Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-05-20
Sneecaes Of araYer Cleveland.

On Monday night of last week Ex-Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland made an able speech
before the German Young Mems Asso.
citation Of Buffalo, New York, and on the
next night he was rendered a reception by
the cleveland Democracy" CT the same
city, when he delivered another fine speech
from which we extract the following =
81 believe the most threatening figure
which to-day stands in the way of the
safety of our government and the happi-
ness of our people, is reckless and wicked
extravaganza in our public expenditures
It is the most fatal of all the deadly brood
born of governmental perversion. 1t hides
beneath its wings the betrayal of the peo-
ple's trust and holds powerless in its fasci-
mating glance the peoples will and con-
science. 1t brazenly exhibits to-day a
Billion Dollar Congress. But lately, a
large surplus remained in the peoples pub
| lie treasury after meeting all expenditures
then by no means economical. This con-
dition was presented to the American peo-
pie as positive proof that their burden OF
taxation was unjust because unnecessary
and yet while the popular protest is still
heard, the harry of Public Extravaganza
devours the surplus and impudently calls
upon its staggering victims to bring still
larger supplies within the reach of its in
satiate appetite. A few short years ago a
pension roll amounting to fifty-three mil.
lions of dollars was willingly maintained
by our patriotic citizens. To-day, Public
Extravaganza DEGREES that three times that
sum shall be drawn from the people upon
the pretext that its expenditure represents
the popular love of the soldier. To day,
| hor
and this is approved or condoned at the
behest of Public Extravaganza, and thus a
new marauder is turned loose, which in
company with it's vicious tariff partner,
bears pilfered benefit to the households OF
favored selfish interests.
| Our Democratic faith teaches us that the
useless exaction of money from the people
upon the false prstext of public necessity,
is the worst of all governmental perve:-
sions, and involves the greatest OF all
dangers to our guarantees OF justice ana
equity. We need not unlearn this lesson
to apprehend the fact that behind such eX-
action and as its source OF existence 10
found Public Extravaganza. The axe will
not be laid at the root of the unwholesome
tariff tree with its vicious inequality and
injustice until we reach and destroy its
parent and support.
Our government is SO ordained that its
life-blood flows from the virtue and pa
triotism of our people, and its health and
strength depend upon the integrity and
faithfulness of their public servants. Ii
these are destroyed, our government, II 1t
endures, will endure only in name, falling
to bless those for whom it was created and
failing IN it's mission as an example to man.
kind.
Public Extravaganza in its relation to
| negotiable tariff laws, not only lays an un-
| lust tribute upon the people, but is re-
sponsible for unfair advantages bestowed
upon special and favored interests as the
price of partisan support. Thus the eXer-
else of the popular will for the benefit of
the country at large is replaced by sordid
and selfish motives directed to personal adj
vantage, while the encouragement OF such
motives in public place for party ends,
deadens the official conscience.
Public Extravaganza directly distributes
gifts and gratuities among the people,
whose federation of waste is thus secured
| or whose past party service are thus CON-
! pepsated, or who are thus bribed to future
party support This makes the continu-
apce Of partisan power q stronger motive
among public servants than the faithful
discharge of the peoples trust, and sows
the seeds Of contagious corruption in the
body polite.
| But to my mind. the saddeet and most
| fr;ehtful result of Public Extravaganza is
| seen in the readiness Of the masses of our
| peoDle, who are rot dishonest but only
| needless, to accustom Themselves to that
dereIiction in public place which it inVoi-
yes. Evidence is thus furnished that our
ooantryneu are in danger of losing the
scrupulous iEsistence upon the faithful dis
charge of duty on the part OF their public
i servants, the regard for economy and
| fruga!ity which belongs to sturdy Ameri-
canism, the independence which relies
upon personal endeavor, and the love of an
| honest and well-regulated government, all
of which lie at the foundation of our free
| institutions.
Have overstated the evils and dangers
With which the tremendous growth OF pub
lie extravaganza threatens Us? Every
man who loves his country well enough to
Pause and think of these things must know
that have not.
Let US, then, as VIC push on in Our CAM
paign of education, especially impress upon
our countrymen the lesson which teaches
that public extravaganza is q deadly, dan
gerous thing, that frugality and economy
are honorable, thai the virtue and watch
iuness of the people are the su1est sac
guards against abuses in their Government,
and that those who profess to serve their
fellow. citizens in public place must be
faithful TO their trust"
Drunkenness and the craving for liquor ban
ished by a dose OF Simmons Liver Regulator.
!