Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-06
l,LEVELAND'S MESSAGE.
RETROSPECT


To the Conqreas If the United States:
As YOU assemble For the discharge Of the duties
you have assumed IS the representatives Of free
and generous people. your meeting IS marked by
an interesting and impressive iucidelt, With the
expiration Of ne present session OF the congress
the frst century OF constitutional existence as
q nation win be completed.
Our survival for one hundred years Is not sui
fcient 10 assure us that we no longer have dangers
to fear IN the maintenance with all its promised
blessings. of 4 gOYelnlent founded upon the free
dom Of the people. The time rather admOnisheS
us to soberly enquire whether in the past we have
always closely kept in the course of safety and
whether we have before US a way plain and clear
which leads to happiness and perpetuity.
When the experiment of our government was
undertaken the chart adopted for our guidance
was the constitution and departure from the lines
there laid down is failure. 1t only by strict adj
herence to the direction they indicate, and by re-
Straint within the limitations they fixed, that 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, and which
should not be confined to the relations OF our cItl-
The government itself is under bond to the
American people, that in the exercise of the func-
tons and powers it viii deal with the body of our
citizens in q 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 condition in life shall give rise to dis
function in the treatment of the people by their
government The citizen of the republic in its
with the letter OF this bond and saw stretching
out before him, clear field for individual
.endeavor. His tribute to the support of his gov
eminent was measured by the cost or ITS
economical maintenance, and he was secure in
the enjoyment of the remaining recompense of
his steady and cOntented devotion to it. In these
days the frugality of the people was stamped
upon their government, and was enforced by the
free, thoughtful and intelligent suffrage of the
citizens Combinations, monopolies and aggre-
cations Of capital were either avoided or sternly
regulated and restrained. The pOmp and glitter
of governments less free offered no temptation
and presented no deluSion TO the PLAIN people
who side by side in friendly competition
wrought for the ennOblement and dignity of
man, for the solution of the problem of free
government andfOr the achievement of the grand
destiny awaiting the land which God has given
them. century has passed. our cities are
the abiding places OF wealth and luxury; our
manufacturers yield fortunes never dreamed of
by the fathers Of the republic; our business men
are madly striving in the race for riches and inn
mence aggregatiOnS Of capital outrun the imagi-
nation in the magnitude Of their undertakings.
We view with pride and satisfaction this bright
picture of our countTy's growth and prosperity,
while closer scrutiny develops a somber shad-
ing. Upon more careful inspection, we find the
wealth and luxury of our cities mingled with
poverty and wretchednesS; and unremunerative
toll, a crowded and constantly increasing urbane
population, suggests the impoverishment of rural
sections, and discomfort with agricultural pur-
suits. The farmers son, not satisfied with his
fathers simple and laborous life, joins the larger
chase for easily acquired wealth. We discover
that the fortunes realized by our manufacturers,
are no longer solely the reward OF sturdy industry
and enlightened foresight but that they result from
the discriminating favor Of the government, and
are largely built upon undue exaction from the
masses of our people. The gulf between en-
ployerS and the employed is constantly widening,
and classes are rapidly forming, one com
prising the very rich and powerful, while
in another are found the toilng poor AS
we view the achievement of aggregated cap
ital, discover the existence of trusts, conbina
tions and monopOlies, while the citizen IS struggling
far in the rear or is trampled to death beneath an
iron Arll a 10 an Isp-
fully restrained creatures of the law and the SER
wants of the people are fast becoming the peoples
masters. Still congratulatng ourselves upon the
wealth and prosperity of our country and com
placently contemplating every incident of change
inseparable from the conditions, it is our duty as
patriotic citizens to inquire at the present stage of
our progress, how the bond of the government
made with the people has been kept and per-
formed.