The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-01-30

The ADVOCATE has steadily opposed al
appropriation by the Legislature for stat
exhibit at the Worlds Fair, and has beer
ably seconded by some of the most lnftu
entail county journals in the state
Maryland, as state, has nothing to ex
hibit. In a collective capacity the people
own nothing but State House, Cover
nor's Mansion, Penitentiary, two Houses
of Correction. few historical records, and
some oyster police boats. All else is indl-
vidual property People who have anything
to exhibit should bear their own expenses
If any beneficial results are to flow from
these exhibits, as there certainly will be,
the exhibitors will reap the advantage.
For the state to grant aid would be taxing
the many for the benefit Of the few, an act
totally al variance with the principles OF
a republican form of government.
To grant an appropriation for such
purpose is clearly without the authority OF
the Legislature Taxes are paid for the
support of government, and their approprl-
alton for any other purpose would be a
misdirection of public funds.
When Grover Cleveland was Mayor of
Buffalo, New York, in vetoing an appro-
priation by the City Council for proper
observance of Decoration Day, he said
II deem the object OF this appropriation a
most worthy one. = But the money so
contributed should be free gift OF the cltl'
zens and tax. payers, and should mol De eA-
torted from them by taxation. This is SO,
because the purpose for which this money is
asked does not involve their protection or NJ
teresf AS members of the community, and 1t
NAV or may not be approved by them The
people are forced to pay taxes into Inc cly
treasury only upon the theory that such money
shall be expended for public purposes, or
purposes in which they all have direct and
practical interest. The logic of this position
leads directly to the conclusion that, IL the
people are forced 10 pay their money INTO Inc
public fund and it is spent by their servants
and agents for purposes in which the people
as tax.navers have no interest, the exactlon
of such taxes from them Is OppresS're ana
unjust.
We have opposed the appropriation on
the ground that the state should be just
before it is generous, and our first duty Is
to pay our debts over S30O,OOO of which
is now overdue.
We have opposed state aid, because we
are opposed to the parental theory OF gov
eminent. When the state undertakes TO
do that which should be accomplished by
individual enterprise, individual energy Is
relaxed. selfrelance is dwarfed, and the
people become mere dependents ON the
state. On this subject Of parental gov
eminent, and the people becoming DEEPEN
dent upon the state for that support which
should come from thel elves, Gov. Ham
iton. in his message to the Legislature, on
February II, 1880, said
by the act of 1872, chapter 2s2 certain
appropriations are made to agricultural socle-
ties, one of which is in Washington county.
These appropriations, in my Judgment are
not 10 be defended upon any sound prtnttPte,
and should not be made. The agricultural
interest is the foundation stone OF industrial
power, but this interest is no more entitled to
appropriation in the nature of bounties and
subsidies or gratuites than any of the other
great branches of industry. : = = Besides,
such appropriations set bad examples, aud
others come for similar ones, until at last you
get everybody looking to the state for that
support which should come from themselves
L.. n,tbin,r tn nvhibit al
Chicago. and to tax it to aid other interests
would be as unjust, and mot to be defend
ed upon any sound principle, as were the
appropriations to agricultural societies.
Any appropriation made by the lesisla-
ture for Maryland exhibit at Chicago
would not only be without authority, but
would be money absolutely wasted. Mary
land as state has nothing to exhibit If
the whole or any part were applied to aid
individual exhibits, it would be a gross in
Justice and Il instruction of public funds
wholly inexcusable. The great majority of
the people ia the counties Of the state are
opposed to an appropriation for any such
purpose, and there is considerable sentl-
ment in Baltimore opposed to it. Those
who favor it. in the counties, do 50 under
misapprehensiOn. They seem to think
that unless the Legislature graDts state aid
Maryland will not be represented at the
Worlds Fair State pride is strong, and
under this misapprehension some favor an
appropriation by the Legislature. They
have not considered the right of the Legis-
kture to expend money for any such pur-
pose, and do noteomprehend that all Mary
land has to exhibit will be exposed at the
Worlds Fair without state aid. They are
proud of the grand old commonwealth, of
her record AID her institutions, and are
conscious of her greatness in soil, climate,
minerals, and natural resources and advan-
tages, and gant her to be properly repre-
scented at Chicago. But when they realize
that to have this proper representation no
state aid is necessary, the sentiment against
an appropriation will be unanimous
Col L. Victor Baughman.
Col L. Victor Baughman retired from