The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-12-07

lust revision Of our tariff laws, will reason
ably demand, through such revision, stead
Ter employment, cheaper means of living in
their homes, freedom for themselves and
their children from the doom of perpetual
seryltude, and an open door to their adj
yancement beyond the limits Of laboring
class. Others Of our citizens, whose COM
forts and expenditures are measured by
moderate salaries and fixed incomes, will
insist upon the fairness and Justice ofcheap-
ening the cost of necessaries for themselves
and their families.
When 10 the selfishness of the beneficiar.
les of unjust discrimination under our laws
there shall be added the discomfort of those
who suffer from such discrimination, we
will realize the fact that the benefcent pur-
poses of our government, dependent upon
the patriotism and contentment of our peo-
pie, are endangered.
Communism is a hateful thing and men,
ace TO peace and organized government.
and capital, the outgrowth of overweening
cupidity and selfshness, which insiduously
undermines the justice aud integrity Of free
institutions, is not less dangerous than the
communism ofoppressed poverty and toll,
which, exasperated by injustice and discon-
tent, attacks with wild disorder the citadel
of rule.
He mocks the people who proposes that
the government shall protect the rich and
that they in turn will care for the laboring
poor. Any intermediary between the PEG.
pie and their governm ent, or the least dele
cation Of the care and protection the gov
eminent owes TO the humblest citizen in the
land, makes the boast of free institutions
glittering delusion and the pretended boon
of American citizenship shameless inn
position.
OUR PUBLIC DOMAIN.
can not too strenuously insist upon the
Importance of proper measures 10 insure
right disposition Of our public lands, not
only as matter Of present justic, bnt in
forecast Of the consequences 10 future gem
eratons. The broad, rich acres of orr ag-
ricnltural plains have been long preserved
by nature to become her untrammeled gift
to people civilized and free, upon which
should rest, in well-distributed ownership,
the numerous homes Of enlightened, equal
and fraternal citizens. They came to
national possession with the warning ex-
ample in our eyes of the entail Of iniquities
in landed proprietorship which other
countries have permitted and still suffer.
We have no excuse for the violation Of
principles, cogently taught by reason and
example, nor for the allowance of pretexts
which have sometimes exposed our lands
to colossal greed. Laws which open door
10 fraudulent acquisition, or administration
which permits favor to rapicious seizure by
favored few of expanded acres that many
should enjoy, are accessory to offenses
against our national welfare and humanity.
not t, be too severely condemned or punish
ed.
Our dear experience ought sufficiently to
urge The speedy enactment of measures of
legislation which will confne the future
disposition of our remaining agricultural
lands to the uses of actual husbandry and
genuine homes.
Nor should our vast tracts of so-called
desert lands be yielded up to the monopoly
of corporations or grasping individuals, as
appears TO be much the tendency under the
existing statute. These lands require but
the supply of water to become fertile and
productive. 1t is problem of great mo-
ment how most wisely for the public good
that factor shall be furnished. cannot
but think it perilous 10 suffer either these
lands or the sources of their irrigation to
fall into the hands of monopolies, which by
such means may exercise lordshIp over the
acres dependent on their treatment for pro-
ductiveness. Already steps have been taken
to secure accurate and scientific informant ion
of the conditions, which is the prime basis
of intelligent action. Until this shall be
gained the course of wisdom appears clearly
to lie in suspension of further disposal,
which only promises to create rights antag
onistic to the common interest. No harm
can follow this cautionary conduct. The
land will remain, and the public good pre-
sents no demand for hasty dispossession of
national ownership and control.
The paragraph on communism
should be thoughtfully pondered by
every American citizen. This is the
danger signal for the present and
next generation to heed.
The full text of the message will be
found OH the third page of the MID
LAND JOURNAL. but the strongest
points are given in the extracts alone.
The temperance associations, and
particularly the w. G.. IT. IT,. are