it's cradle,
and the corpse in its shroud are equally
the subjects and the benefciaries of com
merce. The dictionary definitions of com
merce are vague and underlined for this
practical age. The practical definition of
commerce is business Government ITSELF
in its highest and best sense is business
on a large scale. My principle of business
is home consumption for home demand
and "a surplus for the foreign
trade. The question of consump-
ton and market engages the at
tention of the world to-day. The
talk among the natives of Europe to-day
Of preserving the balance of power means
the preserving OF the balance OF tIdNe
rather than of power.
The supreme question before the peo-
pie of this country at this time is finding
a market for the surplus of our product"
said Maj. Hanson. The consuming
power of our 1900, 600 people is greater
than any 300,00000O of people on the globe,
barring those of England, yet should our
cotton mills manufacturing for foreign
export be cut off from their markets, this
country could not consume the surplus
except at prices which would bankrupt
the mills The conditions which confront
this country today cannot be settled by
tradition, he declared. The doctrines of
former days are worthless in these su-
premely practical days. The commerce
of our country to-day demands three
things, the first of which is the com
pletion of the Nicarauga canal There is
no section of this country SO greatly in
terested in this work as the Southern
States. The advantage to the Gulf and
South Atlantic ports would be
beyond computation" Mai Han
son paid tribute to Sen
ator John T. Morgan for his work in be-
half of the canal. Next" said Maj. Han
son, I'VE want subsidies for our shipping.
> know this is a cold subject in a Southern
locality. but we are more greatly inter
ested than we know. You may say that
it is wrong I'm principle.
fend the morality Of the movement. But
the American ship owner cannot compete
with the subsidized shipping of England,
Germany, France and Italy"
1t was not a question of taxing the
farmer for the benefit of the ship own
ers," said Maj Hanson. but of the in
terests of the merchant the manufac-
turer, the mill man and all other Indus
tries"
The chief opposition to this move comes
from Southern newspapers, Maj Hanson
said. He declared that every newspaper
published in the country is benefited by
subsidy and cited the fact of the annual
deficit of the postoffice department in his
claim that the government is giving SUD-
sides to the newspapers in order to enable
them 10 furnish papers to their subscrib-
ers at rates which the latter could af-
ford TO pay. He held that It is right
that the government should do this for
the benefit Of the people who read the
newspapers and that the same principle
should be applied to the shipping Indus
try. Mai Hanson cited the fact that the
balance against this country in the Span
ish-Ame rican trade is 500 0O0, 900 annually
and pointed to the fact that the five Cen
trail American states pay more for their
mail steamship service than the United
States pays for its entire mail service to
all the Spansh-American countries
Mai. Hanson discussed what other coun-t
tries are doing. He added that this coun-
try will never get a respectable merchant
marine on any other basis.
1.-The third thing we want to do" said
Maj. Hanson lis to get hold of every
square foot Of territory in this world that
we can. We must maintain our foothold in
the East The nations of Europe have
portioned out the continent of Africa
among themselves and art laying hold upon
China. The future of the cotton manu-
featuring industry of the South depends
upon our maintaining our foothold in the
East"
Mai Hanson declared that civil govern
ments were of the earth's earthly and that
their civil policies could not be based upon
moral principles. The highest duties of
government are the material and financial
welfare of the people, he declared. and not
their political and moral welfare.
The consent Of the governed" does not
weigh and iota with him, Maj. Hanson de-
clared. "What right have these barbarians
to object to government They don't know
what Is good FOR them"
Maj. Hanson contcnded that this gov
eminent must direct It's foreign policy on
practical principles, If il is to seek the
best interests Of its people.
Although his hearers did not agree with
him a whole Mai Hanson received fire.
quent and lively applause.