The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-28
ATALK TO BUSINESS MEN.
CLEVELAND BEFORE TEE CON-
MERCIAL CLUB OF PROVIDENCE.


TO Task for Their Neglect Of Political
Affa!rs-The Evils OF the Log Rolling
Schemes ia the Interest OF Private
Legislation.
PROVIDENCE, R. l., Jure 27.-The dinner
at the Commercial club this evening was
the last of the season and was marked by
one of the most distinguished assemblies
that ever sat at its board. The company
numbered 40. The special guests of the
evening were ex-President Grover CIsye-
land and Richard Watson Glider of the
Century. President Alfred Stone presided.
Private and special legislation was the
theme of the evening
Ex-Chief Justice Durfee was the first
speaker. He lamented the corruption of
the lobby and emphasized the Importance of
citizens aud business mea taking more
active interest in politics.
Gov. Ladd said a few words, introducing
ex-President Cleveland, and President AM
drews was the last speaker.
CLEvELAND's SPEECH
Ex-President Cleveland said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENrLEarN-I supnose
from the name of the organization which ex-
tends to us the hoBpitalities of this occa sion
that its membership is mainly, at least made
up of those engaged in business enterprises and
that its object is the discussion of topics
related to the progress and development of
such enterprises. l never 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 profit
tad success. without wondering that they are
content to be so thoroughly engrossed in the
immediate details OF their occupations as
often to lead to an habltual ne elect of those
affairs which, though outside of their counting
houses, exchanges and manufactures, have an
intimgte relation to their prosperity.
IMPORTANCE OF LEGISLATION
No one can be oblyioHs Of the fact that mat
ters of legislation and the course of govern
mental policy are SO important to the business
in which we engage that our individual efforts
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 legislation. Indeed this unfortunate condl-
tion has reached such pass that our business
men think and often speak Of politics Us some
thing quite outside of their interest and duty,
which il not actually disreputable may well be
left to those who have taste for it. am by
20 means unmindful Of the spasmodio inter-
ference of business interests in politics. spurred
On by selfish desire to be especially and
exclusively aided through legislative &C.
tions. Such Interference, based upon such
motives, is more blamew0rthy than mac
tivity, because it amounts to an attempt TO
pefV0rL BOVeEDMeutal IuuCLlOnS. WllCn Is worse
than neglect OF political responsibility, but 1
speak OF the heedlessness OF the duty resting
upon every one of ds as American citizens to
payticipate fuliy ana intellsently ~ the gen
and which has been left to our management
ALL HAvx AN INTEREST.
l seek to remind you Of the interest which
you and all OF US have as members of our
American body polite. in wholesome general
laws and an honest administration. This in
ia ranrnQanfAd hy fha IN
in the aggregate s " of advantages 0VsisicS which
such laws and such administration secure.
This interest and this duty are surely worth all
the attention we can bestow upon them. and
the enaltY of their neglect we shah surely not
escape. In order that the patriotism and
intelligence OF the country should prevail in our
legislation, the patriotic and intelligent men of
the country must see TO 1t that they are
proterly represented In our national
cou nseis. II they fail in this they win be gov
erned by those who simply make q trade Of pol
itics 1t is well that our legislation be influenced
by the enlightened aud practical business sense
OF the people. Our business men must see to it
tnat those they trust are chosen as their law
makers. If they are Indifferent on the subject.
vast interests which so greatly concern them
and all their fellow ctize MS will be left at the
mercy of those who neither understand
them nor care for them; andd do not believe
these dangers will be effectively averted until
they are better understood ny the people and
e more thoroughly resisted. It seems TO me that
private and spscial legislation as it at present
prevails Is an evil chargeable to great extent
to the llstlessness and carelessness of the peo-
pie.
PRIVATE LEGISLATION.
There is a kind of legislation which upon fits
Iaee and concededly is private and special, and
winch engrosses far too much of the time OF
our lawmakers. The people have q right to
elep from their represe natives their
pest care and attention to the
great subjects of legislation in which
the entire country is Interested This is denied
Them II their representatives take their seats
ourdened with private bills, in which their
immediate neighbors are exclusively in
must be diigent In advancing, il they
would secure their continuance In public
HE: They are thus led by the exigencles of
support of private bills Of questionable pro-
prlety, but to the neglect of study and an un-
uersta9ding OF impor tant questions involved In
general legislation Nor does the pernicious
lat1on stop here. The Importance Of
successful championship of these private bllls
measured by standard which ought not for a
moment to be recognized, seems so vital to
those having them In charge that they are
easily led to barter their votes for measures as
Dad as or wor than theirs In ordsr to secure
the support of similarly situated colleagues.
LOG ROLLING.
Thus is inaugurated a system called 'iog
rolling which comes frightfully near actual
large lose not only the attention to their affairs
which is due to them but are often no better
Inan robbed Of the money in the public treasury.
l nave hardly done more than TO pre-
sent very general outline of some
ot the ,palpably bad accomplishments
OF legislation )nfessedly special and private.
"details might easily be given which would fur
nlsh proof of the elements of its mischieEous
character which l have pointed out ! have
not, however mentioned the aspect of special
ana private legislation which seems to me most
pernleious. l refer TO tbs habit which it engen-
uers among our people Of looking to the
government for aid in the accomplishment of
special and individual schemes and the expecta-
tlon which 1t creates and fosters that legislation
may be invoked for the securing of individual
advantages and unearned benefits. The rela-
tlons OF our countrymen toward their govern.
ment should be founded upon their love for it
as the fountain head of their national life,
tneir faith in 1t as the power which
preserves them as a free people, their
reverence for it as perfect work Of the hignes
PATRIOTISM, their confidence In its justice and
equailey and their pride in its ownership and
management. These should furnish at oil times
seIncent motive for lively interest IN public
esnalrs, and should supply abundant incentive
70 popular wstchfulness Of legislative and
executive methods.
DANGER OF THE GOVERNMENT.
=. In the light of these considerations no
tnoughtful American can shut his eyes to the
ruin tnat when our people regard their own
government as the source OF individual benefit
auu IavorltiSm, and when their interest in IL Is
Ineasured by the extent to which they hope to
realize such bsnetit and favoritism. our popular
WrNAw