People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1893-03-17


national character. 1t is the plain
dictate of honesty and good govern
ment that public expenditures
should be limited by public neces-
sity, and that this should be meas
ured by the rules of strict economy !;
and it is equally clear that frugality
among the people is the best guaran-
tee of a contented and strong sup
port of free institutions.
One mode of transportation of
public funds is avoided when ap-
pointments to office instead of being
rewards Of partisan activity are
awarded to those whose efficiency
promises a fair return of work for
compensation paid to them. To
secure the fitness and competency Of
appointees to office and to remove
from political action the demoralizing
madness for spoils, civil service re-
form has found place in our public
policy and laws. The benefit al
ready gained through this instru-
mentality and the further usefulness
it promises entitle it to the hearty
support and encouragement of all
who desire to see our public service
we'll performed or who hope for the
elevation of political sentiment and
purifaction Of political methods.
The existence of immense aggre-
cations of kindred enterprises and
combinations of business interests,
formed for the purpose of limiting
production and fixing prices, is in
consistent with the fair field which
ought to be open to every indie
pendent activity. Legitimate strife
in business should not be superseded
by enforced concessions to the de-
mands of combinations that have
power to destroy, nor should the
people to be served lose the benefit
of the cheapness which usually re-
suits from wholesale competition.
These aggregations and combina-
tons frequently constitute con-
spiracies against the interests Of the
people and in all their phases 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
our citizens from their interference
and exactions.
Loyalty to the principles upon
which our government rests posi-
lively demands that the equality be-
fore the law which it guarantees to
every citizen should justly and in
good faith be conceded in all parts
of the land. The enjoyment of this
right follows the badge of citizen
ship wherever found and unimpaired
by race or color it appeal for recog-
milton to American manliness and
fairness. Our relations with the
Indians located within our borders
impose upon us responsibilities we
cannot escape. Humanity and con-
sistency require us to treat them
with forbearance and in our deal
ings with them to seriously and con-
siderately regard their rights and
interests. Every effort should be
made to lead them through the
paths of civilization and education
to self-supporting and independent
citizenship. In the mean time as the
nations wards they should be
promptly defended against the Gu
pidity of designing men and shielded
from every influence or temptation
that retards their advancement.
The people of the United States
have decreed that on this day the
control of their government IN its
legislative and excessive branches
shall be given to the political party
pledged in the most positive terms
to the accomplishment Of tariff re-
form. 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 command
of their masters to devote them
selves unreservedly to this service.
While there should be no surrender
of principle our task must be under
taken wisely and without vindictive-
ness. Our mission is not the pun
ishment but the rectifcation of
wrongs. If in lifting burdens from
the daily life of our people we re-
duce inordinate and unequal ad-
vantages too long enjoyed this is but
a necessary incident of our return to
right and Justice. If we exact from
unwilling minds acquiescence in the
theory of honest distribution of the
funds of governmental beneficence
treasured up for all, we but insist
upon the principle which underlies
our free institutions.
When we tear aside the decisions
and misapprehensions which have
brought our countrymen to their pres
ent condition under vicious tariff laws
we but show them how far they have
been led away from paths of content
ment and prosperity. When we
proclaim that the necessity for reve-
mo +O SuY,rort the Governments fur