The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-04

wAmNoToN, Dec. S-The following is
The annual message Of the President Of the
United States to Congress-
To the Congress Of the Unitcd staioE
A. you assemble Tor the discharge Of the
duties YOU have assumed as the representa-
tives OF free and generous people, your
meeting Is marked by an interesting and inn
pFossivc incident With the expiration OF
the present session OF the congress, the first
cgitury Of oar constitutional existence as a
nation will he complete. our survival for
LOO years j. not sufficient "a assure us
that We no longer have dangers 10 fear in the
maintenance, with all H. promised blessings.
oil government founded upon the free dom
Of the people. The same rather admonishcs
Us 10 sobcrly inquire whether In the past we
have always closely kept In the course Of
safety and whether We have before us a way
plain aud clear which leads 10 happiness
aud prosperity. The citizen Of our Rcpub.
lie In It's early days rigidly insisted upon
full compliance with the letter Of this bond
aud saw stretching out before him a
clear field for individual endcayor His
tdbuc 10 the support Of his Government was
measured by the cost Of It's economical main.
tenancc, and he wa secure Ia the enjoyment
OF the remaining rccompcnse II he Is steady
aud contented.
When the experiment ~ our Government
was undertaken the chart adopted for our
Guidance wns the Constitution, departure
from the line therein laid down Is failure
u Is only by n strict adherence 20 the direc-
lion II Indicates, aud by rcstrnnt with the
Limitation Il fires, that We can furnish proof
20 the world Of the
FfrSEss on THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
for self Government Justice Of which We
boast o. the underlying principle Of our
institutions should not be confined 10 the
relations OF our citizens 10 each other The
Government itself IL under bond 10 the
Amsrloan people, that In the exercise Of ii-
r1'Y'tions aud power u will deal with the
body Of oureiiiaens In manner .crupulously
hon, 4 aud fair aud absolutely Just II has
agreed that American citizcnship shall be
the only crcdentinl necessary 20 Justify the
claim of equality before the law, aud that no
condition Ia life shall give rise 10 dlscrimiu-
alton Ia the treatment Of the people by their
Government
In the early days the frurality Of the PEG.
pie was stamped upon the government aud
was enforced by the free. thoughtful and in
tollgont suffrage Of the citizen. Combina-
ton, monopolist, aud aggrcgntiOns Of capital
were either avoided or utcrnly resisted and
restrained. The pomp aud glitter Of Govern.
mcuta less free offered no temptation and
presented no dolusion 30 the plain people
who side by side In friendly competition
wrought for the ennoblemcnt aud dignity Of
man. Tor the solution Of the problem Of free
government, and for tho achievement Of the
grand destiny awaiting the land which God
had given them. A century has passed.
oar cities are the abiding places VI wealth
md luxury; our manufactures yield for.
tunes never dreamed OF by the fathers VI
The Republic. our business men are ma1ly
striving in the race Tor riches. and immunse
nggrgntions VI capital outrun the imagina.
ton in the magnitude " their undertaking.
We view with pride and satisfaction this
picture Of
ouR CouSraY's GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.
While only close scrutiny develops a som.
Der shading Upon more careful Inspection
we end tic wealth and luxurics Of our cities
mingled with poverty aud wrcichodncss aud
unumunoratiye 10 Il. A crowded aud con-
silutly Increasing urban population sur
gpsts thc I'M proyemont Of rural section. and
discomfort with agricultural pursuits The
farmers ION. not satisfied with his fathers
simple and labori0us life. Joins the eager
chase Tor easily acquired wealth.
We discover that the fortunes realized by
our manufacturers nW b.. longer solely the
reward of sturdy industry aud enlightened
foresight hut that they result from the dis.
eliminating favor Of the Government, and
arr largely built upon undue exactions from
che masses Of our people, the gulf between
employs and tho employed i constantly
widening and classo. are rapidly forming,
one comprising the very rich aud powerf ul
while in another are found the toiling
poor
AZ We view the achievements Of aggregated
capital. We discover the existence Of trurtful
combinations and monopllics, while the
ctIycp j. struggling far IN the rsaf aud
tnm. ,lci 10 dchih beneath an iron heel.
Corpjniion,f which should be the carefully