Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-14

were found surrounded by mere trophies Of
victory than the forces Of the Cleveland
Democracy.
surely your rewards are most abundant.
You have not only aided in the advance
ment of the Democratic standard. but you
haze also contributed your full share in
demonstrating that the people can be
trusted when
AROUSED TO THoCGETFJLSEss AND DUTY.
When [ suggest to you that much sturdy
fighting still awaits all those enlisted in the
Democratic ranks, feel that l am speaking
to veterans who have no fear OF hard cam
paigning. We may be sure that unless we
continue active, watchful warfare we shall
lose what we have gained in the people 5
cause Irsidious schemes are started on
every side to allure them to their
undolng. Awakened TO sense of wrong
and injustice, promises of redress and ben
eft are held up to their sight, like Dead
Sea fruit that tempt the eye but turn to
ashes on the lips" The selfish and design
ing will not forego the struggle but will
constantly seek TO regain their vantage
ground through tempting fallacies and
plausible pre-. exits OF friendliness.
| believe The most threatening figure
which to-day stands in the way Of the
safety Of our government and the happiness
OF our people is reckless and wicked ex-
travagance in our public expenditures. 1t
is the most fatal of all the deadly brood
born OF governmental perversion. 1t hides
of the peoples trust and holds
powerless III its fascinating glance
the peoples will and conscience. 1t bra
zenly exhibits to-day billion dollar con-
gress. But lately, large surplus re-
NAMED n the peoples public treasury
after meeting all expenditures then by no
means economical This condition was
nracnrfaI m tha r1a1TNla Nc rngi.
tive proof that their burden Of taxation
was unjust because unnecessary; and yet
while the popular protest is still heard,
the harpy OF public eXtravag ance devourS
the surplus and inpudently calls upon its
staggering victims TO bring still larger
supplies within the reach of its insatiate
appetite A few short years ago a
pension roll amounting to S53, 000 600 was
willingly maintained by our patriotic
citizens. To-day public extravaganza de-
creeS that three times that sun shall be
drawn from the people, upon the pretense
that its expenditure represents the popular
love of the solder. Not many years ago i
river and harbor hill appropriating 81, Geo.
000 gave rise to a loud popular pro-
test Now, public extravaganza com
mands an appropriation OF S22 100000
for the same purposes, and the people are
silent To day, millions are paid for bare
faced subsidy; and this approved or con-
doned at the behest OF public extravaganza
and thus new marauder IS turned loose,
which in company with its vicious tariff
partner, bears pilfered benefit to the
HOUSEHOLDS or FAVORED SELFISH INTERESTS.
We need not prO!ong the details. Turn
where we will we see the advance of this
devouring and destructive creature.
Our Democratic faith teaches US that the
useless exaction of money from the people
upon the false preteXt of public necessity,
is the worst of all governmental perVer-
sions, and involves the greatest of all dam
gers to our guarantees of justice and equity
We need not uulearn this lesson to APP
prehend the fact that behind such eXaction
and as its SURGE of existence is found public
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.
But the growth Of public extravaganza in
these latter days, and It's uncOncealed and
dreadful manifestations, force US to the
of ether crimes. Of which
it is undoubtedly guilty, besides unjust
taxations from the people.
Our government is so ordained that its
life blood flows from the virtue and pat
riotism of our people, and its health and
strength depend upon the integrity and
of their public servants. If
these are destroyed, our government if it
will endure only in name, failing
to bless those for whom it was created and
failing In its mission as an example to man
kind.
Public extravaganza in its relation to in
equitable tariff laws, not only lays an IN
just tribute upon the people. but is respon-
Sible for unfair advantages bestowed upon
special and favored interests rs the price OF
partisan support. Thus the exercise of the
popular will for the benefit of the country
At large is replaced b. sOrdid and selfish
motives directed to personal advantage,
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
liberation of waste is thus secured orwhose
past party services are thus compensated,
II who are thus bribed to future party sup
port. This makes the continuance of par
-isan power a stronger motive among pub
tic servants than the faithful discharge of
The peoples trust, and sows the seeds of
CONTAGIOUS CORRUPTION IN THE BODY
PoLITIC
But to my mind, the saddest and most
5rightful result Of public extravaganza is
seen in the readiness of the masses of our
people, who are not dishonest but only
needless, to accustOm themselves to that
iereIictiOn in public place which it involves.
is tnuS 1ufnlSfeQ that our cOun-
.rymen are in danger of losing the
insistence upon the faithful dis
;harge of duty on the part of their public
servants, the regard for economy and fru-
yality which belongs to sturdy American
SIN, the independence which relies upon
personal endeavor, and the love OF an honest
Ind well regulated government, all of which
lie at the foundation of our free institutions.
Have l overstated the evils and dangers
With which the tremendous growth of
public extravaganza threatens US! Every
nan who loves his country well enough 10
,ause and think OF these things must know
hat l have not.
Let us, then, as we push on in our cam
,aign of education, especially impress upon |
'ur countrymen, the lesson which teaches |
hat public extravaganza is deadly, dan |
'erous thing, that frugality and economy |
re honorable, that the virtue and watch |
ulness of the people are the surest safe |
yards against abuses in their government, |
nd that those who profess to serve their !
in public places must be |
aithful to their trust.
A NEGRO FiEND. |