The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1908-07-16

in America, I do not admit that the
growth would not have been substanti-
ally a. sHS o. Is ssst SSdo s e have
based on sounder and more enlightened
economic principles The advocates OF
the existing system give undue
credit -. to o.1 the prevailing vail policy
dsvelop aS cave We have S grown n &Ondaa
fully, not because OF an excessive tariff,
superinducing unnatural trade condi-
tons, but in spite Of It The evil incl
dent TO the concentration Of industrial
enterprise and Of the nations wealth in
resultant evil of Industrial monopoly
brought about through the crushing out
of competition and the enforced surren-
der to the trusts OF weaker rivals. are
things easily traceable to our tariff
laws. These laws ought to be radically
revised in the interest Of common
! Justice. common honesty and q square
deal. The revision OF course should be
made wisely, carefully and conservative
ly SO as to do justice alike to manufact-
urers, wage-earners and consumers. The
rights Of all should be conserved as far
| as possible, but laws which operate as
shield to monopoly must be wiped
from the statute books
Again / ask. when can the country
reasonably expect reasonable revision
under republican auspices? In fact. can
IL ever be expected? For twelve years
that party has been In undisputed power,
and clamorous demands have been made
from every ausrter for a revision: and
from no quarter have these demands
come In greater volume or with more
vigorous insistence than from republican
sources In the great agricultural states
Of the west. But year after year. and
have been ignored. Men like Cannon,
Payne, Dalzell and other leaders Of the
House. and men like Aldrich. Gallinger
Lodge and other leaders of the Senate,
There have been republican representa-
tives In both houses from the middle
states, who, knowing the sentiment OF
their constituencies. have urged a revis-
lon upon their party colleagues. but to
no avail. Not long ago. the Globe
admiring friends, whose Washington cor
respondent had interviewed the Speaker
on the subject. declared that:
The speaker gives no encourage
ment TO tariff revision agitation.
Neither does he assent to suSges-
ton put forward recently. that the
next Congress commit itself to future
revision by resolution"
That is a fair statement Of Mr.. Cam
mons well-known attitude. IL the next
house should be republican, Cannon will
name the committees. organize the house
and conduct it's business by the same
arbitrary methods which have distin-
guished him in the past. Congressman
members Of the House. and Mr. Cannon
chief lieutenant. recently declared In
substance against tariff agitation as the
height of folly, and proceeded to say
that IL revision should be had at all
the work would be done by those who
hal In rntantiya nOlirtaQ and along
protective lines, and added that the re-
vision would more likely be upward than
downward. l could quote perhaps a
hundred similar expressions from almost
ellis. With such influences dominant in
the House. and like influences dominant
in the Senate, what sort Of gray matter
has a tariff revisionist In his head who
votes the republican ticket In the hope
that these men have In some mysterious
way become inoculated with the spirit
Of reform? OF course, / am conscious
that even with a democratic president
and house OF representatives, any tarin
act possible of passage would, because
of a compromise But one thing is sure
II the presidency and the House should
be given to the Democrats, tarin Dill,
drawn with the greatest possible care
and framed on just lines, would be sent
to the Senate, and public sentiment
would compel some measure of public
relief. The only hone Of an honest
tariff revision is through the Democratic
party.
THE MERCHANT MARINE.
Not long since the Kansas City Journal
raked me with rough hand over hot
Goals because of something I said to a
reporter of that paper about the Ameri-
can merchant marine. What I said to
tntarytaWaR aornaWhnt me
line of the observations 4 intend now
was 2 tknk u ns':;:-.s.ss -
cial fleet we formerly Y6ssessed,. and
which was one of the glories of the
Republic, was the outgrowth Of Repub-
lican policies, as stupid as they are
selfish, With due respect to the Journal:
which none can dispute that outside of
vessels engaged In coastwise traffic we
have no merchant fleet worthy the name,
and it is a fact that as a maritime
the foot in the list Of nations. No sincere,
intelligent man will contravene the ac-
curacy of that declaration. But in
former times 1t was different. One OF the
things that commanded most the atten-
ton and excited the anxiety of Thomas
Jefferson concerned our maritime inter-
ests. He was an ardent advocate of a
strong merchant marine. He believed
that nothing would add more to the
prestige of the nation or the prosperity
OF the people than great merchant
fleet. going hither and thither across the
seas, bearing the American flag into the
ports of the world exploiting markets
and promoting commercial exchanges
Not only did he regard such fleet as of
the highest. moment because of its great
value as a commercial instrumentality,
but he also regarded 1t as of the greatest
consequence in times of war, for in
Al. - L. 49,
only be used for purposes of military
transportation, but many may be con-
verted into fast auxiliary cruisers. Under
the wise guidance of Mr.. Jefferson and
those who followed him In the presidency,
the American merchant marine grew
apace until the young republic became
the rival of Great Britain, then, as now,
the leading maritime power of the world.
These are historical facts, known of all
men. which none will dispute. Under
terror to the civil war, the merchant ma
rine grew steadily until 1t ranked as one
of the first In the world. Under Repub-
lican policies, which have prevailed since
Perforated and wasted until now II re-
mains as little more than a memory. In
these simple statements Of undisputed
fact. two pictures are presented which
scious power of observation may look
OF the Kansas City Journal. can see
them without the aid of spectacles.
True we have a passably good mer-
chant fleet engaged in the coastwise
trade. This fleet Is made up of vessels
employed in carrying cargoes and pas
sengers along the coast or across the
lakes from one American port to an
other. do not underestimate its value,
although local in its operations. I recog-
nice its Importance and shall always re-
5oice in its prosperity. But is It any
wonder that we have a fairly creditable
coastwise service? Under the law ves-
sells engaged in that traffic have an alb
solute monopoly. Only vessels owned and
built In America can obtain American
registry or ny the nag, and none other
can convey passengers or freight from
one port to another. The situation in
Hawaii furnishes q striking example of
the scope Of this monopoly. Under the