Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-28
"A TALK BY CLEVELAND
The Man Who, Next to Blaine, Is Most
in the Eye of the Nation
DISCUSSES SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
Doesn't Let the Opportunity Pass Without q
Slap at Protection.
L0G.ROLLING AMONG THE LAWMAKERS

PROVIDENCE, R. L, June N.-The din
ner of the Commercial Club this evening
was marked by one of the most distinguished
assemblies that ever sat at its board. Ine
especial guests of the evening were .ex-
President Grover Cleveland and Richard
Watson Glider, of the Century
Private and special legislation was the
theme of the evening. Ex-Chief Justice
Durfee was the first speaker. He lamented
the corruptness of the. lobby and empha-
sized the Importance of citizens and busi-
ness men taking more active interest in pol
itics. Governor Ladd said a few words IN,
Producing ex-President Cleveland, and
President Andrews was the last speaker.
Ex-President Cleveland said:
Inever attend gathering of business men
and recall the restless activity which they
represent, and the strain of brain which
they willingly bear for the sake OF proht ana
success, without wondering that they are
content to be so thoroughly
Engrossed in the Details
of their occupations as often to lead 20
an habitual neglect of those affairs which,
though outside of their counting houses. eX-
changes and manufactures, have an 1ntf-
mate relation to their prosperity. No one
1s an% Se
policy are so important to the business In
which we engage that our individual enorts
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 who are willing to forego their ordinary
work to engage in the business of legiSla-
ton Indeed, this unfortunate condition has
reached such pass that our business men
think, and often speak, of politics as some
thing quite outside of their interest and
duty which, if not actually disreputable
may well be left for those who have taste
for it.
An Activity That Is Dangerous.
am by no means unmindful of the spas
modic interference of business interests in
politics, spurred on by a selfish desire to be
especially and exclusively aided through
legislative action. Such interference, based
upon such motives, is more blameworthy
than inactivity, because 1t amounts to an at
tempt to pervert governmental functions
which is worse than u neglect of political re-
sponsibility. But speak of heedlessness
of the duty, resting upon every one of us as
American citizens, to. participate thought
fully and intelligently in the general conduct
of the Government. which is ours and which
has been left to our management.
1t seems to me that private ana special
legislation, as it at present prevails, is an
evil chargeable to great extent to the list
lessness and carelessness of the people.
There is kind of legislation which, upon
its face and concededly, is private and spe-
cial, and which engrosses far too much of
the time and attention of our lawmakers.
Logrolling for Private Bills.
The people have a right to claim from
their represen tatiVes their best atten-
ton to great subjects of legislation, in
which the entire country is interested. This
is denied them if their representatives
take their seats burdened with pri-
vate bills in which their immed;
and and Which they feel they must be
diligent in advancing If they would secure
their continuance in public life. They are
thus led by the exigencies of their situation,
as they view it, not only to the support OF
private bills of questionable proprlety, but
to the neglect of a study and understanding
of the important questions involved in gen.
eral legislation.
Nor does the pernicfous effect of such
special and private legislation stop here.
The Importance of asuccessful champion,
ship of these private bills, measured by q
standard which, ought not for a moment to
be recognized, seems SO vital to those hav
ing them in charge that they are easily
led to barter their votes for measures
in order to secure the support of similarly
situated colleagues Thus is inaugurated
system called lOg-rolling which comes fright
thus the people at large lose not only the at
tention to their affairs which is due to them,
but are often no better than robbed of money
in the public Treasury.
The Government Not Paternal.
have not mentioned the aspect of special
and private legislation which seems to me
most pernicious l refer to the habit it en-
genders among our people of looking to the
Government for aid in the accomplishment of
special and individual schemes, and the ex-
pectation which it creates and fosters that
legislation be invoked for the securing of in
dividual 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 1t as the power
which preserves them free people; their
reverence for it as the perfect work of the
highest patriotism; their confidence in its
justice and equality, and their pride in it's
ownership and management. These should
lively interest in public affairs, and
should supply abundant incentive to
popular watchfulness of legislative and ex-
ecutive methods. In the light of these con-
siderations no thoughtful American can
shut his eyes to the truth that when our
people regard their Government as the
source of individual benefit and favoritism,
the extent to which they hope to realize
such benefit and favoritism, our popular
government is in dangerous hands and its
entire perversion is alarmingly imminent.
His Only Reference to Tariff.
These perils are not alone chargeable to
legislation which is confessedly special and
private. Measures of a general character
and apparently proposed for the public
good, frequently originate in selfish calcula-
tions OF so completely subserve in their de-
tails selfish plans that they also tend toward
the fatal point of sordidness among the peo-
pie and unjust paternalism in government.
No matter what plausible pretexts may be ad-
vanced for such legislation ifith has i'll 1t these
elements it ought to be condemned Neither
the cry of protection to American interests
nor pretended solicitude for public good
ought to succeed in concealing schemes to
favor the few at the expense of the many;
nor should importance to the country of
legislative action upon any subject divert
us from inquiry concerning the selfish
motives and purposes which may be hidden
behind the proposal of such legislation.
1t is quite time that our business men and
all American citizens bestir themselves for
the battle against the evil tendencies of
private and special legislation, whatever
guise it may assume. At this time no more
important truth can be presented to our peo-
pie than that they should support their
Government in love and patriotism, and re-
main unfiselfishly content with the blessings
and advantages our free institutions were
established to bestow with justice and
equality upon every citizen throughout the
length and breadth of our land.