The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-04
THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF A
CHANGE III OUR FIRES.
ENT SYSTEM.
Bf NjRillllNG Effect II SIGH 4 con
Il. Ti0h OF AFFAIRS.
FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DOMESTIC
AFFAIRS ABLY pIsCUssgp.
a Mastery ana Patriotic state Paper.

IL the Copqre3 OF the Cnitd Suites.
As YOU assemble for the DISCHARGE Of tls
duties YOU have assumed as the represen
tatiyes of free and generous people
Your meeting Is marked hy an Interest
ing and impressive incident With tho
expiration Of the present session Of the
Congress the first century of our consti
tutional existence as a nation will be-
complete.
Our survival for one hundred years is
not sufficient 10 assure us That we nc
longer have dangers 10 fear in the main
tenace with all its promised blessings OF
a government founded upon the freedom
OF the people. / he time rather admJn
ishes 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 ami clear
which leads to happiness and perpttuily
When The experiment OF our Govern
ment was undertaken, the chart adopted
for our guidance was the Constitution.
Departure from the lines there laid down
Is failure II ia only by a strict adherence
10 tne direction they indicate, and uy
restraint within The limitations they find
that 8e can furnish piOlf 90 the world
Of The fitness OF the American people tor
self government.
TIE EQUAL And EXACT JCsTICE
Of which we boast as the underlying
principal of our institutions should NOS
BE confined TO The relations of our CHI
Zeus 10 each other. The Government
Itself is under bond to the American peo-
Ole that IN the exercise 81 ils functions
and powers II will deal with the body of
our citizens In a manner crupulOus.y
honest and fair and absolutely just. It
has agreed that American citizenship
shall be- the only credeniial necessary TO
Justify the claim Of equality before tie
law, and thai no condition 10 life shall
gige rise 10 discrimination Ia the treat
inent at the people hy their gOyeiumenl.
The citizen Of our republic IN iis early
day. rieidiy insisted upan iull Compli-
ance with The letter OF his bond, AMI
saw stretching ont before him d clear
hed for individual cndeayor His
tribute 10 the support OF his Gov
eminent was measured by the cost Of
its economical maintenance. and he Was
secure Ia the enjoyment Of Tie remain
Ing recompense OF his steady aud con
tented toll In hose days The lrugality
of the people was stamped upon their
Government, and Wa enforced by the
free, thoughtful AMI intelligent suffrage
of the citizen. Combinations. mOnopO
lies and agefegations OF capital were
either avoided or stcrnly regulated and
restrained. The pomp and glitter OF
government was less free, offered no
temptation and presented no dolnsiOn 10
the plain people, who, side by
side in friendly competition, wrought
for the enn oblcment and dignity OF
man, for The solution of the problem of
free government and for the achieve
ment OF the grand destiny awaiting tie
land which God had give them. A cen
fury has passed; our cities are the abiding
places of wealth and luxury; our manu-
facturies Weld fortunes never dreamed Of
by the fathers Of the Republic; our bust
ness men are madly striving in the race
for riches, and immense aggregations Of
capital outrun the Imagination In the
of their undertakings.
WEALTH - fbh ELl4s
We view with pride and satisfaction
this bright picture of our country's
growth and prosperity while only a
closer scrutiny dcyelopes sombre
shading. Upon more careful inspection
we find the wealth and luxury of our
cities mingled with poverty and wretch
adness and unrenumeraiiye toll. a
crowded aud constantly increasing urban
population suggests the Impoverished
)f rural sections and dis Ontent with .
agricultural pursuits. The farmers son
not satisfied with his fathers simple and
aborious life, joins the eager chase for
.asily acquired wealth.
We discover that The fortunes realized .
~ our manufacturers are no longer sole
Y the reward of sturdy industry and en-
ightened foresight, butt that they result .
rom the discriminating favor of the
government AMI are largely built upon
Undue eXsctlOns from the masses of our
,eople. The gulf between the employers
nd the employed Is constantly widening
nd classes are rapidly forming, one COM
rising the very rich and powerful, while
n another are found the loiling poor.
TRUSTS, COMBINES AND MONOPOLIEs
As we view the achievements Of aggre-
stcd capital we discover the existence
trusts, combinations and mOnopDiies,
'hile the citizen is struggling far in the
ear, or is trampled to death beneath an
-on heel Corporations, which should
G the carefully restrained creatures of {
le law and the servants Of the people, I
re fast becoming the peoples masters.
till congratulaling ourselves upon the
ealth and prosperity OF our country, {
nd complacently contemplating every
cidenl of change inseparabe from these
onditioDs, it is our duty, as patriotic
tizens TO inquire. at the present stage {
our progress. how the bond Of govern
ent made with the people has been kept 2
I'd performed Instead of limiting The 4
ibute drawn from our citizens to the :
scessities of its economical administra- I
On, the Government persists in exact. |
g from the substance Of the people mil
ms which unapplied and useless lie
,Imant In IT'S treasury. This fragrant q
justice and this breach of faith and oh |
cation add to extortiOn the danger at G
ndinR the diversion OF the currency of 5
- country from the legitimate channels a
business. 4
az FEW FAVORED AT THE EXPENSE OF !,
THE MANY. n
Under the same laws by which these n
suits are produced the Government b
srmits many millions more Ia be added q
the cost OF the living OF our people, Il
al to DO taken from our consumers,
bjcb upreasonably swell the profits OF u
small but powerful minority The PEG. c
"a ,ou.t etili be taxed for the support OF u
Re Goysrnmen, under the operation OF Q
riff laws. but to the extent that the u
ass Of our citizens are Unfortunately .
ardened beyond any usefnl public pur- 4
ose, and for the benefit OF ia. .
bred few. The Government v
ndsr pressxs Of an exercise Of i,s tax Il
& power. enters gratuisously into part b
ershIp with these favoriies 10 their I'D. Il