The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-26
DEFENCE OF BoUNTIES.
senator Depew Speaks in Favor of
the Hanna-Fryc Bill.

senator Depew Speaks in Favor of
the Hanna-Fryc Bill.
Senator Depew spoke yesterday upon the
benefits to be secured through the passage
Of the HannatFrye Ship Subsidy bill. The
/ bounty eulogy was delivered to empty
galleries and few Senators remained in
their seats.
Mr. Depew stated that the United States
was today the banker nation of the world
Our railway lines are feature nf our
greatness said he. and have gisen US
an internal commerce greater than that of
all the nations put together"
He then stated that America owes all
that it is today to the wisdom of Washing
tion, Hamilton, and Jefferson in the initial
| legislation which they conceived for de-
feloping American industries and Ameri-
can industrial independence by the policy
of protection.
In the 100 years" said he, there have
/ been a few deviations from this begin
ming, each one Of them followed by panic,
industrial paralysis and general distress.
Since the close Of the civil war in 1865, ex-
cept for the experiment under the Wilson
bill of 1893, the policy Of the fathers has
been the practice Of the country In this
thirty-five years we have witnessed the
most remarkable part Of our country's
growth. the development of our resources
has furnished ample opportunities for the
enterprise of our people. and for the use
ful employment OF their wealth, and ne
cessitated the borrowing of large amounts
OF foreign capital.
I'VE have beec so absorbed in produc-
tion that we have neglected utterly the
equally important question, If we are to
be world power. with all which that
means, Of cur position upon the ocean.
In other words. our development and
growth have been one-sided. We have
crowded upon, our rails, our lakes, our
rivers, and our canals an output from
every avenue of production which must
find markets or produce stagnatlon and
distress beyond cur dreams, without any
provision. so far as our Government or
our people or our flag is concerned for
its carriage beyond our own seaboard
The fam. the factory and the mine have
filed the warehouses and the decks of
our Atlantic and Pacific coasts with their
contributions to national wealth. employ
ment. and the happiness of our people,
and left their transportation to Europe,
to Asia, to Africa, to South America. and
to Australia, to the greed of foreign ship
owners. to the protection of foreign flags,
and to the hazards of foreign wars
"A general collision. which is often
predicted in thh European newspapers
among the great Powers of Europe, in
the mad haste CT their navies and armies
TO outstrip each other in the acqusi-
tion OF spheres of influence in Asia and
Africa. would act upon the United States
who might be simply a spectator OF the
conflict, rs an embargo upon our coast
We would BE- shut up within ourselves as
absolutely as if the navies of the world
were bloekading our ports.''
He hen got down TO the advantages of
the shipping bounty and sadly mourned
the decline Of the American merchant
marine
He insisted that this was patriotic
qLestion-of aiding the merchant marine.
He showed that Germany and Great Brit
ain, by paying big bounties. had secured
great tonnage.
Nations in all centuries have warred
with each other" said he. upon uues-
tions of territory or dynasty, but national
jealousies, friendships. and enmities are
measured now by commercial riYalries or |
alliances. Partnerships for the promotion !
of business are Impossible among differ |
ent nations and alien peoples and there |
lore the industrial war viii be more acute |
each year. Already We have the echoes |
OF 1t IN the speech Of the Austrian states |
man advising a European alliance against |
us. in the predictions of the French econ |
Omist VI. Leroy Beaulieu. Of the menace |
We are to Industrial Europe. and In the |
utterances within few days of Lord Rose
b-~y and Mr. Chamberlain in their warn |
ings to the British manufacturers and |
british producers 70 the effect that the |
United States menaees their position and |
growth ard may de:hro1e them from the |
markets which Great Britain now occu-
pies.
With the construction of the Nicaragua |
Canal. which Will be completed within the |
next few years, the necessity for an aux
iliary feet and a merchant marine be-
comes s'ill greater Whether we look at |
this question as matter OF national de-
fence in time of war. or consider It as
one of the factors in the solution Of our
Industrial problems as they arise from
time TO time. or sum up the possibilities |
for the American farm and factory and
mine in the wants present and poter.faI
Of the millions in the Orient. he benefi-
cent influence Of this measure becomes
more real