President Cleveland's Advise

President Grover Cleveland was a Democrat, and yet even he knew that though the people support the Government, the Government should not support chosen people. Recently I was reading the message that he sent to Congress after he vetoed a relief bill, and I was struck by his deep understanding of government and its proper role in our country.

The proper or correct role of government, he knew, was not to support chosen groups or individuals- federal aid to support chosen individuals or groups encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the Government- it changes the relationship that you have with the state from one where you are in charge of the state to one where the state is in charge of you. Further, having the government step in and provide goods and services to those people or groups it chooses to support weakens the overall sturdiness of our national character- rather than people striving to improve and be better, they sit and wait for the government to rescue them. Lastly, having the government step in and provide benefits, money, and support for chosen groups dissuades those kind and good people among us who would give charity and help out, weakening further the bonds of common brotherhood in our nation.

President Cleveland was a wise man- he knew that if the government stepped into to help out anyone who needed charity, society would be less off and not better off than it is. Providing healthcare to the poor, extending unemployment benefits, paying for college, running readings programs for Spanish-speaking citizens, and providing jobs to people is not the proper role of government. I understand the desire that people have to want to help- but using the power of the state in the end creates a worse society. And it isn't just that people are taxed so much that they can no longer give to charity- it is that they are told by the government that the government is taking care of it, so they no longer should help out and be kind to their fellow man.

No one, not even the most rabid conservatives, are doubting that times are tough right now. No one is arguing that things are good. This isn't about conservatives being greedy, or racist, or evil- it is about the proper role of government in society, and creating a happier, more prosperous, more free society.

Our Founding Fathers knew this, and President Cleveland knew this as well- that the Constitution was put together with much thought and care by decent men and that it is not the power and duty of the Government to be extend to relief to individuals who are suffering. This is something that is properly related to the public service or benefit. We should steadily resist as a nation any tendency to disregard the limited mission of this power and duty. And it is important that we teach people why we are resisting this tendency- not out of any bad will, but out of understanding, trust, faith, and kindness.

I believe in America still. The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow-citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly demonstrated in our times- after hurricanes or terrorist attacks, the American people have stepped up and done more and better than our government could to help people. We need to once again unleash the American people and let them achieve their full measure- and resist the tendency to have government step in and do this instead of them.