Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1888-12-13

IL the Congress of The iaitsi Ntatss
As You assemble for the discharge of the
duties YOU have assumed a. the represen-
tatiye> OF free and generous people your
meeting i marked by an interesting and
impressive incident With the expiration
Of the present session Of the Congress the
first Centdry of our constitutional exist
ence a. 4 nation viii be completed Our
survival for one hundred years IS not
sufficient to assure that We no longer have
dangers 10 fear in the maintenance. with
all it, promised blessings OF a govern
ment founded upon the freedom of the
people. The time rather admonishcs us
10 soberly inquire whether in the past we
have always closed within the course OF
safety and whether We have before u Il
way plain and clear which leads To hap
piness and perpetuity
THE IMPORTANCE or ADHERENCE TO The
CoN>TITt IloN.
When the experiment Of our Govern
ment was undertaken, the charter adopted
for our guidance was the Constitution
Departure from the lines there laid down
i failure. II j. only bv a strict adherence
To the direction they indicate. and By re-
>traint within the limitations they fix 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 a. the underlying principle of our
institutions should not be confined to the
relation Of our citizens to each other The
Government itself is under bond to the
American people that in the exercise of its
functions and powers it will d<al with the
body of our citizens in manner scrupu-
lousy 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 no condition in life shall
give rise to discrimination in the treatment
of people by their Government.
DEMOCRATIC SIMPLICITY.
The citizen of our republic in its early
days rigidly insisted upon full compliance
with the letter Of this bond. and saw
stretching out before him clear field for
individual endeay0r. His tribute to the
support of his Government was measured
by the cost of it, economical maintenance,
and he was secure in the enjoyment of the
remaining recompenSe of his steady and
contented toll. In those days the frugality
of the people was stamped upon their Gov
ernment, and was enforced by the free,
thoughtful, and intelligent suffrage of the
citizen. Combinations, monopolies and
asgregations of capital were either avoid
ed 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 and for the achievement of
the grand destiny awaiting the land which
God had given them.
A FoREBoDING OF EVIL.
A century has passed. Our cities are
the abiding places of wealth and luxury
our manufactures yield fortunes very lit
tie dreamed of by the fathers of the re-
public; our business men are madly striv.
ing in the race for riches, and immense
aggrega:ions of capital outrun the imagi
nation in the magnitude of their under
takings. We view with pride and salts
faction this bright picture of our country's
growth and prosperity, while only closer
scrutiny develops sombre shading. Up
on more careful inspection We find the
wealth and luxury of our cities mingled
with poverty and wretchedness and unre
munerative toll. A crowded and constant
ly increasing urban population suggests
the impoverishment of rural sections ant
discontent with agricultural pursuits. The
| farmers son. not satisfied with his father:
simple and laborious life, joins the eager
chase for easily acquired wealth. We dis
cover that the fortunes realized by oul
manufacturers are no longer solely the re
ward of sturdy industry and enlightened
| foresight, but that they result from th'
| discriminating favor of the Government
and are largely built up on undue exaction'
| from the masses of our people. The gull
between employers and the employed il
constantly widening, and classes are rap
| idly forming one comprising the very rict
and powerful, while in another are fount
the tolling poor.
TRUSTS AND MoNOPoLIEs.
As we view the achievements of aggre
gated capital We discover the existence O.
| trusts. combinations and monopoiies
while the citizen is struggling far In tn
rear, or is trampled to death beneath al
iron heel. Corporations, which should b
the carefully restrained creatures Of tn
| law and the servants of the people, ar
fast becoming the peoples masters.
is THE GOVERNMENT ExTRAvAGANTf
Still congratulatlng ourselves upon tn