The times., 1888-12-07
It Still Confronts Us.
The President Stands by His
View of the Tariff.
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS-

the Customs Duties - Necessity-The
Statesmen Given u Going Over for Their
Sins of Omission and Comm, ssion-rhe
sacksliie Episode Observation-Disclosures.
Land and Indian Questions Considered.
To THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: As
you assemble Tor the discharge OF the duties you
have assumed as the representatives OF free and
generous people. your meeting IL marked by an
Interesting aud Impressive incident. With the
expiration of the present session OF the congress
the first century OF oar constitutional existence as
a nation will be completed. Our survival for 100
years Is not sufficient to assure US that we no
longer have dangers to fear In the maintenance
with all its promised blessings of n government
founded on the freedom of the people The time
rather admonishes us to soberly inquire
closely kept in the cour OF safety
and whether we have before us way plain and
clear which leads TO happiness and perpetuity
Idly insisted upon full mpliance with the ! t.
ter OF this bond, and saw stretching out before
him clear field for Individual endeavor. His
tribute to the support of his COVER ment was
measured by tho cost Of its economical mainte.
nance, and he was secure In the enjoyment OF
and contented toll In those days the
frugality OF the people was stamped uion their
government and was en- orced by the free.
thoughtful ana intelligent suffrage OF the citi
2ens. Combinations. monopolies and aggrega-
tions of capital were either avoided or sLerny
regulated and restrained. The pomp and glitter
and presented no delusion to the plain people
who, side by side In friendly mpetition, wrought
for the ennobement and dignity of man, for the
for the achievement of the grand destiny await
ing the land which God had given them. A CEN
tury has passed. Our cities are the abiding y aces
of wealth and luxury; our manufactures yield
forum never dreamed OF by the fathers Of the
republic; our business men are madly stl living in
the race for riches, and immense aggregations OF
capital outrun the imagination In tine magnitude
Of their undertakings.
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. IL Is only by q strict
adherente TO the direction they Indicate and by
restraint within the limitations they fix thai we
can furnish proof TO the world OF the fitness of
the American people for self government. The
equal and exact justice of which we boast as the
underlying principle OF our institutions should not
he cOnfine1 TO . relations OF our citizens
10 each other. The government itself Is under
bond TO the American people, that in the exercise
of It's functions and powers 10 will deal with the
body Of our citizens in manner scrupulously
honest aud fair, and absolutely Just. IL has
agred that american citizenship shall be the only
credentiel necessary to ju tify the claim OF
equality before the law, aud that no condition in
life shall give rise to discrimination In the treat
ment Of the people by the government
We view with pride and satisfaction this bright
picture OF our country's growth and prosperity.
While only closer scrutiny develops somDer
shading, upon more careful inspection We find the
wealth and luxury of our cities mingled with
poverty and wretchedness and unrcmunerative
toll. A crowded and constantly increasing urban
population suggesrs the impoverishment Of rural
$ ct aud discomfort with agricultural pursuits.
The farmers son. not satisfied with his fathers
simple a., and labori9us life joins the eager chase
fortunes realized by our manufacturers no
longer solely by reward Of sturdy industry
and, and enlightened ~ foresight, but that they
OK the government, and are largely
built upon Undue exaction from the masses of our
people. The gulf between employers and the en-
WI DIN o. n m ri ri
idly forming, one comprising the very rich and
powerful, while in another are found the toiling
poor.
AS we view the achievement of aggregated cap
ital, We discover the existence of trusts combi-
nations and rnonopoes, while the citizen Is strug-
Cling tar In tho rear or is trampled to death be-
meath an iron heel. Corporations, which should
be tho carefully restrained creatures of the law
nnd the servants Of the people, are fast becoming
selves upon the wealth and prosperity OF our
country, and complacenty contemplating every
incident OF change inseparabe from these condi-
Sens to inquire az the present stage
Of our progress how the bond Of the government
made with the people has been kept and per-
Instead of limiting the tribute drawn from our
citizens to the necessities OF its economical ad-
from the substance OF the people millions which,
unapped and useless. lie dormant IN it's treasury
This fragrant injustice and this breach of faith
and obligation add to cxtortion the danger at
tending the diversion Of the currency OF the
country from the legitimate channels of business
Under the sane laws by which these results are
more to be added to the cost OF the living of our
people and TO be taken from our consumers
which unreasopably swell the profits OF a small
taxed for the support OF the government under
the operation Of tariff laws, but to the extent tnat
the mass OF our citizens are inordnately burdened
beyoLd any Il eful public purpose, and for the
benefit of a favored few, the government, under
pretense or an exercise OF its taxing power, en-
ters gratilusy into partnership with these favor.
ties To their advantage and TO the injury OF
a vast majority of our people. This is not equality
before the law. The eXiNting situation Is injuri
Gus to the health OF our entire body polite, It
stiles In those all patriotic love OF country and
substitutes In its place selfish gr ed and grasping
avarice. Devotion to American citizenship for
Its own sake and for what IL should accomplish,
as q motive to our nations advancement
and the happiness Of all our people. is displaced
by the assumption that the government, instead
Ut being the embodiment of equality, il bat an In
strumentality through which especial and iudi-
sidual advantages are TO be gained
The arrogance OF this assumption is uncon-
cealed. IL appears In the sordid disregard of all
but personal interests, In the refusal to abate for
the b. nefit Of others one iota of selfish advant
ages and IN combinations to perpetuate such ad-
vnntages through efforts TO control legislation
aud improperly influence the suffrage Of the co
pie. The grievance Of those not included within
the circle of these bcnefciaries, when fully real
lied, viii surely arouse irritation and dis
content. Our farmers, longsufferng and
patient, struggling in the race of life with the
hardeSt ana most unremitunR Toll, VIII nor Iall 10
see, In spite of Misrepresentation and misleading
that they are obliged TO accept such
prices 'or their product as fixed In reign mar
kets where they comp to with the farmers of the
world; that their lands are declining In value
while their debts increase; and that without
favors they are forced by the ac
tion OF the government 10 pay for the benefit of
others such enhanced prices for the things they
need, that the scanty returns of
their labor fail to furnish their support
or leave no margin for accumulation. Our work
ingmen enfranchised from all delusions and no
longer frightened by the cry that their wages are
endangered by just revision of our tariff laws,
will reasonably demand through such revision
steadier employment, cheaper means of living In
their homes, freedom for themselves and their
children from the doom OF perpetual servitude,
and an open door TO their advancement beyond
the limits of q laboring class. Others OF our
Q tizens whose comforts aud expenditures are
by moderate salaries and fixed incomes
win Insist upon the fairness and justice Of cheap.
cning the cost Of necessaries for themselves aud
heir families
When 30 the selnshness of tho benefciaries of
unjust discrimination under our laws there shall
be added the discomfort of those who suffer from
,,lch discrimination, we win realize the fact that
the benefcent purposes of our government, de-
PENDENT upon the patriotism and contentment OF
our people, arc endangered. Communism Is n
hateful thing, and n menace TO peace nnd organ
zed government But the communism OF COM
bined wealth and capital, tho outgrowth OF over
syeenine cupidity and selfshness ,:hich insd'
ously rndefmncs the justice and integrity OF FREQ
institutions, IL not less dangerous than the