St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-12-08
The President Takes Gloomy View.


bIea in the iast session of its iiftieth
term. ia somew hat remarkable. Not for
what it recommends, secause it only re-
;teratps the propositions wifi h have
heretofore been urged 10y him. hut which
i'm the main have been sregardesl. Int
for the gloom and almost prophetic
str,jn i'm which it reviews the situation
and speaks 1T the future, will this docn-
ment command attention. Fol the rest.
il ia very voiuminOus and for he reason
that it ciiticises quite freely the short
comines of Congress during the last un-
precedentedly long session it is not like
Nv to exert any special influence ON the
proceedings OF the present session. He
opens his subject by picturng the be-
ginnings of the United States Govern
ment under the constitution, thus:
The citizen of our republic in its early
DAYS rigidlv insisted upon full compli-
ance with the letter of this bond (the
c,ustituti0n), and saw stretching out
before him clear field for individual
endeavor. His tribute to the support of
his government was measured 10y the
c,st of it's economical maintenance, and
he was secure i'm the enjoyment of the
remaining recnDpense of his liberty and
cnntented TO it. In those days the frn
eality of the people was stamped upon
their government, and was enforced 10y
the free, thoughtful and Intelligent suit
frage of the citizen. Combinations,
mouOp0ies ard agRregations ct capital
were either avoided or sterniy regulated
and restrained. The pOmp and giister
of Cover oments less free off red DO
femDtation, and presented no dtlnsiOn
tn the plain people, wh0 aide by side, IL
friendly competition fought for the en-
nnbIemeDt and dignity of man. for the
solution of the problem of tree govern
ment, and for the Achievements OF the
grand destiny awaiting the laud which
God had given them.
On the 4th of March next, when the
present Congress shall terminate its ex-
istence by Limitation Of law, a centur,
will have elapsed since the first Com
gress assembled in Philadelphia on the
4tl, of March, 1889. Let us ace with the
eyes of the President the difference in
the condition of the conntiy and the
people now from what it was when thu
National Legislature commenced itsex
istence. Says the message:
A century has nassed. Our cities are
the abiding places of wealth and lnxu-
nv; our manufactures yield fortunes
never dreamed of by the fathers of thu
republic our business men are mahls
striving in the race for riches, aud i'm
nense a2gregatinns of capital outrur
the imagination in the magnitude ui
their undertaking.
We view with pride and Satisfaction
this bright picture of eur cnuutry'~
growth and prosperity, while only :.
CLOSER scrutiny develops u su,nber Sliad
ing. Upon more careful INSPECTION WI.
find the wealth and luxury of our cities
mingled with poverty aud wretchetines.
aud nhrrnIneTatIve toll. A crowded
and constantly increasing nrhan pOnu
latinn suggests the ImpoveriSiImpnt oi
rural sections. The farmers sop. NOT
satisfied with his fathers simple and la
barinus life. joins the eager chase fn,
easily acquired wealth. We discover
that the fortunes realized by our manu-.
facturers are no longer solely the rewars
of honest industry and enlightened fore
sight, hit that they result fran the dis
eliminating favhr of the governments
and are largely bniit upnn undue exar,
tiaus from the MASSES of Onr people
Tue gnlf between employers and tht
employed il constantly widening, anf
classes are rapidly forming. one com
Dri-ing the very rich and powerful
while in another are found the toilins
poor.
As we view the achievements of ag,
pregated capital we discover the exis
tpnce of trusts. combinations aud mon
opolips. While the citizen ia struggling
far I'm the rear or Ia trampled TO dealt
beneath, an iron heel, cnrnorations
which shnulh he tha carefully restrain
ed creatures of the law and the servants
at the people, are fast becoming the
peoples master.
In that century the population of thu
country has multiplied itself twent,
fold. The continent is gridironed Will
railways. cities of metropolitan proper
tions and rank have sprung mp in th,
heart of the country, as we'll as ON thu
sea coast, Thousand busy indnstrie
eccuny the workers while private for
Tunes have grown 70 colossal proportions
rivaling in amount the vast taxes lait
or, peollt, Of the old world for the nse
kings. This enormous show of wealth
for few and of work for the many doe
not dazzle Mr.. Cleveland's proplieti
vision. He TINS portrays the presen
evil and the future danger:
The existing situation il injurious Il
fine health of our entire bod, polite
stif1es in those for whose benefit il i
permitted all patriotic love of countr,
and substitutes in its place selfish gree.
and grasping avarice. DevntiaH 10 Am
erican citizenship for its own sake an.
for what it should accomplislias mo
tive To our nations advancement and
the happiness of all nur people is dis
place d by the ASSUMPTION that the Gov
eminent, instead of heing the emh0di
ment If equality. ia hut an instrument
atty through which espeeial and indivi
dual advantages are tn hr gained.
The arrogance of this ASSUMPTION i
uncancealed. II appears in the aarsii.
disregard of all Int personal interests
III the refusal to ai,atp for the benefit q
others ane insa of selfisl, advantage. am
in combinations tn nfrDetnafe sHcfl ad
istation and improperly influence th.
suffrages af the people.
T,e grievances of those not included
wisiiin HE circle of those han4ticiaries
when fully realized will surely arouse
irritation and discomfort.
Orr farmers, lnng suffering and m.
fient, struggling in the race of life will
the lariest and NEST nnremitting toll
will nst fail to spe, in spite af misrepre.
sentafions and misleading fallacies. tina,
they are obliged to accent sucl, price,
fur their products as are fixed in foreign
markets where they compete with the
farmers of the world that their land.
are declining in vaine while their debts