my memories of eighty years-第37章
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On our way home we stopped for luncheon at a place outside of Charleston。 During the luncheon an earthquake shook the table and rattled the plates。 I was called upon to make the farewell address for the Gridiron Club to the State of South Carolina。 Of course the earthquake and its possibilities gave an opportunity for pathos as well as humor； and Tillman was deeply affected。 When we were on the train he came to me and with great emotion grasped my hand and said： 〃Chauncey Depew； I was mistaken about you。 You are a damn good fellow。〃 And we were good friends until he died。
I asked Tillman to what he owed his phenomenal rise and strength in the conservative State of South Carolina。 He answered： 〃We in our State were governed by a class during the colonial period and afterwards until the end of the Civil War。 They owned large plantations； hundreds of thousands of negroes； were educated for public life； represented our State admirably； and did great service to the country。 They were aristocrats and paid little attention to us poor farmers； who constituted the majority of the people。 The only difference between us was that they had been colonels or generals in the Revolutionary War； or delegates to the Continental Congress or the Constitutional Convention； while we had been privates； corporals； or sergeants。 They generally owned a thousand slaves； and we had from ten to thirty。 I made up my mind that we should have a share of the honors； and they laughed at me。 I organized the majority and put the old families out of business； and we became and are the rulers of the State。〃
Among the most brilliant debaters of any legislative body were Senators Joseph W。 Bailey； of Texas； and John C。 Spooner； of Wisconsin。 They would have adorned and given distinction to any legislative body in the world。 Senator Albert J。 Beveridge； of Indiana； and Senator Joseph B。 Foraker； of Ohio； were speakers of a very high type。 The Senate still has the statesmanship； eloquence； scholarship； vision； and culture of Senator Lodge； of Massachusetts。
One of the wonders of the Senate was Senator W。 M。 Crane； of Massachusetts。 He never made a speech。 I do not remember that he ever made a motion。 Yet he was the most influential member of that body。 His wisdom； tact； sound judgment； encyclopaedic knowledge of public affairs and of public men made him an authority。
Senator Hanna； who was a business man pure and simple； and wholly unfamiliar with legislative ways； developed into a speaker of remarkable force and influence。 At the same time； on the social side； with his frequent entertainments； he did more for the measures in which he was interested。 They were mainly； of course； of a financial and economic character。
One of the characters of the Senate； and one of the upheavals of the Populist movement was Senator Jeff。 Davis； of Arkansas。 Davis was loudly； vociferously； and clamorously a friend of the people。 Precisely what he did to benefit the people was never very clear； but if we must take his word for it； he was the only friend the people had。 Among his efforts to help the people was to denounce big business of all kinds and anything which gave large employment or had great capital。 I think that in his own mind the ideal state would have been made of small landowners and an occasional lawyer。 He himself was a lawyer。
One day he attacked me； as I was sitting there listening to him； in a most vicious way； as the representative of big corporations； especially railroads； and one of the leading men in the worst city in the world； New York； and as the associate of bankers and capitalists。 When he finished Senator Crane went over to his seat and told him that he had made a great mistake； warned him that he had gone so far that I might be dangerous to him personally； but in addition to that； with my ridicule and humor； I would make him the laughing…stock of the Senate and of the country。 Jeff； greatly alarmed； waddled over to my seat and said： 〃Senator Depew； I hope you did not take seriously what I said。 I did not mean anything against you。 I won't do it again； but I thought that you would not care； because it won't hurt you； and it does help me out in Arkansas。〃 I replied： 〃Jeff； old man； if it helps you； do it as often as you like。〃 Needless to say； he did not repeat。
I have always been deeply interested in the preservation of the forests and a warm advocate of forest preservers。 I made a study of the situation of the Appalachian Mountains； where the lumberman was doing his worst； and millions of acres of fertile soil from the denuded hills were being swept by the floods into the ocean every year。 I made a report from my committee for the purchase of this preserve； affecting； as it did； eight States； and supported it in a speech。 Senator Eugene HaIe； a Senate leader of controlling influence； had been generally opposed to this legislation。 He became interested； and； when I had finished my speech； came over to me and said： 〃I never gave much attention to this subject。 You have convinced me and this bill should be passed at once； and I will make the motion。〃 Several senators from the States affected asked for delay in order that they might deliver speeches for local consumption。 The psychological moment passed and that legislation could not be revived until ten years afterwards； and then in a seriously modified form。
I worked very hard for the American mercantile marine。 A subsidy of four million dollars a year in mail contracts would have been sufficient； in addition to the earnings of the ships； to have given us lines to South and Central America； Australia； and Asia。
Shakespeare's famous statement that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet has exceptions。 In the psychology of the American mind the word subsidy is fatal to any measure。 After the most careful investigation； while I was in the Senate； I verified this statement； that a mail subsidy of four millions a year would give to the United States a mercantile marine which would open new trade routes for our commerce。 This contribution would enable the ship…owners to meet the losses which made it impossible for them to compete with the ships of other countries； some having subsidies and all under cheaper expenses of operation。 It would not all be a contribution because part of it was a legitimate charge for carrying the mails。 The word subsidy； however； could be relied upon to start a flood of fiery oratory； charging that the people of the United States were to be taxed to pour money into the pockets of speculators in New York and financial crooks in Wall Street。
We have now created a mercantile marine through the Shipping Board which is the wonder and amazement of the world。 It has cost about five hundred millions。 Part of it is junk already； and a part available is run at immense loss； owing to discriminatory laws。 Recently a bill was presented to Congress for something like sixty millions of dollars to make up the losses in the operations of our mercantile marine for the year。 While a subsidy of four millions under private management would have been a success but was vetoed as a crime； the sixty millions are hailed as a patriotic contribution to public necessity。
A river and harbor bill of from thirty to fifty millions of dollars was eagerly anticipated and enthusiastically supported。 It was known to be a give and take； a swap and exchange； where a few indispensable improvements had to carry a large number of dredgings of streams； creeks； and bayous； which never could be made navigable。 Many millions a year were thrown away in these river and harbor bills； but four millions a year to restore the American mercantile marine aroused a flood of indignant eloquence； fierce protest； and wild denunciation of capitalists； who would build and own ships； and it was always fatal to the mercantile marine。
Happily the war has； among its benefits； demonstrated to the interior and mountain States that a merchant marine is as necessary to the United States as its navy； and that we cannot hope to expand and retain our trade unless we have the ships。
I remember one year when the river and harbor bill came up for passage on the day before fin
