Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-06-28
TO BUSINESS MEN.
A BRILLIANT SPsBgd ON PRIVATE AND
SPECIAL LEGISLATION
Why The Business Men Of tho Country Should Take
More Active Part in Politics-gx-PrcSldent
Cleveand's Address at the Commercial
Club Dinner at PTOvidsacs.

numbered 40. The eSpeclal gNesS OF tle
evening were ex-President Grover Cleve-
land, Richard Watson Glider OF the Con-
turn. ex-Chief Justice Thomas Durtee.
Hon. Oscar I.aDman, Mr.. Gardner 9.
Sims, Mr. Loirllard Spencer, Postmaster
Charles H. George, President +. Benjamin
Andrews OF Brown University, and Judge
Douglass OF the Supreme Court.
Private and special legislation was the
theme OF the evening Ex-Chief Justice
Durfee was the first speaker Re lament
ed the c0rruptness OF the lobby and empha-
sized the Importance OF cltlZenS ana oOsl-
ness men taking more active interest III
politics. Governor DadG sala "A iew "ords
introducing ex-Prcsident Cleveland, and
President Andrews was tae last speaker.
Ex.Presideut Cleveland said:
Il never attend gathering Of ouslresS
men and recall the restless activity which
they represent and the strain oi brair
which they willingly boar for the sake OF
profit and success, without wondering
that they are content TO DC 50 thoroughly
engrossed in the immediate details Of tncir
occupations. as often as 10 LEAD Ia an :'aoll-
ual neglect OF those affairs which, though
outside Of their counting houses. cXchar1es
and manufactures, nave al animate Feia-
ton tn their prosperity.
Noono can bo obliviOuS 0t the TACT that
matters Of legislation and toe course oi
governmental policy are 30 Important -
tue business ia which we engase, that opr
individual efforts In It's prosecution
NAV be easily promoted Or tl,W.rcd Dy tne
conduct Of those VINO mako anO execute
our Laws. YET. in business circle. We
find but few men who are willing to tureg0
their ordinary wori, 30 engage lH tie Dusi-
uess OF legislation. Indeed tn!s unlo,tun-
ate condition has reached sJch pass tlA
our business men think anG ot.5r speak OF
roIitjcs. as something quite outs de OF
thcir In. e..-st and duty, whica u oot act1-
ally'disccputaole, may well oa leit 70 those
VINO have q taste fOr ~
AN by no means minimizing pi the spas
uodic interference OF business interests 10
/ politics. spurred on by selfish desire 10
/ be- especially and exclusively aldoc through
/ logisiatjve action. Sucn interference
/ based upon sUch motives IS more b'ame-
! worthy tnun inactivity, because 90 amounts
10 an attempt to peYert governmental
/ functions, which is worse th2a i"
neglect Of political responsibility
! I'm, sneak OF hecdlcssness
! Of the duty resting upon every one Of US rs
/ American citizens, 10 participate thought
/ fnilv and intollisently In the general con
/ duct of the government when IS ours, ana
which has been left to our management
| seek to remind you of the interest which
and all ptd@ p;d@s hsE9 SsE9fa as - members St . our
eral laws ana hone ST administration.
/ This interest is represented by the
/ share 20 which each Of rs is entitled
/ il the acgregate Of advant6ge which
such laws and such administrations re
i Quire This interest and this duty, are
/ surely worth all the attention we can be-
! stow upon them; and the penalty OF our
neglect We shall surely not escape. In
order that the patriotism and intelligence
! Of the country should prevail in our lcgis-
/ lation, the patriotic and intelligent
men of the country must sec to-
night that they are properly rep
resented Ia our national councils II they
fail in this they will be governed by those
who simply make trade OF politics. II it
is well that our legislatures be influenced
/ by the enlightened and practical business
sense of the people, our business men must
see 10 il that those they trust are chosen
as their law makers. Ifthoy are indifcr-
ert or the subject, the vast interests which
so greatly concern them and all their fc,-
low citizens will be left at the mercy Of
those who neither understand or care for
them; and DO not believe these dangers
will be effectively avoided until they are
better understood by the people and more
thoroughly resisted.
It seems to me that private and special
legislation, as it is at present, is an evil
chargeable to a great extent to the listless-
ness of the people.
There is kind of Legislation which upon
its face is private and special. and which
| ongrcsses far too much of the time and at
tention of our lawmakers. The people
have a right 10 claim from their represen-
tatives their best attention to the great
subjects OF legislation in which the
ic nj uf
Is denied them, if their representa-
tivcs take their seats burdencd with
private bills, in which immediate neigh
5crs are exclusively interested. and which
thev feel diligent in advancing If they
would secure their cOntinuenco in public
life. They are thus led by the eXgencies
OF their situation, us they view it, not
only to the support of private bills of
questional prcpriety, but 70 the neglect Of
n study, and an understanding OF the i'm
portant questions involved in general
legislation.
have not mentioned the aspect OF special
and private legislation which seems To me
most pernicious. | refer 10 the habit which
il engenders among our people Of looking
to government aiG ia the accomplishment Of
special and individual schemes expectation
which Ii creates and fosters that legisla-
ton be invoked for the securing OF individ-
ual advantages and unearned benefits.
The relations Of cur countrymon toward
the aovernment should be founded upon
their love FOR it as the fountaiu-head Of
their national life; their faith in il rs the
power which preserves them q free people;
their reverence for it as the perfect work
OF the highest patriotism: their confidence
in its justice ana quality, and their pride in
ownership and management. These should
furnish nj all times sufficient motive for a
lively interest in public a6ars and should
supply abundant Incentive To popular
watchfuness Of legislative methods In the
light Of these considerations no thought
fu American can shut mis- eyes 10
the truth that when our people regard
their government as the source of indivi-
dual benefit and favoritism. and when their
interest in it is measured by the extent TO
which they hope 10 realize such benefit and
fav0ritisin, our popular government is in
dangerous hanGs, and its entire perversion
is alarminSly imminent.
These perils are not alone chargcable %
LEGISLATION which Is coGfesseGir special and
private Measures OF a general character
aud apparently proposed Tor the public
good frequently originate In selfish calcu-
latiOns or completely subserve - their
details selfish plans that they also tend
toward the fatal point Of sordiness
among the people and unjust paternaiism
Ia government.
No matter what plausible prctexts may
be advanced for such legislation, ii il has
in it these elements II ought 10 be con-
demned. Neither the cry Of protection to
American interests, nor pretended s0iici-
tudo for public good ought 70 succeed IN
conceeling schemes 10 favor the few at the
expense of the many; nor should impor-
tance to the country Of legislative action
upon any subject divert us from inquiry
concerning the selfish motives and pur-
poses which may ne hidden behind the pro
posa Of such legislation
It is quite time that our business men
and all American citizens who love their