The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Following is LHdt pOTtIOIl VI tHe
Presidents Message relating to the
tariff question:
To the Congress Of the United States.
AS you assemble for the dis
charge of the duties you have as.
sumed as the representatives of q
free and generous people, your meet.
ing is marked by an interesting and
impressive incident. With the ex-
piration of the present session OF
The Congress, the first century OF
our Constitutional existence as a
nation will be completed. Our sur
vival for one hundred years IS not
sufficient to assure us that we no
longer have dangers to fear in the
maintenance, with all it's promised
blessings, of government founded
upon the freedom Of the people.
The time rather admonishes US to
soberly inquire whether in the past
we have always closely kept in the
course of safety, and whether we
have before ua way plain and clear
which leads to happiness and per-
petuity.
When the experiment of our gov
eminent was uncertain, the chart
adopted for our guidance was the
Constitution. A departure from
the lines there laid down is fail
ure. It is only by strict adher-
ence to the directions there lndl-
Gated and by restraint within the
limitations there fixed that we can
furnish proofs to the world OF the
fitness of the American people tor
selfgovernment. The equal and
exact Justice of which we boast as
the underlying principle of our IN,
stitutions, should not be confined
to the relations of our citizens to
each other. The Government itself
is under bond to the American peo-
pie that in the exercise OF It's tunc-
tons and powers it will deal with
the body of our citizens In man
ner 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 no condition IN
life shall give rise to discrimination
in the treatment of the people by
this Government. The citizen OF
our Republic in it's early day rigidly
insisted upon full compliance with
the letter Of this bond, and saw
stretching out before him a clear
field for Individual endeavor. His
tribute to the support of his Gov
eminent was measured by the cost
of its economical maintenance, and
he was secure in the enjoyment Of
the remaining recompense OF his
steady toll, and contented with 1t.
In these days
TIE FRUGALIrY OF THE PEOPLE
Was stamped upon their govern
ment and was enforced by the free,
thoughtful and intelligent suffrage
of the citizens. Combinations, mo-
nopolies and aggregations of cap
ital were then avoided. or sternly
regulated and restrained. The pomp
and glitter of q government less
free offered no temptation, and pre-
scented no delusion to the plain peo-
pie, who, side by side in friendly
competition, wrought for the emo
Element and dignity of man, for the
solution Of the problem Of free gov
ernmcn., and for the achievement
of the grand destiny awaiting the
land which God had given them.
X century has passed, and our cities
are the abiding place of wealth and
luxury. Our manufactures yield
fortunes never dreamed of by the
fathers of the Republic. Our bust
ness men are madly striving in the
race for riches, and immense aggre-
cations Of capital outrun the I'M
agination in the magnitude of their
undertakings. We view with pride
and satisfaction this bright picture
of our country's growth and pros
perity, while only closer scrutiny
develops sombre shading. Upon
more careful inspection we find the
wealth and luxury of our cities
mingled with poverty and wretch
edness and unremuneratiye toll.
4 crowded and constantly increas-
ing urban population suggests the
lmpoverishment of rural sections
and discomfort with agricultural
pursuits. The farmers son, not
satisfied with his fathers simple
and laborious life, joins the eager
chase for easily acquired wealth.
We discover that the fortune real
lied by our manufacturers are no
longer solely by the reward of stur-
dy industry and enlightened fore
sight, but that they result from the
discriminating favor of the Govern
nent and are largely built upon
undue exaction from the masses OF
our people. The gulf between the
employers and the employed is
constantly widening and the classes
are rapidly forming. one compris.
ing the very rich and powerful
NyhyIo IN E. -.