The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-12-14
THE MESSAGE.
The Presidents Communication
to the Fiftieth Congress.
THE QUESTION OF TARIFF.
Mr.Cleveland Again Urges That Rev.
enue Reduction Is Necessary.
TRUSTS AND COMBINATIONS.
The Banding of Capital Against
Labor Condemned.
LEGISLATION HAS BEEN IMPEDED
TRUSTS AND COMBINATIONS.
LEGISLATION HAS BEEN IMPEDED
The Congressional Machine Blocked
by Minor Matters.

Inc congressional Machine DlOckeu
by Minor Matters.
He Touches Briefly on the Recent Fish
cries Negotiations, and Says the Bshr-
ing Sea Controversy Demands Imme-
diate Attention-The Sackviile Episode
and Our Diplomatic Relations With
Other Nations-our naturalization Laws,
He says, Are Too Lax-The Reports OF
the Heads of the Several Departments
Reviewed, and the Years Work Com
mended-The Indian Question and Other
Matters.
To the Congress of the United States:
As you assemble for the discharge of the
duties you have assumed as the representa-
tives of free and generous people, your
meeting is marked by an interesting and i'm
pressve incident. With the expiration of
the present session of the congress, the first
century of our constitutional existence as
nation will be completed.
Our survival for one hundred years is not
sufficient to assure us that we no longer have
dangers to fear in the maintenance, with all
its promised blessings, of government
founded upon the freedom Of the people. The
time rather admonishes us to soberly inquire
whether in the past we have always closely
kept in the course of safety and whether wa
have before us a way plain and clear which
leads to happiness and perpetuity.
When the experiment Of our government
was undertaken, the chart adopted for our
guidance was the constitution. Departure
from the lines there laid down is failure 1t
is only by "A strict adherence to the direction
they indicate and by restraint within the
limitations they fix, that we can furnish
proof to the world of the fitness of the Ameri-
can people for self government
The equal and exact justice of which we
boast as the underlying principle of our insti-
tutions, should not be confined to the rea-
tions of our citizens to each other The gov
ernment itself is under bond to the American
people, that in the exercise of its functions
and powers it will deal with the body of our
citizens in a manner scrupulously honest and
fair and absolutely just. 1t has agreed that
American citizauship shall be the only cre-
dsntial necessary to justify the claim OF
equality before the law, and that no con-
dition in life shall give rise to discrimination
in the treatment of the people by their gov
ernment.
The citizen of our republic in its early
DAYS rigidly insisted upon full compliance
with the letter of this bond, and saw stretch
ing out before him clear field for individual
endeayor His tribute to the support of his
government was measured by the cost OF Its
economical maintenance, and he was secure
in the enjoyment of the remaining recon-
pense OF his steady and contented toll In
those days the frugaity of the people was
stamped upon their government, and was en-
forced by the Tree, thoughtful and Intelligent
suffrage of the citizen. Combinations, mo-
| nopolies and aggregations of capital were
| either avoided or sternly regulated and re-
strained. The pomp and glitter of govern
ments less free offered no temptation and
presented no deluson to the plain people,
| who, side by side, in friendly competition,
wrought for the ennobement and dignity of
man. for the solution of the problem of free
government and for the achievement of the
| grand destiny awaiting the land which God
| had given them.
| soMBER SHADING.
A century has passed. Our cities are the
| abiding places of wealth and luxury; our
| manufactures yield fortunes never dreamed
| of by the fathers of the republic; our bus-
ness men are madly striving in the race for
riches, and immense aggregations Of capital
| outrun the imagination in the magnitude of
their undertakings.
| We view with pride and satisfaction this
| bright picture of our country's growth and
| prosperity while only a closer scrutiny de-
| yelopS a somber shading Upon more care
full inspection we find the wealth and luxury
of our cities mingled with poverty and
| wretchedness and unremunerative toll A
crowded and constantly increasing urban
population suggests the impovershment of
rural sections and discomfort with agricul-
| tural pursuits The farmers SON. not salts
fed with his fathers simple and laborious
life Joins the eager chase for easily acquired
wealth.
We discover that the fortunes realized by
our manufacturers are no longer solely the
reward of sturdy industry and enlightened
foresight, but that they result from the dis
eliminating favor of the government, and
are lnrg ,ly built upon undue exactions from
the muses. of our people. The gulf between
employers and the employed is constantly
widening and classes are rapidly forming
one comprising the very rich and powerful
while in another are found the toiling poor.
| As We Wow the achievements Of aggregated
capital, we discover the existence of trusts
combinations and monopolies, while the citi
zen is struggling far in the rear or is tram
pied to death beneath an iron heel. Corpara
tons which should be carefully restrained
creatures of the law and the servants of the
people, are fast becoming the peoples mas
ters.
Still congratulating ourselves upon thf
wealth and prosperity of our country, anc
complaceutly coAte nplating every incident
of change inseparable from these conditions
1t is our duty as patriotic citizens to inquire
at the present stage of our progress, how til,
bond of the government made with the pee
pie has been kept and performed.
HE CHARGES UNJUST TAXATION.
Instead of limiting the tribute drawn fror
our citizens, TO the necessities of its economi
cal administration, the government persist
in exacting from the substance of the peo
pie, millions which unapplied and useless Ii
dormant in its treasury. This hagrant in
justice and this breach Of faith and obliga
ton add to extortion the danger attendin
the diversion Of the currency Of the countr
from the legitimate channels of business.
Under the same laws by which these IT
suits are produced, the government permit
many millions more to be added to the cos
OF the living of our people and to be take
from our consumers, which unreasonabl
swell the profits of small but powerful m
nority.
The people must still be taxed for the SUI
port of the government under the operatlo
OF tariff laws But to the extent that I'll
mass of our citizens are inordinately bu
dened beyond any useful public purpose, an
| IOI Dtlltul VI a ldNOiSh iSNf WV b''N''
ment, under pretext of an exercise OF its tal
ing power enters gratuitously into partne
ship with these favorites to their adyantaG
and to the injury Of vast majority of o'
people
This is not equality before the law
The existing situation is injurious to u
health of our entire body polite. 1t stihe
In those for whose benefit it is permitted, q
patriotic love of country, and substitutes
Z its place selfish greed and grasping ayaric
Devotion to American citizenship for its ov
sake and for what it should accomplish as
motive to our nations s1vancement and I
happiness of all our people, is displaced
n the assumption that the government, inste
% of being the embodiment of equality, Is
an instrumentaity through which espec
and individual advantages are TO be game
The arrogance of this assumption is uncC
cealed 1t appears in the sordid disregard
L al but personal interests, in the refusal