The morning call., 1893-03-05

OF our people and the demonstrated -supe-
riority of our free Government, it behooves
US constantly to watch for every symptom
of insidious infirmity that threatens our
national vigor The strong man who, in
the confidence of sturdy health. courts the
sternest activities Of life and rejoices in
the bardihOod of constant labor, may
still have lurking near his vitas un-
needed disease that dooms him TO sudden
collapse.
1t cannot be doubted that our stipend
GUS achievements as a people, and our
country's robust strength, have given rise
to needle ssness of those laws governing our
national health which we can no more eyade
than human life can escape the laws of God
and nature.
Manifestly, there is nothing more vital TO
our supremacy as a nation and to the be-
neficent purposes of our Government than
a sound and stable currency. Its exposure
TO degradation should at once arouse to
activity the most enligh tened craftsmanship;
and the danger of depreciation in the pur-
chasing power of wages paid to toll should
furnish the strongest incentive to prompt
conservative precaution.
In dealing with our present embarrassing
situation, as related to this subject we will
be wise II we temper our confidence and
faith in our national strength and resources
with frank concession. Even these will not
permit US to defy with impunity the mex
orable laws OF finance and trade. At the
same time, in our efforts to adjust differ
ences of opinion, we should be free from
intolerance or passion and our judgment
should be unmoved by alluring phrases aHd
unyexed by selfish interests.
subject will result in prudent, effective
remedial legislation. In the meantime, so
far as the executive branch of the Govern
ment can intervene, none OF the powers
with which it is invested will be withheld
when their exercise are deemed necessary
to maintain our national credit or avert
financial disaster.
Closely related to the exaggerated conf
dence in our country's greatness. which
tends to disregard of the rules of national
safety. another danger confronts us not less
serious. l refer to the prevalence of pop
ular disposition to expect from the opera
ton of the Government especial and direct
individual advantages. The verdict of our
voters, which condemned the injury of
maintaining protection for protection's sake.
enioins upon the peoples servants the duty
of exposing and destroying the brood of
kindred evils which are the unwholesome
progeny Of paternalsm. This is the bane
of republican Institutions and the constant
peril of a government by the people. 1t
degra6es to purposes of willy craft the plan
of rule our fathers established and be-
dueathed to US as an object OF our love and
yeneration; 1t peryerts the patriotic seuti-
ment Of our cOuntrymen and tempts them TO
the pitiful calculation of sordd gain to be
derived from their Governments mainte-
nance; it undermines the self-reliance OF
our people and substitutes in its place de-
pendence upon governmental favoritism; 1t
stiles the spirit Of true Americanism and
stupefes every enn0bling trait of American
citizenship.
The lessons of paternalsm ought to be-
unlearned, and the better lesson taught,
that while people should patriotically and
eheerfully support their Government, Its
functions do not include the support of the
people.
The acceptance of this principle leads to
the refusal of bounties and subsidies which
burden the labor and thrift Of a portion of
our citizens to aid ill-advised or languish-
ing enterprises in which they have no con-
cera. 1t leads, also, to a challenge of the
wild, reckless pension expenditure, which
overleaps the bounds of a grateful recogn-
ti0n OF patriotic service and prostitutes to
vicious uses the peoples prompt aud gener-
Gus impulse to aid those disabled in their
conntry's defense.
Every thoughtful American must realize
the importance of checking at its beginning
any tendency, in public or private station,
to regard frugaliIy and economy as virtues
which he may safely outgrow. The tolera-
ton OF this idea results in a waste of the
peoples money by their chosen servants
and encourages prodigality and extrava-
pance In the home life Of our countrymen
Under our scheme of government the waste
of public money is crime against the ctl-
zen, and the contempt Of our people for