Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-13
CLEVELAND, AGAIN.
Tue GREAT DEMOCRAT ON PUBLIC
ExTRAvAGANcE.
Tn. .UnvboIesome Tariff Trco" That
Supports Prodigaiity-Ths Duty OF
the Democracy.
Try telegraph % tho plspatch.l

clubhouse on NaobAhb 49, - =.
ming with ex-President Cleveland as the
guest and speaker of the occasion. Inc
house was crowded and the scene was
very brilliant one.
MR.. CLEVELAND GREETED ENTHUsIAsIIcALLi'
Az Tao o'clock Mr. Cleveland was es-
corted from the Hotel Iroquois, close by
the clubhouse, and the formal exercises
aeon thereafter began in the assembly,
room. which occupies the greater portion
of the upper story IL was crowded al
most 10 suffocation with the club mem,
bers. as were also the adjoining rooms ana
broad stairway. Mr. Cleveland was greete9
with the widest cheers, long continued
and often repeated. The president OF the
Climb. Herbert Bissell. delivered an ad,
dress upon the purposes and growth OF
the organization and in welcome 10 the
distinguished patron and guest.
MR. cLEvELAND's SPEECH.
Mr. Cleveland. who appeared in splendid
health and spirits, replied IN speech
which was delivered with great earnestness
and which was received most enthusiast
callv. every point being recognized, with
applause and cheers. He spoke as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen,-As L
stand for the first time face to face with
the Cleveland Democracy / experience
mingled emotions of responsibility ana
pride. Nv sense of responsibility arises
from NV relation to your organization as
its godfather. and my pride from the noble
manner in which Won have borne my name.
| acknowledge your right TO require OF me
at this time an account OF tne hanHef "a
which have kept the political faith TO
which YOU are devoted. This right grows
ont of the fact that the word Demo-
cracv.n as it stands in the name OF your
orOanlzation, means so much and ls so
worthy of vour care that its significance
should not be IN the least clouded by any
prefix which is not in keeping with Demo-
cratic aims and purposes, ,.
In giving an account of my political De-
bavior, ! can only offer a record OF po-
litical conduct familiar TO all my country
men and supplement this record by the
declaration that | have done the best
could TO deserve the confidence in me
which YOU have so gracefully manifested.
For the character of the record thus pre-
sented you yourselves are answerable with
me-for it has been made under the lntiu-
ence and encouragement OF the sentiments
and doctrines which the Cleveland De-
mocracy have cultivated and enforced.
When we started together in political LIE
and responsibility, your accepted creeu
taught that politics was something more
than adroit jugglery that there was stlll
such a thing as official duty and that 1t
meant obli9ation to the people; that the
nriuciules OF our Government we're worthy
of conscientious study, and that the doc
trines of true Democracy, honestly ana
bravely enforced, promised the greatest
good to all our countrymen and exacted
through the length and breadth OF our
land impartial governmental care ana H.
discriminating justice.
You were not content to allow these
Truths TO remain with you as mere idle be-
liefs. They supplied constant and aggres-
siye motives for your political activity
and were your inspiration as you went
forth to do battle in the Democratic
cause-resting your hope Oh TRIUMPH upon
an unwavering faith in the thoughtful and
Well-informed intelligence OF the American
people.
THE CAMPAIGN or EDUCATION.
Tins Won were found doing valiant SER
vice IN the campaign OF Education. as
the smoke of the last stubbOrnlY-fough
battle cleared away no soldiers on the
field were found surrounded by more
trophies of victory than the forces OF the
Cleveland Democracy.
Surely your rewards are most abundant.
You have not only aided in the advance
ment of the Democratic standard, but you
have also contributed your full share in
that the people can be
trusted when aroused TO thoughttulnesS
and duty.
When | suggest to you that much sturdy
fighting still awaits all those enlisted IN
the Democratic ranks, l feel that am
speaking to veterans who have no fear OF
hard campaigning. We may be sure that
unless we continue active, watchful war
fare we shall lose what we have gained IN
tho people's cause. Insidious schemes are
started on every side TO allure them to
their undoing. Awakened TO a sense Of
wrong and injustice, promises Of redress
and benefit are held up TO their sight like
Dead Sea fruits that tempt the eve, but
turn to ashes on the lips" The selfish and
designing will not forego the struggle, but
will constantly seek TO regain their vantage
ground through tempting fallacies and
plausible preteXts Of friendliness.
PUBLIC ExTBAyAGANCE.
I believe the most threatening figure
which to-day stands in the way OF the
safety of our Government and the happl;;
ness of our people is reckless and wicked
extravaganza in our public expenditures.
tits the most fatal of all the deadly brood
born of governmental perversion. 1t hides
beneath its wings the betrayal OF the peo-
Piles trust, and holds powerless in its fas-
cinating glance the peoples Will and con-
science. 1t brazenly exhibits to-day q Bill
lion-Dollar Congress. But lately q large
surplus remained in the peoples public
treasury after meeting all expenditures
then by no means economical. This condi-
ton was presented to theAmerican people as
positive proof that their burden OF taxation
was unjust because unnecessary; and yet
while the popular protest Is still heard,
H. Lo-,,,, D,,bIic ErtrouaO 6pVOura
the surplus and impudently calls upon ITS
staggering victims TO bring still larger sup
plies within the reach of its insatiate appe-
tite A few short years ago penslon-roll
amounting to fifty-three millions Of dollars
was willingly maintained by our patriotic
citizens. To-day Public Extravagance de-
crees that three times that sum shall be
drawn from the people, upon the pretext
that its expenditure represents the
popular love of the soldier, =, Not
many years ago a river and harbor bill ap-
propriating eleven millions of dollars gave
rise to loud popular protest. Now, pub
lie extravaganza commands an appropria-
ton Of twenty-five millions for the same
purposes and the people are silent. To-
day millions are paid for bare-faced sub
sidy, and this is approved or condoned at
the behest of Public Extravaganza and
thus a new marauder Is turned loose,
which, in company with its vicious tariff
partner. bears piltered benefit to the
households of favored selfish interests.
We need not prolong the details. Turn
where we will see the advance of this de-
vouring and destructive creature.
THE USwHoLEsoME TARIFF TREE.
Our Democratic faith teaches Us that the
useless exaction of money fIom the people
upon the false pretext of public necessity
is the worst of all governmental per-
versions. and involves the greatest of all
dangers to our guarantees of justice and
equity. We need not unlearn this LESSON
to apprehend the fact that behind such
exaction and as its source OF existence Is
found Public Extravaganza. The axe will
not be laid at the root Of the unwhole-
some tariff tree with its vicious inequality
and injustice until we reach and destroy
its parent and support.
But the growth of public extravaganza
in these latter days and Its unconcealed
and dreadful manifestations force US TO
the contemplation of other crimes, of
which be il is undoubtedly guilty. besides
unjust exactions from the people.
Our Government is so ordained that its
life blood flows from the virtue and
patriotism of our people and its health and
strength depend upon the integrity and
faithfulness of their public servants. If
these are destroyed our Government IL it
endures will endure only in name. failing
to bless those for whom II was created
and failing in its mission as an example to
.Esn1