The Washington times., 1902-07-18
Mr.. REID SPEAKS OF
STEAMSHIP MERGER
Cannot See Where Harm to
England Enters In.
ADDRESS AT LIVERPOOL
Tells American Chamber of Commerce
His Views as an On-Looker-Ad-
vantages of Neutral Food Fleet in
Time of War to Great Britain.

LIVERPOOL, July 1.-THE centenary
of the American chamber Of commerce
of Liverpool. was celebrated tonight by
banquet, at which Mr.. Whitelaw Reid,
who was the American special envoy to
the coronation. was the principal speak
er. He said in part:
IF you have sustained the threatened
dangers of the recent past you can sure
ly face with equanimlty the terrors of
Mr.. Morgan. 1t is not for me to speak
for that most capable man or for the
great masses of ca7ital that he directs
and the great enterprises. largely Amer
lean. which he represents.
No Criticism to Venture.
"still less would 1 think of venturing
an opinion as to the wisdom or unwis-
dom of the huge combinations he is or
ganizing or as to their desirability for
investors. their safety for the business
world. or their effect either on national
interests or international relations. AS
mere onlooker 1 venture to suggest
that the apprehension aroused by the
his name is identified. appear Somewhat
exaggerated.
In no case does your power 70 secure
at will for your naval service as many
cruisers as formerly seem to be IN the
least imperiled. Ships built in your ship
yards are forbidden to -"-s to our flag
by law almost as old as our history
and almost as hard to change as our
Constitution. If you accept what you
think is the glcomiest view of the
future control of the Atlantic carrying
trade ii does not follow that New York
would use that control to weaken the
port most important to it. Even moLop-
olies are not su--osed TO thrive by dam
aging their best customers.
Monopoly Fanciful.
Besides, monopoly in this case is
fanciful. 1t does not and cannot ex-
ist. Nature abhors a vacuum. and just
so organized society abhors monopoly.
All the forces of nature fight against
any large formation OF the one. and all
the forces OF civilization against the
other.
None has been created in this bust
ness. and l think none is desired. 1
know none can long be successfully
maintained. But is it necessarily al
together disadvantageous TO the trade OF
this great port to have at least some
certainty as to its business, some knowl-
edge OF what ii can count on six months
in advance. Surely nothing can come
nearer 70 reducing legitimate trade to
gambling than such features of the old
system as violent fluctuations in freights
cry competition, followed by efforts to
recoup later by sudden combinations or
an excessive advance.
Safety in Conservatism.
When a company of men. no matter
who, invest their aggregate capital. so
enormous. in materials so perishable,
while all the forces of trade tend to dis
courage the growth OF rivals, the very
law of such a company's being is steady
and conservative management, together
with falr-minded liberality. which is the
necessary offspring OF enlightened sell
fishness. Consider besides the advan-
tages to a nation which Is sometimes
said to be iolated. and which is certain
ly not always loved, OF a great neutral
fleet in which its food might be borne
safely in spite of any possible enemy.
II said any possible enemy. for 90 not
for a moment admit the possibility of
war again between our nations. What
ever else may happen that is no longer
thinkable. Nature revolts against 1t. All
the vast interests of that vast body OF
English speaking peoples. who. in both
hemispheres and all the continents and
seas lead the world upward, forbid 1t.
No One World Power.
We talk from time to time of this or
that government approaching situation
where, like ancient Rome, it can govern
the world. That is idle dross. History
does not thus repeat itself. Neither your
own great nation nor ours will ever gov
ern the world, or seek 10, but the time
does vlsibly draw near when solidarity of
race. II not of government. is TO prevail.
There can then be no question as to
what race is to press to the front in the
material. intellectual. and moral progress
of the world. There is no question that
its kindred people will march together.
proud of whichever is foremost and filed
only with generous emulation. Each will
lead the other in one common, inspiring
advance"