Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-09

craftsmanship: and the danger OF ue-
probation in the purchasing power OF
wages being paid 70 al should furnish
the strongest incentive TO prompt and
conservative precaution. Indeed, with
our present embarrassing situation rs
related 10 this subject, we will be wise
II We viii temper confidence and faith
IN our national strength and resources,
with the frank concession that even
those viii not permit us TO DEFY with
IMMUNITY the memorable laws OF finance
efforts to adjust differences OF opinion,
we should be fee from Intolerance OF
passion and our judgment should be
unmoYed by alluring phrases, and I'm
yeXed by selfish interests. l am conf
dent such an approach to the subject
VIII result in prudent and effective
remedial legislation. In the meantime.
so far as the executive branch of gov
eminent can intervene, none Of the
powers with which it is invested Will
be Withheld when their exercise is
deemed necessary to MAINTAIN our nj
CLOSELY related to the exaggerated
confidence in our cOuntry's greatness
which leads to the diSregaTdS of rules
OF national safety, another danger COZ
fronts Us not less serious. l refer to
the prevalence OF the popular DISPOSE
ton to expect from the operation of
government especial and direct indi-
viduu advantages. The verdict OF OuI
voters which condemned the injury OF
maintaining the policy Of protection
enjoins upon the peoples servants the
duty Of exposing and destroying brood
OF kindred evils which are unWhole-
some progeny and paternaIism. This
is the bane Of republican institutions
and the constant peril OF our govern
ment by the people. 1t degradeS to
the purposes Of willy craft, the plan
Of rule our fathers established and be-
qucathed to us as the object Of our love
and yeneratiOn. 1t peryerts the patri-
otto sentiment Of our cOuntTymen and
tempts them to pitiful calculation of
sOIdid gain to be derived from tilail
mines the self reliance of our people
and substitutes in its place dependence
upon governmental fayOridsm. 1t Sti-
fles the spirit of true Americanism and
stupefieS every ennobling trait of Amir
can citizenship. The lessons of pater-
nalism ought to be unlearned. Better
still, the lesson should be taught that
While the people should periodically
and chee1fullt support their govern
ment, its functions do not include the
support OF the people. The accept
ance of this principle leads to the re-
fuSal of bOuntieS and subsidies which
burden the labor and the thrift of
lan@ulShinS enterprises in Which
they have no concern. 1t leads also to
a challenge of reckless pension eypendi-
ttfe, Which OverieapS the bounds of
grateful recognition Of patriotic service
and prostitutes to vicious uses the peo-
pies prompt and generous impulse to
aid those disabled in their country s
defense.
Every thoughtful American must
realize the Importance Of checking at
! the beginning any tendency in public
or private station to regard frugality
aud economy as virtues which we may
safely OutgroW. The liberation of this
idea results III a waste of the peoples
money by their chosen servants and en-
courages prodigality and extravaganza
in the home life of our countrymen
Under our scheme of government q
waste Of public money is Il crime, and
contempt III our epOpIe III economy
and frugality in their personal affairs
deplOrabiy SapS the strength and stur.
dlneSS OF our national character. II
is a plain dictate of honest and good
government that public expenditures
should be limited by public necessity
measured by rules of strict economy;
and it is equally clear that frugaity
among the people is the best guaranty
OF a contented, strong support Of free
institutions.
One mode of misrepresentation of
public funds is avoided when appoint
ments to Office, instead Of being rewards
OF partisan activity, are awarded to
those whose efficiency promises Il fair
return Of work for the compensation
paid them. To secure fitness and COM
potency Of appointees to office. and re
lieve from political action the demOrali-
izing madness for spOils, civil service
reform has found q place in our public
policy and laws. The benefits already
gained through this instrument and
further usefulness promised entities it
to the hearty support and encourage
ment of all who desire our public ser
vice well performed, or who hope for
the elevation Of political sentiment and
the publication Of political methods
THE existence of immense aggrega-
tons of kindred enterprises and combi-
nations of business interests formed for
the purpose of limiting 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 super
seeded by enforced concession to the
demands of combinations that have the
power to destroy, nor should the peO-
pie to be served lose the benefit of the
cheapness which usually results from
wholesome competition. These aggre-
cations and combinations frequently
constitute conspiracy against the inter
ests of the people, and in all their phas-
eS they are 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 ON.