September 1, 2009

A Democrat Said What?

“I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the General Government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering that is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit. A prevalent tendency to disregard the limited mission of this power and duty should, I think, be steadfastly resisted, to the end the lesson should be constantly enforced that though the people support the Government the Government should not support the people…The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow-citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the Government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood.”

The above words were in fact spoken by a Democrat.

Democrat President Grover Cleveland spoke the above words in 1887 in defense of his veto (one of the 414 vetoes he issued during his time as president) of a bill that would have provided $10,000 to drought-stricken Texas farmers.

What is so amazing to me is how foreign Cleveland's thought process and mindset is to both Republican and Democrats alike in today's political environment.

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