Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-03-06
Economy and Civil Service.

Economy and civil Service.
Every thoughtful American must realize the
Ignorance of checking at its beginning any tend
ency in public or private station to regard fru-
gality and economy as virtues which we may
safely outgrow. The federation of this idea re-
suits in the waste of the peoples money by their
chosen servants and encourages prodgality and
extravaganza in the home life of our country
men. Under our scheme of government the
waste of public money is u crime against the
citizen, and the contempt of our people for
economy and frugality in their personal affairs
deplorably saps the strength and sturdiness of
our national character.
1t is plain dictate of honesty and good gov
ernment that public expenditures should be
limited by public necessity, and that this should
be measured by the rules of strict economy, and
1t is equally clear that frugality among the peo-
pie Is the best guarantee of contented and
strong supportof free institutions. One mode
of the misrepresentation of public funds is avoid
ed when appointments to office, instead of be-
ing the rewards of partisan activity, are award
ed to those whose efficiency promises a fair
turn of work for the compensation paid TO them.
To secure the fitness and competency of ap-
| pointees to Office and to remove from political
action the demoralizing madness for spoils civil
service reform has found place in our public
| policy and laws. The benefits already gained
through this instrumentaity and the further
usefulness 1t promises entitle it to the hearty
support and encouragement of all who desire
to see our public service well performed, or who
hope for the elevation of political sentiment and
| the publication of political methods.
The existence of immense aggregations of
| kindred enterprises and combinations of busi-
ness interests formed for the purpose of limit
ing production and fixing prices is inconsistent
with the fair field which ought to be open to
every Independent activity. Legitimate strife
in business should not be superseded by an en-
| forced concession to the demands of combina-
| tons that have the power to destroy Nor
should the people to be served lose the benefit of
cheapness which usually results from whole
some competition. These aggregations and COM
blnations frequently constitute conspiracies
against the interests of the people, and in all
their phases they unnatural and opposed to
our American sense of fairness. To the extent
that they can be reached and restrained by
federal power the general government should
relieve our citizens from their interference and 4
exactions.
Tariff Reform.
Loyalty to the principles upon which our gov
ernment rests positively demands that the
equality before the law which it guarantees to
every citizen should be justly and in good faith
conceded in all parts of the land The enjoy
ment of this right follows the badge of citizen
ship wherever found, and unimpaired by race
and color it appeals for recognition to Ameri-
can manliness and fairness.
The people of the United States have agreed
that on this day the control of their govern
ment in its legislative and executive branches
shall be given to political party pledged in the
most positiveness to the accomplishment of tar
iff reform. They have thus determined in favor
of a more just and equitable system of federal
taxation. The agents they have chosen to carry
out their purposes are bound by their promises,
not less than by the command of their masters,
to devote themselves unremittingly to this serv-
Ice.
While there should be no surrender of princi-
pie, our task must be undertaken wisely and
without vindictiveness. Our mission is not
punishment, but the rectification of wrongs. If
in lifting burdens from the daily life of peo-
pie we reduce inordinate and unequal advan-
tages too long enjoyed, this is but necessary
incident of our return to right and Justice. If
we exact from unwilling minds acquescence in
the theory of an honest distribution of the fund
of governmental beneiicence treasured up for
all, we but insist upon a principle which under
lies our free institutions
When we tear aside the delusions and mis-
conceptions which have blinded our country
men to their condition under vicious tariff
laws, we but show them how far they have
been led away from the paths of contentment
and prosperity. When we proclaim that the
necessity for revenue to support the govern
ment furnishes the only justification for taxing
the people, we announce truth so plain that
its denial would seem to indicate the extent to
which judgment may be influenced by famil-
iarity with perversions of the taxing power and
when we seek to reinstate the self confidence and
business enterprise of our citizens by discredit-
ing an abject dependence upon governmental
favor strive to stimulate those elements of
American character which support the hope of
American achievement.
Gods Aid Invoked.
Anxiety for the redemption of the pledges
which my party has made and solicitude for
the complete justification of the trust the peo-