Milford chronicle., 1888-12-07
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.
TRUSTS AND COMBINATIONS.
LEGISLATION HAS BEEN IMPEDED
The Congressional Machine Blocked
by Minor Matters.

He Touches Briefly on the Recent Fish
cries Negotiations, AMI Says the lsehr-
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-
lives of free and generous people, your
meeting is marked by an interesting and inn
pressive incident With the expiration OF
the present session of the congress, the first
century of our constitutional existence as a
patton 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 a 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 we
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 rela-
tious 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 mowers it will deal with the body of our
citizens in a manner snrppulousiy honest and
fair and absolutely just 1t has agreed that
American citizenship shall be the only Gre
Dental necessary to justify the claim OF
euuality before the law, and that no CON
dition in life shall give rise to discrimination
in the treatment of the people by their gov
srnment
The citizen Of our republic in its early
davs rigidly insisted upon full compliance
with the letter of this bond, and saw stretch
ing out before him a clear field for individual
andeavor 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 frugality Of the people was
stamped upon their government, and was en-
forced by the free, thoughtful and lnteligent
suffrage Of the citizen. Combinations, mo-
nopolies and aggregations Of capital We're
either avoided or sternly regulated and re-
strained The pomp and glitter of govern
ments less free offered no temptation and
presented no delusiOn to the plain people,
who. side by side in friendly competition
wrought for the ennoblement and dignity OF
man. for the solution Of the problem OF Tree
government and for the achievement of the
grand destiny awaiting the land which God
had given them,
A 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 busi-
ness men are madly striving IN the race LOT
riches and immense aggregations OF eapital
outrlln the imagination in the magnitude o{
their undertakings
We view with pride and satisfaction this
bright picture Of car country's growth aud
prosperity, while only closer scrutiny de-
yelops a somber shading. Upon more care
| full inspection we find the wealth and luxury
of our cities mingled with poverty ana
wretchedness and unremunerative TOLL a
| crowded and constantly increasing urban
population suggests the impoYersnnent Ol
/ rrral sections and discomfort with agricut
m ~ afarN
fed with his fathers simple and laborlods
life, joins the eager chase for easily acquired
wealth
we discover that the fortunes realized by
our manufacturers are no longer solely th'
reward of sturdy industry and enlightened
foresight but that they result from the dis
terminating favor Of the government, ant
are largely built upon undue exactions from
the masses of our people. The gulf betweei
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 view the achievements of aggregate'
canital we discover the existence of trusts
combinations and monopolies, while the citl
zen IS struggling far in the rear or IS tram
uled TO death beneath an iron heel Corpora
fions. which should be carefully restraine
creatures Of the law and the servants Of tn
people. are fast becoming the peoples mas
ters,
still congratulating ourselves upon tn
wealth and pros )erity OF our country, an'
eomplacently contemplating every inciden
Of change inssparable from these conditions
i is our duty as patriotic citizens to inquire
at the present stage Of our progress, how th
bond OF the government made with the pe'
Ole has been kept aud performed.
HE CHARGES UNJUST TAXATION
Instead Of limiting the tribute drawn frol
our citizens, to the necessities OF its econom
al administration, the government persist
in exaeting, from the substance OF the peS
ple. millions which unapplied and useless 1
dormant in its treasury This hagrant il
Justice and this breach Of faith and oblig'
tion add to extortion the danger attendin
{ the diversion Of the currency Of the countI
from the legitimate channels OF business
Under the same laws by which these r
.ults are produced, the government permi
r,sny minions more to Dc added to the co
Of the living Of our people and to be take
from our consumers, which unreasonab
= swell the profits Of q small but powerful N
nority.
S The people must still be taxed for the su
s port of the government under the opefa0i,
Of tariff laws But to the extent that q
mass Of our citizens are inordinateiy bu
dened beyond any useful public purpose, al
i for the benefit Of favored few, the COVER
I ment, under pretext Of an exercise OF It's "a
S ing power, enters gratuitously into partne
. ship with these favorites, to their advantal
: and to the injury Of vast majority Of o
people.
+ This Is not equality before the law.