The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-05-22

public exs-avaEanes DEGREES that three
times thas sum shall be drawn from ths
people upon the pTeteIt that it's eIpendi-
ture represents the popular love OF the SOL
der. Not many years ago q river and haE-
Dor bill appropriating 81, 0o0.ooo save rise 20
a Acuo popular protest nov pubic eZ-
travagazce commands an appropriation oe
Sz2coo,ooG for the same purposes. and the
people are silent To-day millions are paid
for baFe-faced subsidy. and this Is approved
or condoned AT the behest Of public eztrav-
agance. and thus new marauder Is turned
loose. which in company with SIS vicious
tariu partner, bears Pilfsred benefit 20 ths
households of favored selfish interests. We
need not prolong the details Turn where
We wiz We see the advance OF this dsvOuring
and destructive creature
Our democratic faith teaches us shat the
useless eLactiOn OF money from the people
upon the false preteIt Of public necessity is
the worst or All governmental perversiOns,
anu ihFSlNsa the greatest OF All dangers TO
our guarantee OF Justice and equity" We
need not unlearn this lesson to apprehsnd
the Eact thsf behind such eGactton and as
its source OF existence is found public eE-
travagance- The viii not be laid ut the
the root OF the unwholesone tarim tree
with its vicious inequality and injustice. uu-
eli We reach and destroy its parent and sup
port But the growth OF public eztrava-
gance in these latter days and its uncon-
cesled and dreadful manifestations. force us
20 the contemplation of other crimes, OF
which IL Is undoubtedly guilty. besides un-
just eLactions from the people.
Our government is so ordained that its life
blood lows from the virtue and patriotism
OF our people and KS health and strength de-
pend upon the integrity and faIthfuIness OF
their public servants. If these are destroyed
our government. Il it endures, will endure
only in name, falling TO bless those for " HON
il was created ana falling in its mission As
an example to mankind Public eEtrava-
gance in its relation TO inequitabls tarI6
laws, not only lays an unjust tribute upon
the people, but Is rsspOns ibte for unfair ad-
Vantages bestowed upon special ami favored
interests as the price OF partisan support
Thus the exercise OF the popular VIII the
benent of the country at large IS replaced
by sordid and selfish motives directed to
personal advantage, while the encourage
ment OF such motives in public place for
party ends deadens rhe ofIiciai conscience
Public extravaganza directly distributes
gifts and gratuities among the people, " hose
federation of waste is thus secured or whose
past party services are thus compensated, or
who are thus bribed to future party support.
This makes the continuance OF partisan
power "a stronger motive among public ser
wants than the faithful discharge OF the peO-
pies trust, and sOws the seeds of contagious
corruption in the body polite.
But TO my mind the suddest and most
frightfuI result of public extravaganza is
seen in the readiness of the muses. of our
people, who are not dishonest but only
needless, to accustom themselves TO that
Evidence is thus furnished that our couu-
trymen are in danger OF losing the scrupu-
lous insistence upon the faithful discharge
of duty on the part of their public servants.
the regard for economy and frugality which
belongs to sturdy Americanism, the indie
pendence which relies upon personal en-
deaVor and the love OF honest ana we'll
regulated government. all OF which lie as
the foundation of our free institutions.