Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-29
Shows Too Much indifference
in Regard to Politics.
Ex PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S
Speech Before the Providence, R. l., CONNER.
caI Club Saturday Last.
Private and Special Legislation was the
Theme of the Evening of One of
the Most Distinguished Assem-
blies Ever Gathered.
A Distinguished Assembly.

PROVIDENCE. r. l., June 21.--The dinner
of the Commercial club this evening was
the last of the season. and was marked by
one of the most distinguished assemblies
that ever sat at its board. The company
, numbered 10. The special guests of the
evening were ex-President Grover Cleve
and and Richard Watson Glider of the
Century.
Private and Special Legislation was the
theme of the evening.
Ex-President Cleveland was the last
speaker of the evening, and said:
Il never attend a gathering of bust
ness men and recall the restless activity
which they present and the strain of the
brain which they willingly bear for the
sake of profit and success without wonder
ing that they are content to be so thoroughly
engrossed in the immediate details of their
occupation as often to lead 20
HABITUAL NEGLECT
of those affairs which. though outside OF
their contingencies, exchange and manu-
factories, have an intimate relation to their
prosperity No one can be oblivious of the
fact that matters of legislation and the
course of governmental policy are so i'm
portant to the business in which we engage
that our individual efforts in its prosecution
may be easily promoted or thwarted by the
conduct of those who make and execute our
laws. Yet in business circles we find but
few men VINO are willing to forego their
ordinary work to engage in the business of
legislation. Indeed. this unfortunate condi-
ton has reached such pass that our bust
ness men think and often speak of politics as
SOMETHING QUITE OUTSIDE
OF their interest and duty, which, if not
actually disreputable, may well be left to
those who have taste for 1t. If it is well
that our legislation be influenced by the en-
frightened and practical business sense of
the people, our business men must see to it
that those they trust are chosen rs their law
makers. If they are Indifferent on
the subject the vast interests which so
greatly concern them and all their fellow
citizens will be left at the mercy of those
who neither understand them or care for
them; and / don't believe these dangers
will be effectively averted until they are
better understood by the people and more
thoroughly resisted. 1t seems to me that
private and special legislation, as it at pres
ent prevails, is an evil chargeable TO a
great extent to the listlessness and
CARELEssNEss OF THE PEOPLE.
There is kind of legislation which, upon
its face and concededly. is private and
special, and which engrosses far too much
of the time and attention of our lawmakers.
The people have right to claim from their
representatives their best care and atten-
ton to the great subjects of legislation in
ested This is denied them if their repre-
sentatives take their seats burdened
with private bills in which their immediate
neighbors are exclusively interested and
which they feel, they emust be diligent
in advancing if they would secure
their continuance in public life.
They are thus led by the ext
gencies of the situation, as they view it, not
only to the support of private bills of gues-
tionable propriety, but to the neglect of
study and understanding of important ques-
tons involved,
IN GENERAL LEGISLATION.
Nor does the perniciouS effect of such spe-
cial and private legislation stop here. The
importance of successful championship of
these private bliss measured by the stand
ard which ought not for moment to be
recognized, seemed so vital to those having
them in charge that they are easily led to
barter their votes for measures as bad or
worse than theirs, in order to secure the
support of similarly situated colleagues.
Thus is inaugurated a system called ''log-
rolling, (which comes near actual legislative
corruption, and thus people at large
lose not only the attention to their
affairs which is due to them,
but are often no better than robbers of the
money in the public treasury. ] have not
mentioned the aspect of special and private
legislation which seems to be most per-
nicious. l refer to the habit which it en-
genders among our people of looking
TO GOVERNMENT AID
in the accomplishment of special and
individual schemes, and the expectation
which it creates and fosters that legislation
may be invoked for security, individual
advantages and unearned benefits.
The relations of our countrymen
toward the government should be
founded upon their love for it,
as the fountain head of their national life,
their faith in it as the power which pre-