Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-29
TO BUSINESS MEN.
A BRILLIANT SPEEOs ON PRIVATE AND
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
Why the Business Men Of the Country Should Take
q Moro Active Par. in Politcs-Ex-PrsSld'nt
0lsyglsuas Address at the Commercial
Club Dinner at Providence.
-, 49, snndnr Ree.ster.l


one of the most distinguished assemOlles
mat ever sat at its board. The company
numbered 40. The especial guess OF tue
evening were eX-Presldent Grover CIeNe-
land. Richard Watson Glider OF the Ct"-
fl,yu ex-Chief Justice Thomas DurleS'
Ron. Oscar Laplnan, Mr.. Gardner =.
Sims Mr. IOirllard Spencer, postmaster
Cherries n. George. President E. Benjamin
Andrews of Brown University, ana Judge
DOUGLASS of the Supreme Court
private and special legislation was the
+beroe ~ lie evening. EX-Chief Justice
Durfee was the first speaker. he lament
Ell the corruptness Of the LOBBY ana EN- pua-
SEED the Importance OF citizens ana Ousl-
ness men taking more sctlve interest ~
politics Governor Dadd sara d lew WoIuS
inrrOiucing eX-PreSidCuU Cleveland, anu
president Andrews was the last speaker.
TX President Cleveland sad:
II never attend gathering OF business
mon and recall the restless activity wnlcn
tbev represent, and the strain OF oraln
which they willingly bear Tor the sake OF
profit and success, without WouuertHs
tnat they are content 70 De so iuoroughiy
enorossed i'm the immediate details OF their
o,sl,uatiOns. as often as 20 lead 10 an naoit-
nal neglect of those affairs which, though
outside of theircOunting houses, EXCHANGES
and manufactures, have an intimate rela-
ton TO their prosperity.
Noone can be ObliviOus of the fact that
matters of legislation and the course OF
governmental policy are so important 10
the business i'm which we engage, that our
individual efforts in its prosecution
may be easily promoted or thwarted 0y tue
conduct of those who make and execute
ouy laws Yet. i'm business circles, we
end bur few men who are willing TO toregO
their ordinary work 20 engage IN the Ousl-
,ess Of legislation. Indeed this unfOrtun-
are condition has reached sucn pass ina
our business men think ana OFTEN speak Of
pOlitics. as something quite outside OF
fneir inn crest and duty, which II not actu-
ally disrepUtable, may Wen De IeIt 20 thoSe
who have a taste for IL.
am Ov no means Unmlu0ful OF the spas
r,Odic Interference of business interests IN
notifies. spurred on by "a selfish desire 70
be especially and exclusively aided through
legislative action. Sucn interference
based upon such motives IS more blame
worthy than inactivity, because 10 amounts
10 an attempt to pervert governmental
functions, which is worse than
neglect of political responsibility.
But I speak OF heedlessness
of the duty restingUpOn every one of Us rs
American citizens, 70 participate thought
f,liv and intelligentlv in the general con
Guct OF the government which Is ours, and
which has been left 20 our management.
seek to remind YOU of the interest which
Won and al of US have as members Of our
American body polite IN wholesome gen
erai laws and homes 81 administration.
This interest is represented by the
share 10 which each of US Is entitled,
f, The aggregate Of advantage which
such laws and such administrations re-
cuire This interest and this duty, are
surely worth all the attention we can De
stow upOn them: and the penalty OF our
al ~ In
order that the patriotism and Intelligence
Of the country should prevail IN our legis-
lation. the patriotic and intelligent
men of the country must see 20
uight that they are properly rep
resented I'm our national councils. II they
fail fin this they will De governed by those
VINO simply make trade OF pOuucs III III
is ,vcil that our legislatures oe influenced
boy the enlfghtencd and practical business
sense of the people, our business men must
sfer3 FL that those they trust are chosen
as their law makers. If they are indifier-
err ON the subject the vast interests winch
So greatly concern them and all their FEEL
low citizens will be left at the mercy OF
those WAC neither understand on care for
chem: and do not believe these dangers
viii be effectively avoided until they are
better understood by the people ana moro
thoroughly resisted.
NJ seems % me that private and special
legislation. as il is az present, Is an evil
cbargeaole TO a great extent 10 the hStless-
ness of the people.
There is a kind of Legislation, which upon
its face is private and special and which
engrosses far too much of the time and at
tention of our lawmakers. The people
have "a right TO claim from their represen-
fatives their best attention TO the great
subjects of legislation in which the
entire country is interested. This
Is denied them, If their representa-
tives take their seats Ourdened Win
private bills, I'm which immediate neigh
Eors are exclusively interested, and which
tbev feel dilgent in advancing II they
world secure their continuance IN pubic
life They are thus led by the eXigencies
III thei. situation. as they view L. not
only to the support of private bills OF
ouestional prOpriety. but 90 the neglect OF
"a sfudv. and an understanding or the mn
nortant questions involved in general
legislation.
bavenot mentioned the aspect OF special
and private legislation which seems 70 me
most pernicious / refer TO the habit which
e. enEenders among our people OF looking
r., govcrument aid in the accomplishment or
soecial and individual schemes expectation
,Thieb In creates and fosters that legisla-
tion Ice invoked for the securing Of lndlvld-
mi advantages and unearned benefits.
The relations OF our cOuutrymen toward
tAe government should be founded upon
fheil love for il as the fOUntan-head of
their national life; their faith IN it as the
mower which preserves them free people
fha-- reverence for 1t as the perfect work
Of the HIGHEST patriotism, their confidence
Ina IT'S Justice and quality. and their pride m
ownership and management These should
furnish at aii times sufficient motive Tor q
lively interest Ina public affairs ana should
supply abundant incentive TO popular
vatchfuluess Of legislative methods. Ia the
Tlrht OF these considerations no thought
fYl American can shut ms eyes 10
fhe truth that when our people regard
their Government rs the source or lndlvl-
anal benefit and favOritism and when their
interest i'm il is measured by the extent 10
which they hope 10 realize such oeneht and
favoritism, our topular government Is IN
dangerous hands, ana It's entire perVerSioA
Is alarminoly imminent.
These perils are not alone chargeable 10
legislation which is cOnteSsedly special and
private. Measures of a general character
and apuarently proposed for the public
yood frequently originate in selfish calcU-
latiOns or completely suoServe no their
"details selfish plans that they also tend
toward the fatal point OF SOrdiDesS
among the people and unjust paternalism
.n government
SO matter what plausible pretexts may
be advanced for such legislation, if il has
Ira it these elements il ought to be con-
iemned Neither the cry OF protection 10
American interests, nor pretended solicit
tude for public good Ousht 20 succeed In
eoncealiug schemes to favor the few no the
expense OF the many; nor should impor-
tance 10 the country of legislative action
upon any subject divert Us from inquiry
concerning the selfish motives and pur-
poses which may oe hidden behind the pro-
-.....I u -l..h L.-.s Int