The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-12-03
what Honest GovernmeBf
Means
During the az. campaIga ..Hone,

W nat EnOne$f HOvernmeDh
Means.
/ During the Iats campaign Honest
Government and Tariff Reform,
s furnished the waithword and rally
ing cry II the ictofinus democracy
tFoIn ene On: of the ronufry to the
other. L was inscribed upon every
t,emocrsti, banner and was the bur-
den of all democratic campaign
speeches. The party to-day stands
pledged, in the words of Mr.. Cleve-
land. TO give to the American people,
the best and most confiding people
in the world" as he gratefully de-
scribcs them, "wise policies and
honest government" The pledge
is most comprehensive one.
Honest government necessarily i'm
plies, If it means anything, an
honest administration of State, mu-
nicipal and county affairs where the
responsibility is in democratic hands
as well as of federal affairs. Of the
vast complex machine ofgovernment
in the United States, the various
powers and functions of which are
distributed through SO many chan
nels and vested in so many hande,
the federal government is but part.
While. ofcourse, the national con-
test just decided Immediately involv-
ed only national issues, it 10 the
browning merit Of democratic prin-
ciples that they apply equally to all
the operations of government where
ever, however and by whomsoever
administered. Take the issue of
tariff reform"-per SC purely fed
eral question, the imposition and
adjustment of duties upon imports
being exclusively matter OF federal
regulation. But tariff reform" is
1
not an isolated issue, having no nee
essary or logical connection with
other questions. 1t is but a particu-
lar application of universal under
lying principle which democrats pro-
fess and republicans deny or ignore,
viz. that "all unnecessary taxation
is unjust taxation" This is the
ground upon which the democratic
party assailed and the people have
condemned the Mckinley tariff.
This cardinal principle in the dem
osratic creed is to-day emblazoned
on the party banner which spans the
street in front of the headquarters in
this city of the democratic city ex-
ecutive committee 1t is a principle
which applies just as well TO State,
city and county taxation as to fed
eral taxation in the guise of a tariff.
"All Unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxation"
So with the party declaration in
favor Of .honest government" 1t
is just as much directed against dis
honesty and corruption in State and
city politics as in national politics.
The corrupt alliance between repub-
| lican leaders and certain favored in
terests, corporations and trusts, out
of which grew the class legislation
npon which Che people have emphat-
icallv set the seal of their condem-
nation, is not one whit more obnox-
ious 10 democratic principles than a
similar alliance would be between
democratic leaders and other favored
interests and corporations, having
for its objeco legislation in favor 81
the latter hv State Legislature OF
a city council.
The Mckinley tariff was national
job, aad as such the democracy de
pounced it, 1t was legislation fol
the benefit of the few at the expense
of the many. How many bills, how
many ordinances open to the same OBJ
lection are passed annually through
State and municipal legislatures by
democratic votes?
| 1t is impossible to draw the line SO
as to condone at Annapolis or in the
City Hall practices and methods
which are to be condemned at Wash
ington. .sHonest government should
mean the same thing everywhere
wherever the powers of government
is felt. It is self stultifying for any
public man 10 profess that in nation
al politics he is in favor of 'shonest
government" and clean methods,
while in State and city politics he
lends the weight of his name and in
fiuence to local jobs, thinly disguised
raids upon the public treasury or
schemes by which valuable public
franchises are handed over to privatl.
corporations without adequate con-
sideration or proper safeguards for
the protection of the peoples rights
and interests. This is the worst
sort of 'McKinleyism" the sacrifice
Of interests of the many to the few
Worse than the tariff iuiquity
itself and should be just ~ hate
full to every sincere and consistent
democrat. The campaign for "honest
government" to be q successful one,
must be far-reaching and consistent
ly fought in every field in which
honesty in administration and legis-
lation is desired Mr. Cleveland is
right in saying that the campaign is
not ended. 1t has just begun-Sun.
General Weaver continues TO be-
lieve his army, now grown TO be re-
spectable-ia numbers and influence,