The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-03-26
LAURENs, s. c., Mar. 90, 1902.
That OdiOus Subsidy.

Every political party fears public
opinion. 1t is natural, and tho truth
of the assertion need not be questioned
because 1T Is borne out in numerous
instances by history,-examples OF
which can be easily obtained. Now,
that the Subsidy Bill has passed the
S~enate-and it will doubtless pass the
House with lightning-like rapidity-
we are anxious to note what the results
OF the measure, SO intolerable to Dem
ocrats, will be, as reflected by the opin-
ions of our entire people.
The bill comes easily under the cap
tion Of class legislation, for the only
good to be derived from it, will be to
swell the Golfers Of q few big steam
ship companies, and practically only
one section of the country will be
benefited. We do not assert that any
measure can apply to all sections of
this country alike. Far from it. But
the aim Of the legislator should be to
legislate in the interests of the many,
rather than Of the few. This bill is
plainly unjust to most Of Il people,
and no doub. the fact will sooner or
later become so we'll known to them
that they Will make a hostile express
sion at the polls. We think we can
see faint signs of disapprobation,-
hardly hostility as yet-in the fact
that six Republican Senators voted
against the Subsidy scheme They were
la rDnIu NVncfnrnnrn fhn,t~h Nn0 Ma,y
England Senator was opposed to it, and
certainly that is the section most
largely affected by the bill. 1t may
be that the action of these men, reflect
ing the views OF their constituents, in
q measure at least, is indicative Of q
growth of sentiment that will frown
upon the sanctioning Of such a rank
steal by a great party. If so, the sem
timent will grow, and become so pow
erful as to cause q disruption of the
Republican psrty, partially at least,
or else a very decided change in its
platform. This will not be sudden or
one soon to occur, for such sentiments
are gradua! growths following the
laws of nature. We believe that the
people will finally see that q subsidy is
eventually wrong in theory as we'll as
morally and politically bad. Surely
the auri sacra flames, the thirst for
gold, that seems to have been the NOV
ing force behind the measure. will not
ultimately triumph. Hardly-though
this vicious measure shows the power
of the trusts.
Xxx
General Nelson A. Miles is about to
lose his job. He asserts he will no
longer hold his commission if the
Hawley Bill to provide a general staff
for the Army passes Congress. Gen.
Miles IS u very plain spoken man, and
severely roasts the administration
whenever he feels so disposed. 1t
seems that this Hawley Bill was intro
duced at the instigation of the war
department. Doubtless it will, as
Miles asserts, be subversive Of the best
interests of that branch of govern.
ment, by creating more opportunities
for favoritism, besides destroying the
unity Of the army. Gen. Miles has
been rebuked several times for express
ing his opinions. When he talks he
invariably incurs the wrath of the
powers that be, and as we remember,
they are imperialistic. Freedom of
speech is fast getting on a parity with
the Declaration of Independence, both
being pretty nearly back numbers.
x*x
Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt does not
seem to inspire the greatest amount Of
confidence in the minds of the wealthy
gentlemen who operate on Wall Street.
He Is too independent, acting or his
own initiative when he thinks his duty
demands 1t without giving the slightest
intimation to the spectators as to what
he intends doing. They are conse-
quently afraid of him, for they cannot
predict what his next step will be. His
recent order to the Attorney General
to bring the railroad merger suit, was
like a cloudburst on the exchanges.
Naturally, now, they have him on trial,
as it were, and If, watching him with
their eagle eyes, he fails to measure up
to their standard OF what q President
should be. The next Presidential nom
ination will be likely to go to Hanna,
Allison or Fairbanks, or some such
man that would not keep the money
sharks on the uneasy bench.
wv
We see in the pap:rs that Senator
Tillman, during his recent visit to
Worcester, Mass entertained for a
MALT hour, the well-known pugilist
Terry McGovern. They snapped
their experiences OF the ring. Nc
Govern heartily approved of the Sem
ators fistic methods and gave him some
liniment for his arm which is still sore.
We suppose the Senator Is getting
posted as to modern ring S%actics, and
If McLaurin crosses his path again,
there will be a more scientific exhibit
ton Of the fistic art. At any rate SEN
ator TilIman wants to be we'll informed
on all subjects and most %assuredly did
not allow this golden opportunity to
learn a few tricks of pug ilism pass by
ungrasped.