Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-06-15
WHEREIN LIES GopD GOrERNMExr.
Federalism An Essentially wasteful and Pro
Utcate Administration

niGate Administration.
Lieutenant Governor Z. r. Black in Harrisburg
Patriot
Economy aud purity in federal expendi-
lures flow naturally and necessarily from the
fundamental Democratic doctrine of strict
construction OF the federal constitution. 1t
follows that just in proportion as our repre-
sentatives are Democratic in the true Jetter-
sonian sense, will they be scrupulous in rails
ing only so such revenue as may be needed
for clearly constitutional purposes, and exact
and nice in the appropriation of it to those
specific objects Why lit millions from the
pockets OF the people for subsidzinG private
enterprises, for promoting local jobs, or for
intruding the central authority, with its cor
rupting and whitening gifts, upon the COM
mon school system of the states, ii the fed
eral government, being a limited poll tical
corporation, Is IN truth, as we maintain, for
hidden to touch those objects at all
What Democrat, upon his oath, can vote
to tax the labor OF his country for pur-
poses like these Any intelligent man who
will carefully look into the federal statutes
for raising money, and then into the annual
statutes distributing this money to the multi
tude OF objects, upon which it is bestowed
with an imperial freedom out of all keeping
with the Republican simplicity of our fore
fathers, would readily perceive where mil
lions upon millions might be cut OIL and left
IN the hands of those who have earned it, by
the rigid application of our Democratic rule
OF strict construction, itself expressly en-
bodied in the tenth amendment This rule
in Just so far as il is honestly followed dimin-
Ishes taxes, reduces expenses, destroys
patronage, and generally banishes eXtraga-
gance, Jobbery, personal corruption and OFF,
cial scandal. This is the simple reason why
any Democratic Congress Is more frugal.
and, in comparative freedom from scandal,
more decent than any Feieralist Congress.
Ii Is the reason why there has been vast
improvement in the moral tone of Wash
lngtOn since the partial restoration of De-
mocracy in lS7i; and it is the reason why
the Credit MObilier episodes, the land grants
the subsidies, and the other phenomenal
scandals of federal Legislation, are con-
fined to the period between Democratic ex-
clusion and Democratic restoration. !
must admit, however, that some Demo-
cratic Houses are more Democratic than
others, and 1t IL grievOus pity that they
are not all equally mindful of the solemn
truths delivered 10 us by our father, Jeffer-
son.
Many years ago-loug before things had
reached their present pass of power and
splendor at Washngton-I was struck by
singular remark of the greatest man aud the
purest Dem )crat ever heard speak-a JET
iersCulan hJ was, as sound as Jefferson hun
self These buildings" said he, looking
over the Capital City, ''are far too fine. No
government, ana especially no legislature,
houst7t In such splender as this can he as
simple and frugal as they should be. All
The surroundings incite them to eXtravagant
expenditures wholly inconsistent with the
character this government was intended to
tear. Had / the power | would raZe these
marble piles TO the ground and put our leg
l.iatuTe, and all our officials, in the plainest
kind Of buildings, " ith plenty of room, but
no gIldings. ItwOuId go a long way to make
them pure and To make them economical"
There II a vast deal of true philosophy in
this, and believe it is the instinct of the
general mind as well the conviction of en-
lightened reflection.
But this is not all: Democratic doctrine
leads to economy in state and municipal
government much as 1t does in federal al
fairs, though in the one case it has not found
place in the fundamental law, rs it has in
the other That community is governed
best which Is governed least; so said Thomas
Jefferson, and so say we all Now, the less
government we have the less money il is
gong TO take TO support II, and the lighter
the burden of the taxpayer. And nearly
all Democrats, raised and schoOled in our
faith, as 1t has descended to US from
the men who first liberated these glorious
commonwealths from the crown OF Eng
land and then set them together in a limited
out perpetual union, Will agree that no
government state or federal, has a right
To exact from the people more than NAV be
apsoiutely necessary for the real objects of
justice, the preservation of domestic peace
ana the general defense. And these OBJ
Jects, If we are entirely faithful to our
sacred trusts, must be accomplished
with an expenditure just sufficient and
no more. All beyond that is extravaganza
and almost inevitably vice. / think this
like strict construction of the federal consti-
tuition is undisputed Democratic doctrine,
ana like that not merely wholesome, but
well-nigh essential to good government and
pure. Is not this likewise the reason why
"the trail OF the serpent is less broad on
1.-THE hill at Harrisburg when the Demo
crats are In power than during those darken-
ed periods OF misfortune when Federalists,
Know Mornings, and Republicans are per.
nltted, IN consequence of our sins, to hold
their carnlvals there? / have pointed ont
the contrast between Federalist and Demo
cratic rule at Washington. i now ask YOU
" make the same contrast at Harrisburg
Ihink OF what our state government was be-
lore lss2, and think OF what it has been
since. 1t Is not worth while to pursue the
theme. The history has been made, the
record is completed, aud the book is open 10
every taxpayer. He will take his choice be-
tween parties, and IL he is yery anxious
:" TO pay his money" he will take the party
which went out in lSS2, and not the one
which came in in that blessed wear of
grace.