The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-23
people who think and feel will be in

people who think and feel will be in
terested:
Where will promotion, establish
ment, and maintenance Of exhibitions
n expositions by the government
cease? Where Is the line 20 be drawn?
What rights to run shows at the fed
eral expense inhere' at Philadelphia,
New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, Nash
vile, or Omaha, that do not belong
opee, Atlantic City, Louisville, Kala-
mazoo, Oshkosh, Niagara Falls, or any
other American town."
The first thing a schemer thinks of
is-"Let US get an appropriation"
lions Of workers and tax bearers who
are not in the least interested in his
nice little plundering plan. The evils
are growing. So far as We read the
public prints they are not doing their
duty in this matter Of growth of expen-
ditures and waste of the peoples
money. When anything like a plausi-
BILE project is introduced the newspa-
pers will give it a warm send off"
without hesitation. and possibly, many
will do so without reflection or weigh
ing consequences. The ex-secretary
says. and it is wholesome and needed:
But it is unnecessary to elaborate
or enumerate the evils of the govern
ment show business. 1t is only one of
many modern methods of buncoing our
common Uncle Sam out of the taxes
which he has harvested from his full
and a~pplauding field of nephews. The
government waxwork business, men
agerie and general show business can
only be destroyed by sending men to
the national legislature for the purpose
Of doing something for the people, in
stead Of trying to get everything pos
sible out of and away from the peO-
pie"
This government show business has
cost nearly $4,000, 900. The time was
once when an expenditure of this mag
nitude meant much, but now it is look
ed upOn in these wild, e~xtravagant days
as a mere ba gatelle. The government
is no longer just, equal, economical. 1t
is much that is a%ntipOdal to all this. 1t
Expresses, rObs, wastes. Recklessness
and nOt craftsmanship directs. domi-
mates, shapes. One more extract from
the ex-secretary:
the youth of the United
States came to adult age inspired with
the patriotic idea hat every American
citizen should support the government
in war, in peace, n always. But to-
day mUltitudeS really hold that it is
the duty Of the government to support
its citiZens-in office, with contracts, or
by special legislation"
Look at some figures furnished by
the United States government. In 1870
the public expenditures amounted to
less than $500, 900, 900 for that year. A
great sum indeed. It was nearly five
times more than President Buchanan
required but ten years before. But
after that there was annual decrease
until in 1886, the total was but $242,-
4S3, 1850. That was sixteen years later.
That showed what was mentioned at
the start-that with the growth of the
population the per capita tax should
lessen. 1t will always do this where
there is honesty, capacity, a desire to
do right. But now what a leap. For
several years the has so voted
away the peoples money taken from
them by taxation that each year more
than a half billion-mOre than $500, OOO,-
600 are. needed to make buckle and
tongue meet. Mr.. Morton is right-it
people must decide. What shall it be?