The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-08-08
the government: they are national in
vestments

eno 6osSrHHout' tuey dTc Ha'o"o' ~
vestments.
Merchant Marine.
| The question of a merchant marine
turns back to the tariff again. to
which all roads seem to lead. and to
our registry laws. which. II coupled
with the tariff. might almost be sup
posed to have been intended to take
the American nag of the seas
Bounties are not necessary. II you
will but undo some of the things that
merchant marine we cannot take our
rightful place In the commerce OF tho
world. Merchants who must depend
upon the carriers of rival mercantile
nations to carry their goods to market
are at a disadvantage in international
trade too manifest to need to be point.
ed out: and our merchants Will not
| long suffer themselves-ought not to
suffer themselves--to be placed at
| such disadvantage. Our industries
have expanded to such point that
they VIII burst their Jackets. II they
cannot find free outlet to the mar
kets OF the world: and they cannot
find such an outlet unless they be CIV
en- ships OF their own to carry their
goods-ships that will go the routes
they want them to go-and perfer the
interests of America In their sailing
orders and their equipment. Our do
nestle markets no longer suffice. We
need foreign markets That is anoth'
er force that is going to break the
, tariff down. The tariff was once
bulwark; now 1t is dam. For trade
is reciprocal; we cannot sell unless
we also buy.
The very fact that we have at last
taken the Panama canal seriously In
hand and are vigorously pushing 1t to-
wards completion Is eloquent of our
re-awakened interest in international
trade. We are not building the canal
and pouring out million upon million
OF money upon its construction merely
to establish water connection be.
tween the two coasts of the continent,
important and desirable as that may
be, particularly from the point OF
view of naval defense. 1t is meant to
be a great international highway. Il
would be a little ridiculous II We
should build 1t and then have 10 ships
to send through It, There have been
years when not single ton Of freight
passed through the great Suez canal
In an American bottom. so empty are
hn 90
We must mean to put an end to that
kind OF thing or we would not be cut
ting new canal at cur very doors
merely for the use Of our men-of-war.
We shall not manage the revival by
the mere paltry device Of tolls We
must build and buy ships in competl.
ton with the world We can do 1t II
We will but give ourselves leave.
There Is another duty which the
Democratic party has shown itself
people to perceive. the duty of govern
ment to share in promoting agricul-
tural, industrial, vocational education
in every way possible within its con.
stitutional powers. No other platform
has given this intimate vision OF
party's duty.
Free to Serve the People.
In concluding the governor said:
A presidential campaign may easily
degenerate into a mere personal con.
test and so lose its real dignity and
Significance. There is no indispensable
man. The government will not col.
lapse and go to pieces II any one of
the gentlemen who are seeking to be
entrusted with its guidance should be
left at home. But men are instru
ments. We are as important as the |
cause We represent. and In order to
be important must really represent a |
cause. What is our cause? The peo. |
pies cause? That Is easy to say. but I
what does 1t mean? The common as |
against any particular interest what. |
ever? Yes, but tht. too, needs trans. |
lation into acts and policies We rep
resent the desire to set up an unen.
tangled government, government
that cannot be used for private pur.
poses, either in the field OF business or
in the field of politics; government
that will not tolerate the use OF the
organization of great party to serve
the personal aims and ambitions of
any individual, and that will not per.
NIT legisltiou to be employed to fur.
Their any private interest. 1t is a
great conception but | am free to
serve 1t. as you also are. | could not
have accepted nomination which left
me bound to any man or any group OF
men. No man can be Just who il not
free; and no man who has to show
favors ought TO undertake the solemn
responsibility OF government in any
rank or post whatever, least OF all
in the supreme post OF president OF
the United States.
To be free 1t Is not necessarily TO
be wise. But wisdom comes with
counsel, with the frank and free con.
ference of untrammeled men united
in the common interest Should | be
entrusted with the great office of
president. | would seek counsel wbe,.
ever 1t could be had upon free terms.
| know the temper of the great con.
vention which nominated me; I know
the temper OF the country that lay
back OF that convention and smoke
through it, heed with deep thank.
fulness the message you bring me
from 1t. | feel that | am surrounded
by men whose principles ami ambi.
tons are those of true servants of the
people. | thank God, and will take
courage.
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Scotland n Silyor ,,,o,Iot 49,,