Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-12-13
CLEyELANDS VALEDlUrURY.
He PleaCs for Reduced Taxation-A
Resume of the Go Sernment
Business.
The GIst ola Long MESA &c.

corting the chaplain, Mr.. Butler When
the gavel descended there were ~ senators
present. Mr.. Buffers prayer was brief.
AT its conclusion Senator ingalls, announc-
ed the senaJe in session.
Mr.. Sherman offered resolution In
structlng the secretary 10 notify the mouse
that the senate was ready for the transac-
ton OF business. The resolution was
adopted.
Under resolution offered by Mr.. Nor
rlll and adopted, TIE president pro tenn APP
pointed Mr.. Morrill, and a committee TO nou
~ the president.
A resolution by Mr.. Cameron was adopt
ed making the regular hour OF assembling
~ O'Clock.
The senate then went into INFORMAL re-
cess to await the presidents message.
The house was called - order, and after
the chaplain had offered prayer the clerk
called the roll of the house. The secretary
Of the sena read the announcement that
the upper body of congress had re assem-
bled, was ready for business and had
appointed n committee TO act with o similar
committee on jhc part of the house TO wait
upon and notify the president that congress-
awaited his pleasure. At the conclusion OF
the roll call, the speaker appointed Messrs.
Holman, ONeill and Turner members OF
the committee TO notify the president. The
house then took recess to 80, at which
time the message was submitted.
SYNOPSIS OF THE MESSAGE.
The presidents message opens with a re
hinder that this session OF congress Will
mark tho close of century OF constitution
al existence. He reminds congress that
the constitution was the chart OF guidance
laid down by the fathers of the country, and
that departure from ii means failure of our
institutions. He draws a bright picture OF
the country's growth, but says that upon
more careful inspection we find the wealth
and luxury of our cities mingled with
poverty and wretchedness and unremuner-
alive labor A crowed and constantly in
creasing urban population suggest the i'm
poverishment Of the rural sections and dis
content with agricultural pursuits. The
farmers son, not satisfied with his fathers
simple and laborious lie, joins the eager
chase for easily acquired wealth, and 50
economic conditions have become difficult
Of solution. We discover that the fortunes
realized by our manufacturers are no long
err solely a reward of sturdy industry and
enlightened foresight but that they result
from the discriminating favor OF the govern
ment and are largely built npon undue ex-
action from the masses of our people. The
gulf between employers and the employed
is constantly widening and classes are rap
idly forming one comprising the very rich
and powerful, while in another are found
the toiling poor.
''As we view the achievement Of aggre-
gated capital, we discover the existence OF
trusts combinations and monopolies, while
the citizen is struggling far in the rear or is
tramphd to death beneath an iron heel.
Corporations, which should be the carefully
restrained creatures of the law and the ser
wants Of the people, are fast becoming the
peoples masters. Still congratulating our
selves upon the wealth and prosperity of
our country, and complacently contemplate
ing every incident of change inseparable
from these conditions, it is our duty as
patriotic citizens to inquire, at the present
stage of our progress how the bond the
government made with the people has been
kept and performed.
Instead of limiting the tribute drawn
from our citizens to the necessities OF its
economical administration, the government
persists in eXacting from the substance of
the people millions which, unapplied and
useless, lie dormant in its treasury. This
fragrant injustice and this breach of faith
and obligation add to tho extortion and the
danger attending the diversion of the cur
reucy of tho country from the Legitimate
channels of business. Under the same laws
by which these results are produced, the
government permits many millions more to
be added to the cost of the living of our
people and TO be taken from our consumers,
which unreasouably swell the profits of a
small but powerful minority. The people
must still be taxed for the support of the
government under the operation of tariff
laws; but to the extent that the mass of
our citizens are inordinately burdened be-
yond any useful public purposes and for the
benefit of favored few, the government,
under prcteXt of an exercise OF its taxing
power enters gratuitously into partnership
with these favorites, TO their advantage
and TO the in .urv of a vast majority of our
people. This - not equality before the
law"
After the prelude the president arguea
that such conditions are injurious to the
nation, making the government an instru-
fOv- prix 70 trnin nd hn va hot hp
farmers aud laborers will see only too soon
that they are being txed under an unjust
theory Of taxation, without compensatory
favor. When this discomfort and the self
ishness of the beneficares of protective
tariffs are realized we will realize that the
endangered. Communism is q hateful
thing, and a menace TO peace and organized
government. Buttho communism of com
bined wealth and capital, the outgrowth of
overweening cupidity and selishness, which
insiduously undermines the justice and in
tegrity of free institutions, is not less dan
gerous than the communism of oppressed
poverty, which, exasperated by injustice
and discomfort, attacks with wild disorder
the citadel OF rule.
"There are people who propose that the
government shall protect the rich and that
they in turn will care for the laboring poor.
Any intermediary between the people and
their government, or the least delegation of
the care and protection the government
owes to the humbest citizen in the land,
makes the boast of free institutions gilt
teripg delusion, and the pretended boon of
American citizenship a shameless imposi-
ton.
"a Just and sensible revision of our tariff
laws should be made for the relief of those
of our countrymen who suffer under pres
ent conditions. Such a revision should re-
ceive the support of all who love that JUS
tice and equality due 10 American citizen
ship; of all who realize that in this
Justice and equality our government finds
its strength and its power to protect the cit
zen and his property; of all who believe
that the cOnteuted competence and comfort
of the m ny accord better with the spirit OF
our institutions than colossal fortunes, un-
fairly gathered in the hands of the few; OF
all who appreciate that the foTbearance
and fraternity among our people, which
recompense the value Of every American
interest, are the surest guarantee of our
national progress and of all who desire to
see the products of American skill and in
genuity in every market OF the world, with
result ug restoration Of American com
merce."
Paternalism of government is strongly dc
nounced, and the preteXt of the wealth of
the government being sufficient excuse for
I'd Il,