The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-08-11
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION
Speech Hon. John NJ Msrehead in the House of Repseen
tatives June l6-Patform Pledges Enacted Into Law
Vigorous Answer to Congressman Pous Speech-Raps Re
ferce S. stcm.

Nv friend, the gentleman from the /
>sr,h District. next turns to attack /
-. attitude Of the Republican party !
IN favor of building UP our merchant |
marine by the methods known as
-r.D subsidy. Knowing that the
trIding up OF high-ciass and ef-
rr.cnf merchant marine il OF the
s-.atest Importance to the extend
srg Of American trade, and especial
fg the expectation OF cotton goods,
" webb is forced TO say that he
s,.grs the contamination OF that
rlan. l quote from his speech as fol-
lows
There is no more anxious than I
a. sec a general rehabilitation of our
ue-rhant marine on broad American
rroz-the restoration Of our Amer
Jean policy"
Continuing, he declares that the
Continuing, he declares that the
Democratic method for building up
merchant marine is through dis
eliminating tariff duties in favor OF
toms" Further on he says:
We Democrats also stand for the
right of an American citizen TO buy
his ship anywhere he can buy it
cheapest and register it in the Unit
ted States and fly on it the American
flag"
The Democratic bill now before
Congress provides discriminating du-
ties in favor of American ships, and
the right to buy ships anywhere and
fly on them the American flag, but it
is doubtful whether many Republi-
cans will vote for it."
Let it be noted that Mr.. Webb de-
clares that he and his party are as
strong for building up an American
merchant marine as is the Republi-
can party, and takes issue with US,
not on the necessity for a merchant
marine, but only on the method to
secure the result. In this connec-
ton | can not fail to observe that
the Democratic party is constantly
declaring in its platform for some
things most wholesome and most de-
sirable, but that it has never been a
success in keeping its promises, and
has never shown ability, even when
attempting to keep its promises, tC
devise a wise and practical method
for accomplishing the result. That
this statement is historically true is
known to everybody, and here in this
matter we again have concrete il
lustration of that truth.
Now, let us stop and analyZe for a
moment the proposed Democratic
methods of establishing this much
desired merchant marine which ev-
erybOdy and all parties favor. Mr.
Webb says that his party proposes tc
do it by discriminating tariff duties
in favor of cargoes brought in Amer,
lean bottoms" Waht does thai
mean? 1t means that as an induce
ment to American citizens to build
American ships and sail them under
the American flag, for the carrying
Of exports to other countries anC
bringing imports from those coun
tries back to us, that the cargoes O.
goods which they bring to us from
other countries. shall come in at {
lower rate of tariff duty than if the
good were brought in vessels bull
and owned by foreigners and f1yins
foreign flag.
Let US see further what thi
means. It means that if we have to
day duty of % per cent on foreign
made cotton goods or foreign-mad'
furniture or foreign-made goods o
any kind, that then we will lowe
that rate down to point low enough
to induce American labor and Ameri
can capital to build American ship
to bring in those good instead o
permitting them to be brought il
foreign bottoms. How low does tn
Democratic party propose to reduc
that rate? Suppose we lower tn
% per cent tariff duty to Is pc
cent, and that does not build up
merchant marine. Then, suppos
we lower that duty to 10 per CEN
and that does not result in buildin
up a merchant marine. Then, TO
lowing that Democratic argument t
its logical conclusion, we must lowe
the duty to nothing and establis
absolute free trade in order to Undue
American capital and American Ia
Dor to build American vessels
float the American flag. Now, wha
does that mean? 1t means that tn
Democratic proposition is this: Tha
We will pull down the fostering an
protecting walls of our tariff systeI
so as to put our cotton industry an
every other industry and all the Ia
Dor employed in this country, G
every kind and description, one
dead level with the pauper labor i
the world in order that one class ma
benefit thereby, and that is the me
VINO build and own the ships.
Is there single American citize
who wants that done except the mos