Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-12-07
THE MESSAGE.


both houses on Monday. 1t is docu-
ment of great magnitude, filling seven
columns in the fine type of the city dali
lies. The tone of the message is rather
pessmistic than hopeful, as if the Pres
ident felt that the country had gone or
was fast going to the dogs. He begins
by reference to the fact that with the
present session the first century of our
existence as nation ends, and says:
The gulf between employers and the
employed is constantly widening, and
classes are rapidly forming, one compris-
ing the very rich and powerful, while in
another are found the toiling poor. AS
we view the achievements of aggregated
capital we discover the existence of trusts.
combinations and monopoles, while
the citizen is struggling far in the rear or
is trampled to death beneath an iron
heel. Corporations, which should be the
carefully restrained creatures of the law
and the servants of the people, are fast
becoming the peoples masters.
His ideas on tariff matters have appar-
emily undergone no change since his last
message was written; for he says, fur
ther:
While congratulating ourselves upon
the wealth and prosperity of our country,
and compacently contemplating every
incident of change inseparable from
these conditions, it is our duty as patri-
otic citizens to inquire, at the present
stage of our progress, how the
bond of 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 govern
ment persists in eXacting from the sub
stance of the people millions which, un-
applied and useless, lie dormant in the
treasury. This fragrant injustice and
this breach of faith and obligation add to
eXtortion the danger attending the diver
sion of the currency of the 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 unreasonably swell the profits of
a small but powerful minority. The peo-
pie 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 bur-
dened beyond any useful public purpose,
and for the benefit of favored few, the
government, under preteXt of an eXer-
else of its taxing power, enters gratuit-
ously into partnership with these favor
ties to their advantage, and to the injury
of a vast majority of our people. This is
not equality before the law.
He goes on at length in the same strain.
The only other portion of the message
which covers pretty much the whole
field of legislation-that is of general
: interest is that referring to foreign re-
llations and the Sackvlle-West episode
He says:
have the satisfaction to announce that
the end of the year finds the country al
peace within and without. During the
year our foreign relations have been i'm
proved by mutual good offices, treaties
; and reciprocal eXtraditiOn of criminals
= The questions between Great Britain and
the United States, relating to the right:
of American fisherman under treaty and
international comfy in the territoria
waters of Canada and Newfoundland,
t regret to say are not yet satisfactorily
! adjusted"
a The President refers to his efforts tC
| settle by treaty the lOng-standing fishery
dispute, asserts that he believes the re
: jected treaty did furnish satisfactory
final and practical adjustment upon al
q honorable basis, alludes to his unavailine
e recommendation of other legislation t,
0 settle the difficulty, and again invoke'
, the earnest and immediate attention o
(onUraSS N tho rnattar for tho cottla
ment of which he is deeply solicitous.
: Regarding the Sackville-West episod,
f the President promises to lay the CORES
= pondence before Congress, which, he says
q will show the objectionable conduct o
+ Lord Sackvlle in interfering with tn
I suffrage of American citizens in the verl
. crisis of the presidential election, and hi
subsequent public declaration to justif,
4 his action, impugnng the executive an,
. Senate in important questions now pend
: ing between the two governments. Tn
q President calls the ofiense most grave
A involving disastrous possibilities. "Ful
v opportunity" he says, twas afforde,
i her maiesty's government to relieve tn
! situation. considered prolongation o
the discussion to be unwarranted, and
q thereupon, declined to further recogniz
q the diplomatic character of the perso
X whose continuance in such function
r would destroy that mutual confidenc
q which is essential to the good under
standing of the two governments, an
n was inconsistent with the welfare an
i self-respect of the government of tn
Il United States. The usual interchange O
+ communication has since continue
!. through her maiesty's legation in thi
h city,"