Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-05-14
EXTRAVAGANCE.
Dedication of Democratic Club at
Buffalo, N. z.
SPEECH OF EX-PRESIDENT CLEVELAND
Present Public Expenditures Denounced as
BaIeful in the Extreme and Productive
of Brood of Evils and Deaden-
ing of Conscience.

BUFFALO, n. Y, May 13.-The Cleve-
land democracy formally opened its
new club house last evening and dedi-
Gated it to the propagation of demo-
cratic principles The building was
ablaze and redolent with the perfume
of flowers and plants which abounded
in profusion. There were LOGO mem
bers present
Herbert P. Bissell, president of the
club, introduced Ex-President Cleve-
land. the speaker of the evening. After
abiding encouragingly to democratic
prospects, Mr.. Cleveland spoke as fol-
lows:
Ibelieve the most Threatening figure which
to- dav stands in the way of the safety of our
government and the happiness of our peo-
nile is reckless and wicked extravaganza in
our public expenditures. 1t is the most
fatal of all the deadly brood born OF govern
mental perversion. 1t hides beneath It's
wings the betrayal of the peoples trust ana
holds powerless in its fascinating glance the
peoples will and conscience. 1t brazenly
exhibits to-day q billion dollar congress.
But lately large surplus remained IN the
peoples public treasury after meeting ali
expenditures then by no means economical
This condition was presented TO the Anerl-
can people as positive proof that their Dur
den of taxation was unjust because unneces-
sarv: and vet while the popular protest Is
still heard, the harpy of public extravaganza
deyours the surplus and impudently calls
upon its staggering victims to bring stlll
larger supplies within the reach OF It's IN
satiate appetite.
A few short years ago a pension roll
amounting to $50 COO 900 was willingly main
tanned by our patriotic citizens. Io-day
nublio extravaganza DEGREES that three
times that sum shall be drawn from the
people, upon the pretext that its expenol-
| ture represents the popular love OF the SOL
der. Not many years ago river and mar
Dor bill appropriating ST, 700 gave rise to
| a loud popular protest Now, public eX-
trayagance commands an appropriation OF
| S22OOO,OOO for the same purposes, and the
people are silent. To-day millions are paid
| for bare faced subsidy, and this is approved
| or condoned at the behest of public extraV-
agance, 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 We
| need not prolong the details. Turn where
we will we see the advance OF this deVourlnS
| 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 perversions,
| and involves the great st of all dangers to
| our guarantee of Justice and equity" We
! need not unIearn this lesson 10 apprehend
| the fact that behind such exaction and as
| its source of existence is found pubic eX-
| travagance. The ak will not be laid at the
| the root of the unwholesOme tariff tree,
| with its vicious inequality and injustice, I'M
til we reach and destroy its parent and sup
| port But the growth of public eXtrava-
! gance in these latter days 6nd its uncon-
eeaIed and dreadful manifestations, force US
to the contemplation of other crimes, OF
| which it is undoubtedly guilty, besides un'
| Just exactions from the people.
| Our government is so ordained that its life
| blood flows from the virtue and patriotism
| of our people and its health and strength de-
| pend upon the integrity and faithfulness OF
| their public servants. If these are destroyed
| our government, II it endures, will endure
| only in name, failing to bless those for whom
| it was created and failing in its mission as
| an example to mankind. Public extrava'
| gance in its relation to inequitable tariff
| laws not only LAYS an unjust tribute upon
the people, but is responsible for unfair ad-
vantages bestowed 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 tC
personal advantage, while the encourage
ment of such motives in public place fol
party ends deadens the official conscience.
Public extravaganza directly distribute:
gifts and gratuities among the people, whose
federation of waste is thus secured or whose
past party services are thus compensated, Of
who are thus bribed to future party support
This makes the continuance of partisan
power a stronger motive among public ser
wants than the faithful discharge of the PEG
ple's trust, and sows the seeds of contagiou:
corruption in the body polite.
But to my mind the saddest and mos
frightfuI result of public extravaganza II
seen in the readiness of the masses of oul
people, who are not dishonest but only
needless, to accustom themselves to tina
dereliction in public place which it involves
| Evidence is thus furnished that our coun
trymen are in danger of losing the scrupu
lous insistence upon the faithful discharge
of duty on the part of their public servants
the regard for economy and frugality which
belongs to sturdy Americanism, the indie
pendence which relies upon personal en-
| deayor and the love of an honest and wei
, regulated government, all of which lie a
the foundation of our free Institutions.