The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-04
CLEVELAND'S MESSAGE.
ALL THE PARAMOUNT NATION AL
TOPICS TOUCHED UPON.

TOPICS TOUCHED UPON.
The Urgent Need of Revision of the
Tariff Again Set Forth-All Questions
with Foreign Nations Susceptible of
Amicable Settlement-The Indian
Policy Bearing Good Fruits-Review-
ing the accommodations OF the
Secretaries.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-Following is the
full te xt of the annual message to congress
submitted by President Cleveland to-day:
TO the Congress of the United States:
As You assemble for the discharge OF the du-
ties you have assumed as the representatives of
free and generous people. your meeting is
marked by an interesting and impressive Incl
dent With the expiration of the present ses-
sion of the congress, the first century OF our
constitutional existence as nation will be com
plete. Our survival for one hundred years is
not sufficient to assure us that we no longer
have dangers to fear in the maintenance, with
all its promised blessings, of a 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 us way plain and clear which leads to
happiness and perpetuity.
When the experiment OF our government was
undertaken, the chart adopted for our guild
ance was the constitution. Departure from the
lines there laid down is failure. 1t is only by a
strict adherence to the direction they Indicate
and by restraint within the limitations they fix
that we can furnish proof to the world of the
fitness of the American people for sef-govern-
ment. The equal and exact justice of which we
boast as the underlying principle of our institu-
tons should not be confined to the relations IF
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 deal with the body of our citizens in a
manner scruputously honest and fair, and abso-
iutely just. 1t has agreed that American citi-
z9nship 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 their government.
The citizen of cur republic in its early days
rigdly insisted upon full compliance with the
letter Of this bond, and saw stretching out be-
fore him clear field for individual endeavor
lis tribute to the support of his government
was measured by tle cost of its economical
maintenance, and he was secure in the enjoy
ment Of the remaining recompense of mis- ste Idy
aud contented toll In those days the frugahty
Of the people was stamped upon their govern
lnent, and was enforced by the free thoughtful
and intelligent suffrage of the citizen.
NO MoSoPoLIEs IN THOSE DAYS.
Combinations, monopolies and aggregations
Of capital were either avoided or sterny
regulated and restrained. The pomp and gilt
ter of governments less free offered no TEN Uta-
ton and presented no deusion to the plain peo-
pie who side by side in friendly competition
wrought for the ennoblement and dignity OF
man, for the solution of the problem of free gov
trnment, and for the achievement of the grand
destiny awaiting the land which God had
had given them. century has passed; our
cities are the abiding places of wealth ard
luxury; our manufactures yield fortunes never
dreamed of by the fathers of the republic; our
business men are madly striving in the racs
for riches, and immense aggregations
in the magnitude of their undertakings
We view with pride and satisfaction this bright
picture of our country's growth and prosperity,
while only closer scrutiny develops a somber
shading. Upon more careful inspection we
find the wealth and luxury of our cities mingled
with poverty and wTetchedneSs and unremuner-
alive toll A crowded and constantly ncreas-
ing urban population suggests the impoVeTish-
ment OF rural sections and discomfort with agri-
cultural pursuits Inc farmers son, not salts
fed with bis fathers simple and laborious life,
Joins the eager chase for easily-acquired wealth.
Children of the Tariff
We discover that the fortunes realized by our
4 manufacturers are no longer solely the work of
4 sturdy industry and enlightened foresight, but
4 that they result from the discriminating favor
OF the government and are largely built upon
undue eXactioHs from the masses of our people.
The gulf between employers and the employed
4 IS constantly widening and classes are rapidly
4 forming, one comprising the very rich and pow
4 erful, while in another are found toe tOing
poor.
AS we view the achievements of aggregated
/ capital, we discover the existence of trusts,
/ combinations and monopoes, while the citizen
4 is struggling far in the rear or. is trampled to
death beneath an iron heel Corporations,
Il which should be the carefully restrained crea-
lures of the law, and the servants of the people,
are fast becoming the peoples masters. Still
congratulating ourselves upon the wealth and
prosperity of our country, and complacently
contemplating every incident of change insepa-
rable from these conditions, it is our duty as
patriotic citizens to inquire at the present state
OF our progress howtthe bond of the governme Mt
made with the people has been kept and per-
formed. Instead of limiting the tribute drawn
from our citizens to the necessities of its eco
nomical administration. the government pers SITS
IN eXacting from the substance of the people,
millions which, unapplied and useless lie dor
mant in its treasury. This fragrant injustice
and this breach of faith and obligation adds to
extorton the danger attending the diversion of
the currency of the country from the legitimate
channels of business.
Under the same Jaws by which these results
are produced the government permits many
millions more to be added to the cost Of the iiV-
ing Of our people and to be taken by our con
sunefs, which unreasonably swell the profits of
small but powerful minority.
A TARIFF FOR REVENUE.
The people must still be taxed for the support
or the government under the operation Of tariff
laws. But to the extent that the mass of our
citizens are inordiuateIy burdened beyond any
Hseiul pubic purpose. and for the benefit OF
4a'Otu IcW, Tue government, uuOcC preUeXJ
an exercise of its taxing power, enters gratuit-
ousy into partnership with these favortes TO
their advantage and to the injury Of vast ma
lorty Of Our people This Is not equality before
the law. The existing situation is injurious to
tne health OF our entire body polite 1t stiles
IL tlose for whose benefit il is permitted all
patriotic love of country and substitutes in its
pace selfish greed and graspng avarice.
devotion to American citizenship for its own
sake and for what it should accom- ish as a
motive 10 our nations advancement ard the
happiness of our people, is displaced by the as
SUMPTION that the government Instead of being
we embodiment OF equality, is but an instru
mentality through which especial individual adj
ven'aReS are To be gained. The arrogance of
Il ,lH assumption is unconceRled. IL appears in
Il lhe sorid disregard OF all but personal inter
'sts In the refusal to abate for the benefit Of
o'hers iota of selfish disadvantage, and in
combinations to perpetuate such advantages
Trough Efforts to control legislation and i'm
properly influence the suffages OF tho people.
HARDsHIPs OF THE FARMERS
The grievances of those not included within
Ile circle of these benefciaries when July
realized, will surely arouse irritation and dis
content Our farmers, long-suffering and
patent, struggling In the race Of life with the
hardest and most unremitting toll win not fail
70 See, IN spite of misrepresentation and mis-
iea ing fallacies, that they are obi ,ed to accept
suiA prices for their products as are fiXe in
ore gn markets where they compete with tn
armer5 Of the worli. that their lands are de
.lhlins IN value while their debts increase, and
nat without compromising favor they are
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