Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
HIS TARIFF RECOMMENDATIONS OF
1887 RENEWED.
7hc surplus Necessity for Revenue Re
ductiou- Foreign Relations Fish
cry Dispute 'ack,ilc Episode
Other Matters Treated.

rpne attention to the fact that with the
present session of Congress ends the first
century of our constitutional existence and
i'm his retrospective says: The gulf between
employers and the employed is constantly
wi lening, and classes are rapidly forming,
ono comprising the very rich and powerful,
while in another are found the tolllnS poor
AS we view the achievements OF aggregated
capital. we discover the existence OF trusts,
combinations and monopolies, while the clt!-
zen is struggling far in the rear or Is
tlampled to death beneath an IRON heel.
CORPORATIONS. which should be the carefully
restrained creatures of the law ana
the servants of the people, are
fast becoming the peoples masters
While congratulating ourselves upon the
wealth and prosperity Of our country and
complacently contemplating every incident of
change inseparable from these conditions,
it is our duty as patriotic citizens to inquire
at the present stage of our progress how the
bond of the government, made with the pco-
pie, has been kept and performed. Instead
OF limiting the tribute drawn from our cit
liens, to the necessities of economical admin
istration, the government persists IN exact
ing from the substance of the people millions
which, unappled and useless, ledormant in
its treasury The fragrant injustice and
this breach Of faith and obligation add to eX-
tortion the danger attending the diversion
of the currency of the country from the le-
ultimate channels of business.
THE TARIFF AND THE SURPLUS.
The message proceeds: Render 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
small, but powerful, minority, the people
must still be taxed for the support OF the
government under the operation of tariff
laws, and to the extent that the mass Of our
citizens are Unfortunately burdened beyond
any useful public purpose, and for the bene-
fit of a favored few. The government, I'M
der preteXt of an exercise of its taxing pow
ers, enters gratuitously into partnership with
these favolites to their advantage and to the
injury of a vast majority Of our people.
This is not equality before the law.
THE EXISTING SITUATION
Is injurious to the health of our entire
body polite. 1t stiles. in those for whose
benefit it is permitted all patriotic love of
country, and substitutes in its place, selfish
greed and grasping ayarice. Devotion to
American citizenship for its own sake and
for what it should accomplish rs a motive
10 our nations advancement and the happi-
ness of all our people, is displaced by the
assumption that the government, instead of
being the embodiment of equality, is but
uu inStrumentalitY through which especial
G1l individual advantages are to be gained.
'Nl. grievances Of those not included within
I-o circle of these benehcialios, when fully
" d. viii surely arouse irritation and
90 "nt-ut. Our farmers, long suffering
.nj patient, viii not fail to see, in spite of
.'' presentations and misleading tallacies,
t.at they ar obliged to accept
-.rl prices for their products as are
'--.i j.! fore IN markets, whore they
HuHQ.i" with tha farmers of the world,
timt turr lands are declining in value while
iNrr ut- increase; anu that without com
lu,u,n- favor they are forced by the ac-
uun oi The government to pay for the bcne-
i.J .. other, such caL.Ee prices for the
things they need, that lo ou,y returns of
t..ir labor fail to furnish heir support on
leave n1 margin for accumulation. Our
Vorkin-me, no longer dei.led by the cry
Of lower wages, will demand. through suchre-
vision, -toauor employmcnt cheaper neces-
sites. freedom for themselves and children
from the doom of perpetual servitude and
am open door to their advancement beyond
tho limits OF a labOring class, citizens OF mod
crate salaries and fixed incomes will also in
list upon cheapening the cost Of necessities.
When TO the selhshness OF the bcnefciarie.
of unjust discrimination is added the discon-
tsnt Of those who suffer we shall realize that
the beneficent purpose of our government i,
endangered Communism is a hateful thing
and a menace TO peace and organized gov
eminent, but the communism Of combined
wealth, and capital. the outgrowth of over
Wecnlng cupltuty and selfiShnesS which in
Siuuou9lS uiic'el lnlne9 uhe justice ana lhte9
ouS than the communism If onr5oeeed nov
or+,- which evosnoratad IN, i,,irstioo and die
content attacks with wild diSordor tbe citi
del Of rule He ,nocl,s fine naonIa who ,,ro.
noses tbn+ fine onve,,,,ant eboli 2ro,oo+ a.,
rich. and that thev. in t,nn will cnre f.,
the Iahorino moor
A ms md sensible revision Of our +o,;o
laws shouId he made for tho ,o1iof of thaH'
of nur countrvrnen Who snfFa, ,n,da, ,,,oeo,,,
conditions Such a revision .ho,,Id racoi,'
the spnnort of all who have tl,at i,,e+iao o,l
enualitv dine to American citi1enshir1. Of nj
l. ,.oS,I;,o lo4 =, a.. T.. 4, - - -