Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-15
CIeveIand's Honest DoetrIue

Ex>Presidelt Grover Cleveland has not
made more powerful or more shought>
full speech than at Buffalo the other
night when he discussed the extravs-
gance of the last congress. The warning
Mr.. Cleveland sends forth Of the dangers
to a republican government from famil-
iarity with and and tolerance of extrava-
gance in public affairs is in the highest
degree timely aud pertinent. 1t is truly
time to arouse the people from the leth.
argy into which they have fallen. Truly
does the Indianapolis Sentinel exclaim:
A continuance of such extrsvagance-so
foreign to the principle Of republican
government-can but lead to the even
tual overthrow of even that form. As
Mr.. Cleveland says:
Turn where we will we see the advance
Of this devouring and destructive crea-
ture.
Our democratic faith teaches us that
the useless exsction of money from the
people upon the false pretext of public
necessity is the worst OF all govern
mental perversions, and involves the
greatest of all dangers to our guarantees
of Justice and equity. We need not IN
learn this lesson to apprehend the fact
that behind such eXaction and as its
source of existence is found public ex-
travagaDce. The ak 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 ard
support.
But the growth of public extravaganza
in these latter DAYS. and its unconcealed
and dreadful manifestations, force US TO
the contemplation of other crimes, of
which it is undoubtedly guilty. beside
unjust exactions from the people.
Our govern ment is so ordained that its
life blood flows from the virtue and
patriotism of our people, and its
health and strength depend upon the
integrity and faithfulness of their
public servants. If these are de-
stroyed our government, if it endures
will endure only in name. failing
TO bless those for whom it was Great, d
and failing in its mission as an example
10 mankind.
Public extravaganza in its relation TO
inequltable tariff laws not only lays an
unjust tribute upon the people, but it is
responsible for unfair advantages be.
slowed upon special and favored interests
as the price of partisan support. Thus
the exercise of the popular will for the
benefit of the country at large is replaced
by sordid and selfish motives directed 10
personal advantage, while the encourage
ment 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 services are thus
compensated, or who are thus bri5ed to
future party support. This makes the
continuance of partisan power stronger
motive among public servants than the
faithful discharge of the peoples trust,
and sows the seed of contagious corrups
ton in the body polite.
The people of the United States hold
Grover Cleveland in high esteem simply
because he has such views as those ex-
pressed above. "a public office apublic
trust" has always been his motto, in office
and in him the people see most striking
and most pleasing contrast to the Reeds,
Blaines, McKinleys and Harrisons.