Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1891 — WORDS OF WISDOM. [ARTICLE]

WORDS OF WISDOM.

We make the following extract from • the patriotic and] statesmanlike utterances of ex-President Cleveland before the “Cleveland Club,” Buffalo, N. Y., a few evenings ago: “l believe the most thr. atoning figure which to-day stands in the way of the safety of our government and the happiness of our people is reokless and wicked «xtravapance in our publio expenditures. It is the most faial of all the deadly brood bom of governmsntal perversion. It hides beneath its wings the betrayal of the people’s trust and holds powerless in its fascinating glance the people’s will and conscience It brazenly exhibits to-day a billion dollar congress. But lately a iarge surplus remained in the people’s publio treasury after meeting all expenditures teen by no means economical. This condition was presented|to the Amerionn people as positive proof that theii burden of taxation was unjust because unnecessary; and yet while the popular protest is still heard, the harprof publio extravagance devours the surplus and impudently calls upon its staggering victims to bring still larger supplies within the reach of its insatiate appetite. A few short years ago a pension roll amounting to fifty-three million of dollars was willingly maintained by our patriotic citizens. To-day public extravagance de reos that three times that bus* shall be drawn from the people, npon tbe ptetoxt t at its expenditure represents the popular love of the soldier. Not many vears ago a river and harbor bill appropriating sleven millions of dollars gave rise to a lou 1 popular protest. Now, public extravagance commands an appropriation of tweutv-two millions for the same purpi ses, and the people are silent. Today millions are paid for barefaced subsidy; and this is approved or condoned at the be est of publio extravagance, and thus a new marauder is turned loose, which in company with the vicious tariff partner, bears pilfered benefit to the households of favored selfish interests.

We need not prolong the details. Turn where we will we see the advance of this devouring and destructive creature. Our democratis faith teaches us that the useless exaction of money from the people upon the false pretext of j üblic necessity is tbe worst of all governmental perversion, and involves the greatest of all dangers to our guarantees of justice and equity. We need not unlearn this lesson to apprehend the'fact that beh nd such exaction and as its sourceol existence. is found public extravagance. The ax will not be laid at the root of the unwholesome thriff tree with its vicious inequality and injustice until we reach and destroy its parent and support. But the growth of publio extravagance in these latter days, and its unconcealed and dreadful manifesiations, force us to the contemplation of other crimes, of which it is undoubtedly guilty, beside unjust exaction fiom the people. Our government is so ordained that its life blood flows from the virtue and patriotism of our people, and its health and strength depend upon the integrity and faithfulness of their public servants. If these are destroyed, our government, if it endures, will endure only in name, failing to bless those for whom it was oreated and failing in its mission as an example to mankiud. Public extravagance in its relation to inequitable tariff Jaws, not only lays an unjust tribute upon the people, but is responsible for ui fair advantages bestowed upon special and favored interests as the price of partisan suppert. Thus the exercise of the popular will for ihe benefit of the country at large is replaced by sordid and selfish motives directed to personal advantage, while the encouragement of such motifs in publio place for party ends deadens the official conscience.

Public extravagance directly distributes gifts and gratuities among the people, whose toleration of waste is thus secured or whose past party services are thus com peusated, or who are thus bribed to uture party support. This makes the continuance of partisan power a stronger motive among public servants than the faithful discharge of the people’s trust, and sows the seed of contagious corruption in the body politic. But io my mind, the saddest find most frightful result of public extravagance is seen in the readiness of the masses of our people, who are not dishonest but only only heedless, to accustom themselves to that dereliction in public place which it involves. Evidence is thus furnished that our countrymen are in danger of losing the scrupulous insistance upon the faithful discharge of duty on the part of the r public servants, the regard for economy and frugality of sturdy Ameticanism. the icdepende ce which relies upon personal endeavor, and the love of an honest and well regul te l government, all of w.hich lie at the foundation of our free i atitutioas. Have I • verstated the evils and dangers with which the tremendous growth as public extra.ag ince threatens us? Every man who lo' es his country well enough to pause and think of these things mast know that I have not. Let us, then, as we push on in our campaign of edncation specially impress a • on oar countrymen the lesson which teaches that public extravagance is a deadly, dangerous thing; that frugality and economy are honorable; that ’he watchfulness of the people are the surest safeguards against abuse-' in their government, and that those who profess do servo their fel-low-citizens in public place must be faithful to their trust. H. 0. Nichols, of Lowell, Indiana, came down o Rensselaer Thursday and bought cne of l he famous Morgan Spading Harrows. They are the best thing of the kind and farmers are finding it out. Sold by Hammond Bbos., Rensselaer, Indiana. The baccalaureate sermon before the graduating class of the licnsse’Rer High School will be preached on. Sunday the l”th inst., at 3 o'clock p. in., in Trinity i M. E. Church, by Dr. C. E. Wilber, of Adrien College, Mich. All are invited. If you want harness, bridles, baiters or anything in that line of trade yon will consult your interests by inspecting goods and ascertaining prices at Hora e Peacock’s, opposit the Nowels House. You pav 5 cents direct and the government pays 2 cents out of vour taxes from the treasury, and you think your sugar i is reduoed 2 cents per pound by the McKinley bill? That bill took affection the Ist of April—'"All Fool’s day."

I desire to sell the small farm—4o aore , —on which I now reside, near Jnliar, Newton county, Indiana. New resident and other improvements. Apply to, ox address W. G. SMOOT, Julian, Newton county, Ind. Mr. W. G. Smoot advertises bis farm for sale in the Rensselaer Sentinel. Ht has a good farm, and those who wish to purchase may find a bargain.—KentlancJ Democrat.