Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-12-06


the Supreme Court Calendar - Rights
of American Fishermen-The Sackyille-
West AffaIr-Abuse of Immigration Laws
Various other Topics Handled.
Washington I'd. c. speciall
The second session of the Fiftieth Congress
convened at noon, December Sd, the greater por-
tion Of the day being consumed in the reading
OF President Cleveland's message of which the
following is a comprehensive digest:
A CENTURY OF FREEDOM.
TO the Congress OF the United States:
As you assemble for the discharge OF the duties
you have assumed as the representatives OF a
free and generous people, your meeting is
marked by an interesting and impressive inci-
dent. With the expiration OF the present ses-
sion OF the Congress the first century OF our
constitutional existence as a nation will be COM
pleted. When the experiment OF our Govern
ment was undertaken the chart adopted for our
guidance was the lonstitution. Departure from
the lines there laid down is failure. IL is only
by a strict adherence to tho direction they indi-
cate and by restraint within the limitations they
have fixed that we can furnish lroof TO tie
world OF the fitness Of the American
exact justice Of which we Eoast as the
underlying principle of our institutions
should not be confined to the relations OF our
citizens TO each other. The Government itself
is under boad to the American people that, in
the exercise Of its functions and powers, IL will
deal with the body of our citizens in a manner
scrupulously honest and fair, and absolutely
Just. 1t has agreed that American citizenship
shall be the only credential necessary to justify
the claim OF equality before the law, and that
no condition III life shall give rise TO dscrmina-
tion in the treatment OF the people by their
Government. The citizen of our Republic in
its early days rigidly insisted upon full conpli-
an with the letter of this bond and saw
stretching out before him a clear field for indi-
vidual endeavor His tribute to the support OF
economical maintenance, and he was secure in
the enjoyment OF the remaining recompense.
In those days the frugality OF the people was
stamped upon their government ami was en-
II a 1lOuQltful
suffrage Of the citizens. Combinations mon.
opolies and aggregatons OF capital were either
avoided or sternly regulated and res ra ned.
The pomp and glilt of governments less free
odered 10 temptation and presen ed no dolusion
TO ths plain people who, side by side in fr .endly
comps. itiol, wrought for the tnnoblem snt and
dignity of man, fer iho solution OF the problem
of fres government and for thu a hievement of
the grand destiny awaiting the Ian which o /
had given them century has passed. Our
cities are the abiding places OF wealth and
luxury our manufactorie3 Yell fortunes never
dreamed o. by the fathers OF the Republic our
business men madly striving in tie race for
riches, and imm nse nsgregattons OF capital At
run the imagination in the magnitude OF their
undertakings.
We view with pide and satisfaction this
bri ght picture of our Co9ntry's growth aud
prosperity, while only closer scrutiny devel-
ops a sonlbor shading. Upon moro careful in
spection we 1 nd the wca. tn and luxury of on,
cities mingled with poverty ana wretched loss
and unremunerative toll. ClowItd and con.
SANITY increasing urban population suggeats
content with agricultural pursuits. Tho far
mers son. not satisfied with his father 9
simp.e and laDorious life. joins the eager
cha for easily acquired wealth We dis
cover that the fortunes realized by our manu-
fac csurors are no longer solely ths reward OF
sturdy industry and enlightened iore sight, Lut
that they result from th) discrmin tting ia or
of the Government and largely built upon
undue exaction from tho masses OF OR people.
is constantly widening and classes are rapid y
forming, one comprising the very itch aud pow
er.ul while in another found the TOLL g
poor. As we view the achievem 1ns OF ,gre-
gated capital, we discover the exs EN- o
of trusts, combinations, and m1nopo.ie5.
While the citizen is stru; ing far In tn or
is tramped to death beneath an iron heel, cor
poratijns, which sEolld be the carefully re-
strained creatures OF tho law and the servants
OF tho people, are fast becoming tho people 8
masters. still congratulatng ourselves upon
the wealth and prosperity OF our coun ry, and
complacently contemplating every inc!denS oi
change inseparable from these conditions, 1t Is
our duty as patriotic citizens to inquire at 10
present stage OF our progress how the bond OF
the Governmt mt made with the people has been
kept and performed
EXISTING TARIFF BURDENS.
Instead OF limiting the tribute drawn from our
citizens TO the necessities of its economical
administration, the Government persists in ex-
acting from the substance OF the peop millions
which, unapplied and useless, lie dormant in II
treasury. This fiagrant injustice and this
breach of faith and obligation ndd to extort ion
the danger attending the diversion Ct the cur
rency Of the country from the legitimate chan
| nels of business. Under the same laws by
which these results nre produced, the Govern
ment permits many millions more to be added
to the cost of tho living Of our people
and to be taken from our consumers, which
unreasonably swell the profits OF small
but powerful minority. The people must still
be taxed for the support of the Government un
der the operation OF tariff laws, but To the ex
tent that the masses OF our citizens are inor
dinatoly burdened beyond any useful public pur
pose and for the benefit OF favored few, the
| Government, under the pretext of an exercise
/ n
partnership with these favorites to their advan
| tage and TO the injury OF vast majority of oul
| people. This is not equality before the law
The existing situation is injurious to the health
of our whole body polite. 1t stiles all patri
otic love of country, and substitutes in its place
| selfish greed aud grasping avarice. Devotion x
American citizenship for its own sake anC
| for what it should accomplish as
motive to our nations advancement and the
happiness Of our people, Is displaced by the as
/ sumption that the Government, instea1 o
| being the embodiment OF equality, is but an in
strumentality through which especial and indi
| vidual advantages are to be gained. The AFRO
gance of this assumption is unconcealed. Il
| appears in the sordid disregard OF all but per.
| sOnal interest I'm the refusal to abatc for tho
benefit OF others one iota of selfish advantage
| and In combinations to perpetuate such ad
| vantages through efforts TO control Legislation
and improperly influence the suffrages OF thu
| people.
The grievances OF those not included with n the
circle OF these benehciaries, when fully realized
| will surely arouse irritation and discomfort
/
| Cling in the race Il life with hard and unremit
| ting toll, will not fail to see, in spite OF mis-
| representations and misleading fallacies, that
| they are obliged TO receive srch prices for thei
| products are fixed in for ign markets, where
they compete with tn farmers Of the world thai
| their lands are declining I'm value while theil
debts increase and that without com
| pensating favors they are forced by the
action OF tho Government to pay for the
| beneht OF others such enhanced prices fol
the things they need, that the scanty returns
| of their labor fail TO furnish their sup
| port or leave no margin fof accumula ION
! Our workingmen, onfranchised from all delu
sions and no longer frightened by the cry that
their wages endangered by n just revision
| OF our tariff laws, will reasonably demand
| through such revision, steadier employment
cheaper means Of living in their homes with
freedom for themselves and their children from
| the doom OF perpetual servitude and an oper
| a laboring class. Others Of our citizens, whose
comforts and expenditures are measured b.
moderate salaries and fixed incomes, will insist
upon the fairness and justice Of cheapening the
cost Of necessaries for themselves and theii
| families. Wien TO the selhshness OF the bench
Charles of unjust discrimination under our laws
there shall be ad led the disc ontent OF those whs
| suffer from such discrimination we will real
| ize the fact that the b Bnehcent purposes OF ou
Government, which are dependent upon thu
patriotism and contentment OF our people, arr
endangered.
Communism IL a hateful thing and menace
| "a peaco and orQanized QOvernm ent. but the