The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-28
DUTIES OF CITIZENS
Cleveland on the Evils of Special
Legislation.
CARELEssNEss OF THE PEOPLE
This Has Much to Do With Rad Iavs-ro.
Much Reliance on Governments
Aid-1he Remedy.

PROVIDENCE, r. l., June 27.-The dinner
OF the Commercial club this evening was
the las. OF the season and distinguished
assemolage sat at its board Private and
ana special legislation was the theme OF
the evening. Ex-Chief Justice Du~fee
was the hrst speaker. He lamented the
corruptness or the lobby aud emphasized
the importance of citizens and business
men taking a more active interest in
politics.
Ex-President Cleveland spoke at length
In the same strain. He said this unfortu-
nate neglect of matters of politics and Iegis
tion mas actually reached such a pass that
business men think and speak of politics "a
something quite outside of their in
terest and duty, which. if not
actually disreputable, may be well
LETT TO those who have a taste for il.
Inc ex-President sought to remind his
hearers OF the interest which all of US have
as members OF our. American body polite in
wholesome general laws and honest admin
lstration- In order that the patriotism and
intelligence Of the country should prevail
In our Legislation, the patriotic and inteIli-
gent men Oh the country must see to it thai
they are properly represented in our ma
tlonal councils.
Mr. Cleveland says it seems to him pri
vate and special legislation, as it ct present
prevails, IS An evil chargeable 10 q great
extent to the hstlessness and carelessness
oi Tue people. Inc people have the right to
claim from their representatives their best
care and attention TO the great objects OF
legislation In which the entire country ia
interested. This IS denied to them il their
representatives take their seats burdened
with private bills in which their i'm
meiiate nelghbors are exclusively in
terested, and which they feel they
must be dhigent in advancing il
they would secure their coatinuance
in public life. They are led BIZ the ext
gencies OF their situation, as they view il.
not only TO the support of private bills OF
questionable proprlety, but to the neglect
OF important questions involved in general
legislation Furthermore. the importenca
OF the successful championship of these
private bills seems so vital to them that
they are easily led to barter their votes for
measures as bad or worse than theirs and
thus Is inaugurated the system called log
rolling, which comes frightfully near actual
corruption, and the people at large lose not
only attention to their affairs, but are
often NO better than robbed of the money
in the public treasury.
Another and more pernicious aspect of
special and private legislation is the habit
1t engenders among the people of looking
toward the government for aid in the ac-
complishment of special and individual
schemes, and the expectation which it ere
ates that legislation may be invoked for
the securing Of individual advantages and
unearnsd benefits. No thoughtful Ameri-
can should shut mis- eyes to the truth that
when our people regard the government
as a source OF individual benefit and favor
itism our popular government is in dan
gerous hands, and its entire perversion
alarmingly imminent. These perils
are not alone chargeable to
confessedly private and special legislation
Measures OF a general character, appar-
emily proposed for the public good, fire.
quentiy originate in selfish calculation,
and neither the cry of protection to Amer
lean interests nor pretended solicitude for
the public good ought to succeed in conceal
ing a scheme TO favor the few at the
expense OF the many; nor should the i'm
portance to the country of legislative
action upon any subject divert US frcu
inquiry concerning the selfish motives and
purposes which may be hidden behind the
proposal of such legislation.
1t is quite time that cur business men
and all American citizens who love their
country bestir themselves for the battle
against the evil tendencies of private and
special legislation, whatever guise it may
assume.