The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-08
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND SPEAKING.


depreciation in the purchasing power OF
wages paid to toll should furnish the
strongest incentive to prompt and con-
servative perception.
In dealing with our present embar'
RAISING situation as related to this sub
ject, we will be wise if we temper our
confidence and faith in our national
strength and resources with the frank
concession that even those will not per-
NIT us to defy with impunity the mex
orable laws of finance and trade.
At the same time in our effort to
adjust the difference of opinion, we
should be free from intolerance or pas
sion, and our judgments should be
unmoved by alluring phrases and unvex-
ed by selfish interest. l am confident
that such an approach to the subject
will result in prudent and effective rem
edial legislation.
In the meantime, so far rs the execu-
tive branch Of the government can In
tervene, none of the powers with which
it is invested will be withheld when
their exercise is deemed necessary to
maintain our national credit or avert
financial disaster.
Closely related to the exaggerated
confidence in our country's greatness,
which tends to disregard of the rules
of national safety, another danger con-
fronts us not less dangerous.
refer to the prevalence of a popular
disposition to expect from the opera
tion of the government especial and di-
rect individual advantages.
49, w, oh
demned the injustice of maintaining
protection for projections sake, enJolnss
upon the peoples servants the duty OF
exposing and destroying the brood of
kindred evils which are the unwhole-
some progeny of paternalism.
This is the bane of Republican insti-
tutions and the constant peril of our
government by the people. 1t degrades
to the purposes of the willy craft plan
of the rule of our Observation-Disclosures
and bequeathed to Us as all object OF
our love and veneration.
1t perverts the patriotic sentiment of
our countrymen, and tempts them to
the pitiful calculation of sordid gain to
be derived from their governments
maintenance. It undermiues the self
reliance of our people and substitutes in
its place dependence upon governmental
favoritism, and stupeties every enno-
bling trait of American citizenship.
The lessons of paternalisln ought to he
unlearned and the better lesson taught
that while the people should particular
ly and cheerfully support their govern
ment. 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 q
portion of our citizens to aid ill-advised
or languishing enterprises i'll which they
have no concern. 1t leads also to the
challenge of wild and reckless pension
expenditures, which overlears the the
bounds of grateful recognition of pa,
triotic service and prostitutes to vicious
Uses the peoples prompt and generous
impule to aid those disabled i'll their
country's defense. Every thoughtful
American must realize the Importance
of checking at its beginning any ten
dency, III public or private station, to
regard frugality and economy as virtues
which we may safely outsrow. The
liberation of this idea results i'll the
waste of the peoples money by their
chosen servants, and encourages prodl-
galty and extravaganza i'll the home life
of our countrylnen. Under our scheme
of government waste of public money
is a crime against the citizens, and the
contempt of our people for economy ana
frugality in their personal affairs, de-
plorably saps the strength and sturdi-
ness of our national character.
1t is the plain dictate of honesty and
good government that public expendi-
lures should be limited by public neccs-
sity, and that this should be measured
by the rules of strict economy; and it is
equally clear that frugality among the
people is the best guaranty of the con-
tented and strong support of free insti-
tutions. One mode of misappropriation
os public fundsis avoided when appoint.
ments to office instead of the rewards Of
partisan activity, are awarded to those
whose efficiency promises fair return