Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-05-15
WORDS OF WARNING.

Ex-President Cleveland was in Buff
falo on Tuesday night, the guest OF
the Democratic club of that place
At the banquet of the organization,
where he was the central figure, Mr..
Cleveland spoke as follows:
II believe the most threatening fig
ure which to-day stands in the way Of
the safety Of our government and the
happiness Of our people is reckless
and wicked extravaganza in our pub
lie expenditures. 1t is the most fatal
of all the deadly brood born of gov
ernmental perversion. 1t hides be-
meath its wings the betrayal OF the
peoples trust, and holds powerless In
its fascinating glance the peoples
will and conscience. 1t brazenly e1-
hibits to-day a Billion-Dollar Con-
gress. But lately large surplus re-
manned in the peoples public treas
ury after meeting all expenditures
then by no means economical, This
condition was presented to the Amer
lean people as positive proof that
their burden of taxation was unjust
because unnecessary and yet, while
the popular protest is still heard, the
harpy Of public extravaganza devours
the surplus and impudently calls upon
its staggering victims to bring still
larger supplies within the reach Of its
insatiate appetite.
"A few short years ago pension
roll amounting to fifty-three million
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 preteIt
that its expenditure represents the
popular love of the soldier. Not many
years ago river and harbor bill APP
propriating eleven millions Of dollars
gave rise to loud popular protest.
Now public extravaganza commands
an appropriation OF twenty-five mil
lions for the same purposes, and the
people are silent. To-day millions
are paid for barefaced subsidy, and
this is approved or condoned at the
behest of public extravaganza, and
thus a new marauder is turned loose,
which, in company with its vicious
tariff partner, bears pilfered benefit
to the households of favored selfish
interests.
But, to my mind, the saddest and
most frightful result of public eItrav-
agance is seen in the readiness of the
masses of our people, who are not
dishonest, but only needless, to accus-
tom themselves to that dereliction
in public places which it involves.
Evidence is thus furnished that our
countrymen are in danger of losing
the scrupulous insisteuce upon the
faithful discharge Of duty on the part
of their public servants, the regard
for economy and frugality which be-
longs to sturdy Americanism, the indie
pendence which relies upon personal
endeavor, and the love Of an honest
and wellregulated government, all of
which lie at the foundation of our
free institutions. Have | over-stated
the evils and dangers with which the
tremendous growth of public extrava-
gance 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 we push on in our
campaign of education, especially I'M
press upon our countrymen the lesson
which teaches that public extrava-
gance is deadly, dangerous thing,
that frugality and economy are hon
orable, that the virtue and watchful-
ness of the people are the surest safe
guards against abuses in their gov
eminent, and that those who profess
to serve their fellow-citizens in public
place must be faithful to their trust"