Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-03-17

indicating the Opinlous Hoiu Vonee
ing pubic questions OF present import
ance, to also briefly refer to the exist
ence of certain conditions and tenden-
cies among our people which eeem to
menace the integrity and usefulness OF
their government. While every Amer
lean citizen must contemplate with the
utmost pride and enthusiasm the growth
and expansion OF our country, the sum-
cheney of orr institutions to stand
against the rudest shocks OF violence,
| the wonderful thrift and enterprise OF
our people and the demonstrated supe-
rIority OF our free government, IL De-
hooves us constantly to watch for every
| symptom of insdious infirmity that
| threatens our national vigor. The strong
man who in the confidence OF sturdy
| health courts the sternest activities OF
lite and rejoices in the hardihood OF con-
slant labor may still have lurking near
| hls vitals an UNDECIDED disease that
dooms him to su iden collapse. IL can
not be DOUBTED that our stupendous
achievements as people and our coun-
try's robust strength have given rise to
heedlessness OF those laws governing
our national health which we can no
more eyade than human lite can escape
TIN. avs OF God and nature.
Manifestly there is nothing more vital
to our supremacy as nation and to the
beneficienJ purposes Of our government
than q sound and stable currency. It's
exposure to degradation should at once
arouse to activity the most enlightened
statesmanship and the danger Of de-
precia ion in the purchasing power OF
the wages pa d to toll sh ,ud furnish the
strongest incentive to prompt Conserva-
tive precaution in dealing with our pres
ent EN- barrassin9 situation as related to
this subject. We will be wise If we
temper our confidence and faith in our
national strength AMI resources wi h
frank concessions. Even these Will not
permit us to defy with impunity the in
exorable laws OF finance and trade. At
the same time, in our efforts to adjust
the differences of opinion, we should be
free from intolerance or passion and our
judgments should be unmoved by allur-
ing praises and unvexed by selfish in
terests. l am confident such an APP
proach to the subject will result in
prudent, effective and remedial legisla-
ton. In the meantime, as far as the
executive branch OF government can in
tervene, none of the powers with which
it is invested will be withheld when
their exercise ia deemed necessary to
maintain our national credit or avert
financial disaster.
Closely related to the exaggerated con-
fidence in our country's greatness which
tends to the disregard of the rules of
national safety, another danger con-
fronts us not less serious. refer to the
prevalence OF the popular disposition to
expect from the operation of govern
ment especial and direct individual ad-
vantagea. The verdict of our voters,
which condemned the iniquity of main
tanning protection for projections sake,
enjoins upon the peoples servants the
duty OF exposing and destroying the
brood of kindred evils which are the an
wholesome progeny of paternalism. This
is the bane of Republican institutions
and the constant peril of our govern
ment by the people. 1t deerades to the
purposes of willy craft the plan of rule
our fathers established and bequeathed
to us as the object of our love
and veneration. 1t perverts the patri-
otto sentiment of our country
men, and tempts them to a pitiful
calculation of sordid gam to be derived
from their governments maintenance.
1t undermines the self-reliance OF our
people, and substitutes in it's place de-
pendence upon governmental favoritism
1t STILES the spirit of true Americanism,
and stupefies every ennobling trait o!
American citizenship. The. lessons OF
paternslism ought to be unlearned and
a better lesson taught that while the
people sh u d periodically and cheer
fully support their government, its
functions do not include the sup.
port OF the people. The accept
ance OF this principle leads to the
refusal of the bounties and subsidies
.,,I oh Ir,-1 10 Il
portion of our citizens to aid ill-advised
or laDguishing enterprises in which they
have no concern 1t leads also to cha!
Ienge of wild reckless pension expendi
lures, which overieaps the bounds Of
grateful recognition of patriotic service
and prostitutes to vicious uses the peo-
ple's prompt and generous impulse to
aid those disabled in their country's de
fenHe. Every thoughtful Amer can must
realize the importance of checking at its
beginning any tendency in public or pri-
vate station to regard frugality and econ
omy as virtues which we may safely out
run. liberation of this idea results in
a waste of the peoples money by their
chosen servants 1t encourages prodi-
gality and extravaganza in the home life
of our countrymen. Under our scheme of
government the waste of public money
8 crime against the citizens, and con-
tempt of our people for economy and
frugality in their personal affairs deplor
ably caps the strength and sturdiness of
our national character. 1t ia plainly the
dictate Of honesty and good government
that public expenditures should be linn
tied by public nece ssity; that this should
he measured by rules Of strict economy,
and it ia equally clear that frugality
among the people is the best guaranty
of contented, strong support of free
institutions.
One mode of misappropriation OF pub
lie funds is avoided when appointments
to office, instead of being the rewards of
partisan activity, are awarded to those
whose efficiency promises fair return
OF work for the compensation paid
them. To secure fitness and competency
OF appointees to Office, and remove from
political action the demoral'z Eng mad
ness for spoils, civil service reform has
louud place incur public policy and
laws. The benefits already gained
through its instrumentality and the fur.
ther usefulness it promises entitle it to
the hearty support and encouragement
OF all who desire to see our public ser
vice we'll performed, or who hope for the
elevation of political sentiment and the
publication of political methods.
The existence of immense sygreps-
tons of kindred enterprises, combina.
lions OF business interests, formed for