Arizona daily citizen., 1901-08-15
THE POLITICS OF ROBBERY.


is a Sen tor of the United States,
Shelby Cullom of the chin whisker
and the Lincoln look, has been to
Canton communing with our sa-
cred William. When Shelby got
as near his home as Chicago on
the return trip he began to tell
things.
OF course after the dose of Will
liam, Shelby talked William, and
this is what makes anything that
he says of Importance.
The most interesting feature of
Cuilom's S talk concerned the legis-
lation of the next Congress, and
was specifically his prediction that
the ship subsidy steal would be
passed. When this infamous
measure was first introduced it was
universally received as the most
fragrant piece of class legislation
that has ever been submitted to
Congress- While in perfect ac-
cord with Republican policy, it
was Republican policy bereft of all
its fascinating draperies and naked
in all its hideousness. Many Re-
publican papers sounded note of
alarm, and even the independent
press denounced the measure as
dangerous affront to the popular
sense of public decency. The Re-
publican leaders, notir & the signs
of storm and fearing to burden the
party with any further iniquity
upon the verge of national c IN
paign, decided to postpone action
until some more auspicious occa-
sion.
Now, if Cullom IS trustworthy,
this nefarious scheme of legisla-
tive robbery is to be considered
favorably during the next session
of Congress. The Republicans are
in a majority and they are for it.
The Democratic minority which is
unanimously opposed, can only
make it's oppos tion formidable
with the cooperation of the peo-
pie.
Aside from the immortality of
the measure, it is unAmerican.
ANY measure which takes from
the whole people for the aggran-
dizement of clique is class legis-
lation, and class legislation is OBJ
noxious to the American principle
of equality. Equal rights to all
and special privileges to none" has
always been the true American
shibboleth. Now the Republicans
are determined to subsidize class.
The farmer and miner and laborer
are not benefited. The average
business man receives no advan.
tage. But these all-farmer, min
or, laborer and business men-are
compelled to contribute portion
of their earnings toward this sub
sidy. And who constitute the BEN
eficiaries2 A trust hes now gained
control over the ship building in
dustry on the great lakes, and an
other of far greater magnitude is
now in process offormation for the
purpose of controlling the ship
ping industry on the sea. Within
short time few millionaires will
have mono poly of the industry
which is to be subsidized. Thus
the whole American people will be
legally looted in the interest of n
few unscrupulous pirates. The
people could stand the spoliation
in this one case but for the dan
gerous precedent that would be
formed. When the subsidy prin-
ciple has once been accepted it
will rapidly spread in its applica-
tion until we have a subsidized
class draining the vitality of the
whole people. Senator Vest OF
Missouri in a recent article stated
the proposition fairly when he
said:
Absolute equality before the Law
is the basis of free institutions. II
. bounty to a cotton planter. {
wheat grower or a miner woulC
violate this equality, how is it tha
bounty to ship-builders or own
0rs would not? III we open th,
national treasury TO one industry
by what right can we close it t,
anotherY And who is to limit tn
end aud amountY
The Republican party has viola