The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-05-31

Ned Nutbush Again

EDITOR GoLD LEAF Whatever views
may DC ntcrtaiucd by Mr.. Cleveland
We believe he is honest i'll his convictions,
though they differ from our own. espe-
clally regarding the silver question Yet
no one can deny that his former admin
lstration was wise, just and economical.
Inder the existing law, there accumu-
lated surplus of over one hundred mil
lions OF dollars. The law was unwisp u,
the government had no need of this vast
| amount, 1t was therefore locked up in
the vaults OF the treasury, thus depriv-
ing the channels of trade of this money.
| as circulating medium. In the retire
ment OF MIR. Cleveland, it was left to the
care of his successor Mr.. Harrison, who
entertaining no scruples as to its dispo-
| sltion, this large sum was soon sauan-
dered to the four winds, by his reckless
Administration, besides an enormous
amount OF Indebtedness piled upon the
tOlllng masses. Now can any one be so
unjust, so demented, as to charge Mr.
Cleveland with the disastrous panic
which resulted from the reckless, extrav-
agant administration OF Harrison? This
question was answered by the people in
1892. Doubtless there is some defect
IN our governmental machinery. The
balance wheel is out of gearing. Who
can ascertain where the defect lies. SO
that the machinery may be properly ad-
lusted, that there be no friction? Our
financial embarrassment now existing
comes from enactment of unWise laws
The question then arises, what is good
government? 1t is that no more taxes
be laid on the people than is necessary to
run its machinery, and its expenditures
do not exceed its revenues? This is good
government-but according to this
maxim has the government been run on
the plan of economy for the past %
years? From the present condition of the
treasury, it is apparent to all, that
economy has been vitality ignored. The
most gigantic of all extravaganza is the
Pension swindle. Nearly forty years
have passed, since the surrender of the
Southern armies; naturally elist should
have grown smaller, on the contrary, it
has increased, and hundreds are now
drawing money from the taxed-burdened
people, who never saw days service in
Federal army, or fired a gun during the
war. The true soldier is justly entitled
to his pension, but as an honorable man
is as much opposed to the swinde as
any one else. The agents who aided in
perpetrating these frauds, should be
prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Again we note hundreds, drawing pen
sions from our government, are foreign
ers, citizens OF other countries, who came
to America during an unhappy strife,
and shed American blood, have since
returned to their respective homes, to
live comfortably on the money wrung
from our heavily taxed people. Is this
,pfrt,+ n ,yr,< W. l.
are hundreds OF official dead heads, fill
ing useless government positions draw
ing fat salaries which could be dispensed
with. Another abuse against which the
people should in the strongest terms
protest. Representatives have no right
whatever to abuse the power entrusted
to them by the people, nor have they the
right to use that power by misappro-
priating the peoples money. For years
it has been the custom to appropriate
certain sums of money to aid a defeated
candidate to contest the claims of his
opponent, who holds certificate of cleo
ton given him by the returning board OF
his respective State, thereby paying not
only to the true representative, but also
the defeated candidate. Is this doing
Justice to the people who are taxed to
pay an extra representative? All fair
minded men will answer no. Now if any
man has cause to believe he has beer
defrauded out of his election. let hin
bring the matter in II proper form, an(
vindicate his rights, but bear the expense
| himself, and not take the peoples money
to use in promoting his personal inter
est. 1t is for his personal good and no.
for the good of those who voted to plac,
him in the position he failed to get.
each defeated candidate had to foot the
bill as the people do, there would be but
few contests. These and other extrava
gances in the aggregate amount to large
sums, but the tax payers have to shell
| out, and foot the bills all the same.
Respectfully,
| NED NUTBUsH