Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-12-04
Mr.Cleyeland Again Urges That Rev.
enue Reduction Is Necessary.
TRUSTS AND COMBINATIONS.
The Banding of Capital Against
Labor Condemned.
LEGISLATION HAS BEEN IMPEDED
The Congressional Machine Blocked
by Minor Matters.

by Minor Matters.
He Touches Briefly on the Recent Fish
cries Negotiations, aud Says the Behr-
ing Sea Controversy Demands Imme-
dIate Attention-rhe sackvilIe Episode
aud Our Diplomatic Relations with
other NatiOns-our naturalization Laws,
the Heads of the Several Departments
Reviewed, and the Years Work Com
mendcd-Tho Indian Question and Other
Matters.
TO the Congress of the United States:
AS you assemble for the discharge of tho
duties you have assumed as the representa-
tives OF free and generous people, your
meeting is marked by an interesting and inn
pressiyo incident With the expiration of
the present session of the congress, the firss
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
hangers 60 fear in the maintenance, with all
It's 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 we
have before us 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 strict adherence to the direction
they indicate and by restraint within the
limitations they fix, that we can furnish
proof 10 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-
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
aud powers it will deal with the body of our
citizens in manner scrupulously honest and
fair and absolutely just 1t has agreed that
American citizenship shall be tho only ere
dental 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 fun compliance
with the letter of this bond, and saw stretch
ing out before him clear field for Individual
endeavor. 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 o. his steady and contentei toll. In
those days the frugasity of the people was
stamped upon their government, and was en-
forced by the free, thoughtful and intelligent
suffrage of the citizen. Combinations, mo-
nopolies AMI 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 de,usion to the plain people,
who, side 10y side, in friendly competition,
wrought for the ennoblement and dignity of
man, for the solution of the problem of free
government and FOR the achievement of the
gran1 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 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 aud
prosperity, while only closer scrutiny de
velopS a somber shading. Upon more care
fui inspection we find the wealth and luxury
of our cities mingled with poverty and
wretchcdness and unremunerative toll A
crowded and constantly increasing urban
population suggests the impoyerishment OF
rural sections and discomfort with agricul-
tural pursuits The farmers son. not satis-
fed with his fathers simpls and laborious
hfe joins the eager chase for easi Y 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 largely built upon undue exactions from
the masses of our psople. 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 view the achievements Of aggregated
capital we discover the existence OF trusts,
combinations aud menopolies, while the citi-
zen is strng nggliny Ear in the rear or is tram
Piled to death beneath an iron heel Corpora
tons, which should be carefully restrained
creatures Of the law Snd the servants OF the
people, are fast becoming the peoples mas
terx