New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-08
1 NEEDFCL EXPERIMENT.

In his Chicago speech last Tuesday Secretary
Shaw expressed his confidence that national
prosperity, as we have been experiencing it,
viii not cease. So long as we continue to con-
sumo the equivalent of % per cent Of all we
produce. he said there need be no fear Of a re-
action. But firmly established as be described
Cur present position 10 be, he was yet careful
10 urge that everything practicable be done TO
expand and proloEg the nations prosperity; and
Of timely aids in spreading commerce and ere
ating new markets for potential SURPRISES he
significantly put first and foremost the creation
Of an American ocean-going merchant feet.
Only by building and maintaining steamship
lines 30 South American and South African
countries, the Secretary of the Treasury argued,
could the United States obtain proper share
Of the trade sure TO be developed in these new
and promising markets. But the successful op-
Grafton OF South American and South African
steamship lines was conditioned on liberal gov
eminent subsidies. and these subsidies Mr..
Shaw would grant on the grounds Of public
policy which prompted Congress 10 aid the
railroads in bridging the desert wastes between
the Missouri and the Pacific The govern
ments gifts 10 the railroads, generous az they
were, have never been regretted: for they hast
eBed 10y perhaps generation the conquest of
the West and repaid the nation at large by
adding UNNECESSARILY 20 it, wealth. its power.
its internal commerce and its agricultural and
industrial resources.
In The same way an initial outlay on sub
sidized American steamship lines. which will
be The pioneers of an American trade in new OF
only half exploited markets will bring its sure
return in national benefits IL will stimulate an
exchange Of goods with countries whose mar
kets we can enter under exceptionally favoring
trade conditions II will turn our industrial
energies toward supplying other wants than
those Of our own household. II viii carry our
export trade beyond the tiny 10 per cent margin
Of our net production. At which il now halts.
and give the American merchant and workman
the benefit Of an expanding national commerce
and q constantly increasing national output
Secretary Shaw seems 10 fight little shy of
indorsing the Payne-Hanna subsidy bill which
passed the Senate hut failed in the House iu
the LHNIlth Congress. Il am not mourning
the defeat Of any ship subsidy bin" he told his
auditors in Chicago. Evidently he inclines tow
ard some liberal mail subsidy scheme which
viii build and keep afoat two or three Arneri-
can lines 70 South America and South Africa
He Heads for the creation Of American shipping
TO enter and capture undeveloped rather than
developed foreign markets. But his argument.
g carried 10 it's logical conclusion is one for the
liberal minded and liberal handea regeneration
81 our seagoing marine. and for It's employment
g. a weapon In the war Oh Us for CONNER
cial and industrial supremacy.
Only our intense absorption in home produc-
ton aud consumption. perhaps, has prevented
rs from repeating on the ocean our experiment
in transcontinental m broad building We must
bridge the sea as We bridged the desert and the
mountains: and we must begin 10 do IL soon Il
we are TO establish that Increasing outlet for
our surplus products to which can look in