The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-20
Public Extravaganza the
Greatest of Evils.
The Baleful Work OF the Fifty
First Congress.
Dangers OF Popular Indiffer-
ence Pointed Out
A Thoughtful and Patriotic Address
at Buffalo.

lduu ueulOCfdCy5 DundlO lOItLnO5t pOlltl-
cal organization. now seven years old and
having a membership OF upward of 100,
opened its new club house on Washing
ton-st. this evening with ex-President
Cleveland as the guest and speaker OF the
occasion. The house was crowded and
the scene a very brilliant one.
At 1880 Mr. Cleveland was escorted to
the club house and the formal exercises
soon thereafter began in the assembly
room, which was crowded almost 10 suiiO-
cation. Mr.. Cleveland was greeted with
the widest cheering, long continued and
often repeated.
The pre>ident Of the club, Herbert P.
Bissell, delivered an address upon the
purposes and growth of the organization
and in welcome to its distinguished patron
and guest. Mr.. Cleveland replied with
speech which was delivered with great
earnestn ess and which was received en-
Enthusiastically. He spoke as follows:
Mr. President AND GENTLEMEN: As
stand Tor TIE first time face to face with the
Cleveland democracy, ! experience mingled
emotions of responsibility and pride. My
sense Of responsibility arises from my relation
20 your organization as its godfather, aud my
pride from the noble manner in which you
have borne my name. / acknowledge your
right to require Of me at this time an account
of the manner in which have kept the polit-
zeal faith to which you are devoted. This right
grows out OF the fact that the word "DemOc-
racy," as il stands in the name OF your organl-
Zat!On, means much and Is so worthy of
your care, that It's significance should not BE- in
the least clOuded b. any prefix which is not in
keeping with the democratic aims and pur-
pOses-
Ia giving an account Of my political beha-
vior, ! can only offer record OF political con-
duet familiar 10 all my countrymen. and sup
plement this record by the declaration that L
have done the best / could TO deserve the conf
dence IN me when you have so gracefully man
Tested. For the character OF the record thus
presented, you yourselves are ansverable with
me-.or it has been made under the influence
and encouragement OF the sentiments and doe
trines which the Cleveland democracy have Gull
tivated and enforced. When we started to.
gether in political lie and responsibility, your
accepted creed taught that politics was some
thing more than adroit jugglery; that there
still such a thing otiiciEl duty and that
10 meant obligation TO the people, that the
principles of our government were worthy Of
conscientious study, and that the doctrines Of
true democracy, honestly and bravely enforced,
promised the greatest good 10 al our country
men and exacted through the length aud
breadth OF our land impartial governmental
care and indiscriminsting justice.
You we're not content to allow these truths
10 remaic with you as mere idle beliefs They
Jupplied constant aud aggressive motives for
your political activity aud were your inspira-
ton as you went forth to battle in the
democratic cause-restng your hope OF tri-
umph upon an unwaTeTing faith in the thought
ful and we'll informed intelligence of the
American people.
Thus you were found doing valiant service
IN the campaign Of education. As the smoke
of the last stubbornly fought battle cleared
away, no soldiers on the field were found sur
rounded by mOrs trophies OF victory than the
forces OF the Cleveland democracy.
Surely your rewards are most abundant.
You have not only aided ia the advancement of
the democratic standard, but you have also
contributed your full share in demonstrating
that the people can be trusted when aroused
70 thoughtfulness and duty.
When / suggest TO you that much sturdy
fighting still awaits all those enlisted in the
democratic ranks. feel that / am speaking to
veterans who have no fear OF hard campaign.
ing. We may be sure that unless we continue
nctive. watchful warfare we shall lose what
have gained IN tue peoples cause. lnsidiOCg
schemes are started on every side TO allure
them TO their undOing. Awakened to a sense
of wrong and injustice, promises Of redress and
benefit are held I'D 10 their sight, like Dead
sea fruits that tempt the eve but turn TO ashes
on the lips" The selfish and designing will
not foregO the struggle but will constantly seek
20 regain their vantage ground through tempt
ing fallGeies and plausible pretexts OF friendii-
ness.
4
today stands in the way OF the safety of our
government and the happiness OF our people
is reckless and wicked extravagance in our
public expenditures. IL is the most fatal OF all
the deadly brood born OF governmental perver-
sion. IL hides beneath It's wings the lsirayal
Of the peoples trust and holds pOwerless in
its fascinating glance the peoples will and con-
science. Ii braZenly exhibits today billion
dollar congress. But lately large surplus re-
manned in the peoples public treasury after
all nv
economical. This condition wes presented TO
the American people positive proof that
their burden Of taxation was unjust because
unnecessary; and yet while the popular pro-
test is still heard. the harpy of public extrava-
gance devOurs the surplus and impudsntiy
calls upon it's staggering victims TO
bring still larger supplies within the reach Of
its iDsatiate appetite. A few short years AGO a
pension roll amounting TO hity-three million Of
dollars was willingly maintained by our
patriotic citizens. Today. public extravagance
DEGREES that three times that shall be
drawn from the people, upon the pretext that
its expenditure represents the popular love OF
the soldier Not many years ago river and
har5or bill sppropriatin9 eleven millions of
dollars gave rise 10 loud popular protest.
Now, public extravagance commands APP
preparation Of twenty-five millions for the
same purposes, ana the people are silent. To-
day, millions are paid for barefaced subsidy;
and this is approved or condoned at the behest
Of public extravagsnce, and thus a new ma
rsuder is turned loose. which in company with
the vicious tariff partner, bears pifered BEN
eft to the households OF favored selfish inter
ests.
We need not prolong the details. Turn
where we will we see the advance of this de-
vouring and destructive creature.
Our democratic faith teaches US that the use
less ezaction Of money from the people upon
the false pretext of public necessity is the
worst of all governmental perversOn, and in
wolves the greatest of all dangers to our guar.
antees OF justice and equity. We need not
unlearn this lesson to aDprehend the fact that
behind such exaction and rs its source OF ex.
istence, il found public extravaganza. The AZ
will not be laid at the root of the unwholesome
tariff tree with its vicious inequality and in-
Justice until we reach and destroy its parent
and support
But the growth of public extravagsnce in
Ihess latter days, and its unooncealed and
dreadful Manifestations, force TO the con.
temptation of other crimes, of which il ID
Hn3aub tedly guilty, beside unjust exaotions
from The people.
Our government is ordained that its life
blood flows from the virtue and patriotism OF
our people, and It's health aud strength depend
upon the integrity and faithtulness Of their
public servants. II these are destroyed, our
government if II endures, will endure only in
name, failing to bless those for whom il was
created and failing in its mission an exam
pie to mankind.
Public exfravagsnce in its relation 10 inequit-
able tariff laws not only lays an unjust tribute