Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-01-08

made to cost far more than is necessary.
Indeed it might often be said, they are
made to cost as much as possible.
In general way it may be said that
individuals and communities want any
disbursement of public moneys made
that they think will benefit themselves,
even though it injure other individuals
or communities in a corresponding
degree.
Everywhere cities, towns, communities
and individuals are demanding expendi-
lures for their own special benefit at the
expense of the general public.
There is hardly village Of respectable
size anywhere that is not asking for
some building or something of the sort.
Wherever there is a creek or a good
sized run the demand goes up to Con-
greSs, and too often successfully, for an
appropriation to improve said run for
purpose of navigation.
OF course bridges must be built, and
every man wants one at his own farm
crossing. Everybody wants school
house at his door, and every other man
has a boy or girl in training for teacher,
and thinks salaries of teachers are too
small.
l beg to say that in this rage for public
expenditures, the farmer is in no wise
behind his city brother. A farmer in
the Trustees, Commissioners, or any
other Office will manage to get as much
out of it as any other man if not more.
Vastly more depends on the man than
the occupation he follows.
Your committee has asked me to ex
plain to you how taxation may be
reduced. Ihave shown you in measure
who are opposed to a reduction. and
why. Now, how are you going to get
the reduction? | don't know of any
new, brilliant, startling. patented or un
patented method to secure this result.
There is none, and so long as this con-
tinual cry goes up to Congress and Leg
islature, from every community almost,
for authority to expend money, taxation
which is now bending and threatening
to break over, all legal and Constitutional
limitations will go on increasing to the
serious detriment, if not downright Op-
preston of all interests. Ifpeople want
taxes reduced they must quit calling for
public expenditures for every project
they can think of. This is the first
step, and the next is like unto it. They
must make up their minds to take charge
of the government of the country in all
its departments themselves. That is the
better class of people must do this. At
present they have very little to say about
governmental matters.
They are offered the choice of two or
more tickets on election day, all made
up by politicians, with an eye single to
liberal uses of public funds, and if by
chance man happens to get on one of
them who is regarded as unSOund in
this particular, he is showed under by
the political buns, the weak, unsophisti
Gated and confiding citizen of good in
tentions often assisting.
Good citizens must begin this reform
at the beginning. They must post them
selves in regard to political and official,
as well as matters and things in general,
so that they may know what they ought
to do in any given case, and not have to
go to some interested party for informa-
tion and ADVICE which is pretty sure to
be exactly wrong. They must then per-
form their duties as men and citizens,
who have the good of the country and
their own interests at heart. They must
go to the primaries, and go there as
active living men who know their duty
and dare to do it. They must go there
to say we are going to make
these nominations ourselves, we are
going to nominate and elect men we
can trust, and you gentlemen who have
been running things are not on our
slate. Moreover, you must not only say
this but do it.
The solid, industrious, good citizens of
this country have the power to change
the condition of things that now prevails |
very speedily if they choose to exercise
it, so that it will be the great aim of |
parties to nominate such men as they |
want and pursue such lines of policy as |
they may dictate.
Inany reform of this kind organization
is necessary. Individual effort alone in
a contest of this kind would be crushed |
in a moment by the superbly organized
forces of public plunder.
If things are going wrong in your
county, or State they must be
righted by organized effort in that
locality. Right here is where a grave
exists outside old political
parties and beliefs, most men want their
own opinions to be the ground work of
any organization they may be invited to
Join. Some will work only through ex-
cfh |
party. When those who will have moth
ing but new party get together, it will
be found that they can not agree. The
irst thing is to get up platform of
principle, nothing can be done without
/ platform. 1t will then be found that
whoever else is present, all the cranks
Ire there along, with proper number
If old politicians to fix things. So
platform is built, long enough and broad
enough to take in everybody's whims,
,r row ensues. Prohibition is put in
he corner with mental reservation to
permit the use of little wine for the
tomach's sake.
Free coinage of silver goes in: that
would put five or ten millions in the
pockets of Senators and Representatives
n Congress, and double the fortunes of
he silver kings of the West, and send
peculation booming out there. Popu-
arity is what is wanted you know
Government warehouses in which to
tore farm products, goes in, soon to be
ollOwed by an amendment to permit
he storage of anything else; of course =
money is TO he advanced nnOn tho n ortiolac ,
tOred. But some have no products to
tore, and they must be accommodated.
o another plank must go in, for the
government to issue one OF two thous-
nd millions of money to loan to farmers 6
2 per cent, but since this would be
lass legislation with vengeance, it is
ecessary to amend this by including
ny one who has any security to offer
ut the fellows who have no security to
fer need money as hadlv aS anv othar Y