The times., 1888-12-07


fort Of many accord better with the spirit OF our
institutions than colossal fortunes unfairly
gathered in the hands Of a few; OF all who sppre.
clate that the forbearance aud fraternity among
our people, which recognize the value of every
American interest, are the surest guarantee OF
our national progress, and OF ali who desire to
SEQ the products OF American skill and ingenuity
In euery market OF the world with q resultant
restoration Of American commerce.
The necessity of the reduction OF our revenue Is
SO apparent as to be generally conceded but the
means by which this end shall be accomplished
and the sum of direct benefits which shall result
10 our citizens, present o controversy of the ut.
most Importance There should be no scheme &c.
cepted as satisfactory by which the bur Iens of
the people are only apparently removed. Ex-
travagant appropriations Of public money with
all their denoralizng consequences, should not
be tolerated, ei,her rs means OF relieving the
treasury OF its present surplus or as furnishing
pretexts for resisting proper reduction In tariff
honestly recognized, boldly met and effectively
remedied. There should be no cessation
Of the STRUGGLE until plan Is perfected,
but which will red ,ce the cost TO consumer OF
the necessaries OF life while IL provides for on'
manufacturers the advantage OF free raw
of American labor. The cause for which the
battle Is waged IS comprised within lin clearly
and distinctly defined and IL should never be
compromised. IL Is the peoples cause
1t can not be denied that the selfish and private
intere is which are so persistently heard when
efforts are made to deal in q ju,t and compre-
10, IL they are not responsible FOR, the sentiment
largely prevailing among the ople that the gei-
eral government H. the fountain OF individual and
private aid; that it may be, expected 10 relieve
with paternal care the distress of citizens and
communities, and that from the fullne of its
treasury Il should, upon the slightest possible
pretext OF pr noting the general good, apply
public funds to the benefit OF localities and indi-
viduals. Nor can it be denied that thera IL u
growing assumption tn It, as against the govern
tuent a ID In favor OF private claims and inter-
ests, the usual rules and limitations OF business
principles and just dealing should be waived.
These ideas have been unha PLY much encour
from contracts made with the gov
ernment is too easily accorded in favor
of the citizen. The failure to support claims
against the gvernmenC by proofs is often up
piled by 10 b tier con Iteration than tn wealth
OF the governlnent aud the poverty o the claim
ant. Gratuties in the form Of pensions are
granted up no other real ground than the
NEEDY condition OF the applicant OF for
reasons less valid, ami large. sums
aud other improvements upon representations
scarcely claimed 10 be related TO public needs and
necessities The extent to viii Ia the considera.
ton of such matters subordinate and postpone
action upon subjects of great public importance,
but involving no special private or partisan inter-
est should arrest attention and lead to reforIna-
tion.
A fow Of the numerous illustrations Of this
condition may be slated. The crowded condition
of the calendar OF the supreme court, and the
delay to suitois and denial Of justice resulting
therefrom, has been strongly urged upon tn ut.
tentiJn OF cons rcss with pan for the relief ut
the situ' tion approved ~ those well able 10
judge of It's m, rit' While this iect remains
without effective Con- 1 eration many laws have
been passed rowling the hohiing Of terms
Of inferior courts at places 10 nit tne convent.
ence OF localities. or To lay the foundat on of an
application for the erection of new public DGilI
ing.
Repeated recommendations have i.een submit
ten for the amendment q I'd change of the laws
relating To our public lands so tnat their ola.
tiOQ and diversion tD other than homes for
honest settlers NIGH be prevented. While a
measure to meet this conceded neces ity of
form remains awaiting the action of congress,
many claims to tn puoi; lands and application
for their donation in ayor of states and indlvidu-
ais have been allowed.
A plan m aid OF Indian management, recon-
mended by those well informed as containing
valuable features in furtherance Of the solution
of the Indian problem, has thus far failed Of leg.
islative sanction while grants Of doubtful eIpt-
diency 10 railroad CORPORA ions, permitting them
TO pass through Indian reservations, have greatly
multiplied.
The propriety and necessity Of the erection of
one or more prisons for the con fnement of United
States convlcts, and postoffice building in tho
national capital are not disputed. But these
needs yet remain unanswered, while scores Of
public buildings have been erected where tneir
necessity for public purposes is not apparent.
A revision OF our pension laws could easily be
made, which would rest upon just principles and
provide for every worthy applicant But while
our general pen ion laws remain confus I'd and
imperfect, hundreds Of private pension laws are
discrimination and popular decentralization.
Appropriation bills for the support of the
government are defaced by items and provisions
TO meet private ends, and IL Is freelyeasserted by
responsible and experienced parties that bill
appropriating money for puolic Internal improve
ment would fail to meet with favor unless it con-
tanned more for local and private advantage than
for public benefit. These statements can be much
emphasized by an ascertainment of the proper
ton OF federal legislation which either bears
upon its face its private character or which upon
examination develops such motive power.
And yet the people wait and expect from their
chosen representatives such patriotic action as
will advance the welfare or the entire country;
and this expectation can only be answered by the
performance Of public duty with unselfsh pur-
pose Our mission among the nations of the
earth and our success in accomplishing the work
God has given the American pc Pile to do require
Of those entrusted with the making and execn.
ton OF our laws perfect devotion above oil other
things to the publ good.
This devotion viii lead us 10 strongly resist ali
mpatie &c of constitutional limitations of fed
eru power, aud To persistenlly check the increas-
ing.tendency to extend the scope of federal egis-
lation into the domain OF state and local jdriSdc
tion, upon the pea OF subscribing the public
welfare. The preservation of the partitions be-
tween prop subjects of ,ederal and local care
and regulation IS o.. such Importance under the
constitution, which Is the law OF ry exis
tence, that no consideration of eXpedisncy or
sen iment should tempt Us to enter upon doubt
fll grounds. We have undertaken to discover
and proclaim the richest bl ssings of free gov
ernment, with the constitu ion as our guide. Let
Il
lead us. An surely no one who has taken upon
him self the sol mn obligation TO suppr and
preserve the consti utlon find justification
or solace for disloyalty In the excuse that he
wandere and disobeyed in search of u better way
TO reach the public welfare thau the constitution
offers.
What ha; beel said IL deemed not inappropri-
ate a. tim when. irDm q ccntUry'S hei hit, we
view tn way already rod b the American peo-
Ile and attempt to dis, over their future pa n.
Tho seventh president of the United States the
soier and statesman. and at times the firm
aud brave frehd OF the peupic--in vindic,.tion OF
his course rs q protector OF popular J., hts
and champion of true American citizons Zip, ue-
clared "Tne ambition which leads me on IL an
anxious desire and a. ixed determination to re.
store to the people unmpaired the sacred trust
they have confded TO my charge. To heal the
wounds of the constitution and to preserve 1t
from fuIther violation. Topper r,uade my country.
men, so far as may, that II is not In asplendid
government supported ny powerful monopolles
and aristocraticai establishments that they will
fad happiness or their lbe ties protection, but
in o pla system, void Of pomp-protc ting all
and grating favols 10 noDe--d'spensing It's bless
ings like the dews of heaven unseen aud nnfelt
save in the freshness nd beauty they contribute
90 produce. IL ~ Such n government that the
genius Of our people require-such an one only
under which our state, may ryinain, Tor ages 10
come. united, prosperous, and free"
In pursuance of constitutional provision re-
quiring the president from time TO time To give
TO the congress information of the state OF the
Union, have the satisfaction 70 announce that
tbe Close OF the wear finds this United States In
the enjoyment OF domestic tranquility and nc
all tba Ciu.a m 70 annual