The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-04-25
Are These Changes I'm Govern
mental Policies, For the
Better?

g ONE 80 years ago, there was a great
calamity that fell upon Texas. All of the
cotton was killed by an unprecedented frost,
and Congress heard the cry of distress, passed
bill to have the Government supply the far
mers with cotton seed, in order that the crop
might be replanted
At that time, Grover Cleveland was presi-
deaf, and his veto of the relief measure which
Congress had passed, was loudly acclaimed
as an act of great political courage.
1Ae historian, Pro1. John Fiske, thought so
highly of Mr.. Cleveland's veto Of the Texas
Relief Bill, that he mentioned the matter to
eulogize it, IN one of his books
Most of our readers we'll remember that
when President Garfield was shot by the
assassin Gitteau, it required the utmost exer-
ton to secure from Congress a very moderate
appropriation to pay the surgeons who had
attended him for many long, hot months
[ remember distinctly that DIR. Hamilton of
New York was savagely criticised in the news
papers, for presenting bill Of $4,000, when,
as matter of fact he had been compelled to
virtually surrender magnificent private prac-
tlce, and to devote his entire time to the dying
President
Again [ remember, that while was serving
nay one term in Congress, bill was intro
duced by Private John Allen, to relieve the
tens of thousands of people in the great Val
ley, who had lost their homes and everything
else IN flood whose turbid waters submerged
hundreds Of thousands Of square miles Mr.
Allen did not press his bill, for he knew
perfectly we'll that, even if it were passed,
the President would veto it.
How differently the Government now acts
In such matters! When President Mckinley
was shot, and the bungling doctors hurried
him out of this world, they promptly pre-
sented enormous bills, which were promptly
paid by order of Congress. Not voice was
heard In opposition to this illegal appropria-
ton of the public's money
Then you will remember that there was an
earthquake and volcano eruption in the
French and English Islands of the West
Indies. Our Federal Government immedi-
ately rushed ships and food supplies to those
afflicted Island colonies, although no CIV for
help had come to us. It must be manifest to
you, that England and France should have
supplied whatever those afflicted colonists
needed England did not send single shii-
ling, nor the French Government, a single
franc. When cur relief vessel reached Martin
1que, the natives came on board with proyiS>>
IONS to sell. Thus we became the laughing
stock of the world
When Italy and Sicily we're shaken up bv
an earthquake during Roosevet's admins
tratlon, that impetus mountebank rushed
Congress with special message, demanding
an appropriation of 100000, to rebuild
houses in Messina and Calabria Congress,
with only one dissenting vote, took that enor-
nous amount Of your money, and applied
it to the purpose above mentioned.
The cottages were framed in New York,
were transported across the ocean by our
navy, and erected in Italy by our marines.
The Italians refused to even assist in putting
together the houses for which your money
paid.