The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1901-06-07
STILL THE SHIP SUBSIDY.
Republicans Quietly Arranging TO
Pass the Ubiquitous Measure
at Next Session

No great strain j. put upon popu-
lar ereduliiy in accepting the state
ment from an authorized republican
source that arrangements are being
quietly made to pass the ship subsidy
inquiry al the next session of congress.
The prime and most active advocates
of The measure have never thought of
abandoning heir original purpose and
are now quietly making an effort un-
der the most approved methods 10 ac-
auire the necessary support i'm con
gress. This is 10 be had on acceptable
terms. provided the people can Ice rec
onciled 10 this further drain upon their
resources. and IT is largely with the
local molders OF public sentiment with
in the republican party that the piu-
tocratic lobbyists are laboring. They
are not footing fanfares from noisy
horns. firing cannon or beating TOM
toms. but employing I he quiet methods
of the literary bureau.
What they seem 10 handle as their
knockdown argument amounts. when
analyzed. 10 a point blank assertion
that a Nicaragua canal will make il IL
solutely imperative that the merchant
marine be placed i'm control of our car
rving trade. through The bounty of ne
government. The answer TO this cog
matte assertion is that the canal. even
when built. will have little To do with
the expansion of our sales in foreign
markets. for they only take such sur
plus Of our production as they must
have. and would take no more if the
American fleet were larger than all
the rest combined. But if il be granted
that the isthmian waterway is going To
make a greater call upon our resources
and means of trans portation. that fact
will in itself make seagoing vessel
property rcmunerative and invite cor
porate capital without reference to
government aid. The fact i that the
canal is a remote contingency when
considered in connection with present
conditions. and can only be used i'm this
connection for purposes that are nm
justified and misleading.
The purchase of a large English
transportation line by the syndicate
was made without any reference 10
the canal. Yet we have no doubt that
| if a Jew subsidy bin be introduced next
term il will make liberal provision for
this same feet. But that it is in itself
a paying venture is evident beyond dis
pute in the fact that the shrc,yd pro-
moter went after ii and paid IL per
cent. more than the shares showed ii
TO be worth i'm the Judgment of lis Eng
| liSh owners. Another fact hat should
tend 10 set the popular mind against
the proposed subsidies j. the fact that
the movement 10 capture the people
is under the personal direction OF
President Griscom. of the Interna-
tional Navigation company. the man
sgho had modestly and adroitly man
Rgsd 10. feather his own. nest. inside
aud out. by the provisions of the bill
defeated by the last.congreSs.
II win be recalled that the smooth
Mr.. GriScom had so arranged his hop
pers as To catch all but the bran and
mddlingS of the subsidy grist He had
way the best of all the proposed leeis-
| lation, retroactive. present and fut ure.
Either by connivance or an intuition
I hat can discount miracles. he had all
inside Information and had his inter
ests in a position 10 rake down the
| bulk of the subsidies. He had NO rival
: the prince of era bhcrS. He dictated
the bill. He enlisted its powerful and
wealthy supporters. he formed the re-
| ports of committees and inspired the
speeches of the subsidy champions on
the floor. Yet he had the humility OF
Uriah Heap when interviewed for pub
| lie information. knowledge of what
| he has brought about in the alienation
| of national statesmen from their al
| legiance TO the people. and Of the mo-
tives that actuated him. should dis
credit him and his movement 10 re-
vive the subsidy scheme.-D Detroit Free
| Press.