Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-03

duties you have assumed as the Representa-
tives OF a free and generous people your meet
ing Is marked by an interesting and impressive
incident. With the expiration OF the present
session of the Congress, the first century Of
our constitutional existence as a nation will be
completed Our survival for one hundred
years is not sufficient to assure MS that we no
longer have dangers to fear in the maintenance.
with all its promised blessings, Of govern
meut founded upon the freedom Of the people.
The time rather admonishes us TO soberly in
quire whether in the past we have always
closely kept in the course Of safety, and
whether we have before MS a way plain and
clear which leads to happiness and perpetuity.
When the experiment Of our government was
undertaken, the chart adopted for our guid-
ance was the constitution. Departure from
the lines there laid down is failure II is only
by a strict adherence to the direction they in
dicate and by restraint within the limitations
they fix, that we can furnish proof 10 the
world OF the fitness Of the American people for
self-government
The equal and exact justice of which We
boast as the underlying principle Of our insti-
tutions, should not be confined 70 the relations
OF our citizens to each other. The governments
itself Is under bond to the American people,
that in the exercise Of its functions and powers
1t Will deal with the body Of our citizens in .
manner scrupulously honest and fair and sbso-
lutely just. II has agreed that American citi-
zenship 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.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
The citizen Of our republic in its early davS
rigidy insisted upon full compliance with the
off ia hon
fore him a clear field for individual endesvor.
His tribute to the support Of his government
was measured by the cost of its economical
ment of the remaining recompense Of his
steady and contented toll. In those DAYS the
frugality OF the people was stamped upon their
government, and was enforced by the free,
thoughtful. and intelligent suffrage OF the citi-
zen. Combinations. monopolies, and aggreea-
tions of capital were either avoided or sternly
regulated and restrained. The pomp and Rlf&.
ter OF governments less free offered no tempts-
ton and presented no delusion 70 the plain
people who, side by side, in friendly competi-
ton wrought FOR the ennoblement and dignity
OF man, for the soluti IN Of the problem Of free
government, and for the achievement of the
grand destiny awaiting the land which God had
given them.
A century has passed. Our cities are the
abiding places of wealth and luxury; our man.
ufactories yield fortunes never dreamed Of bv
the fathers OF the republic; our business men
are madly striving in the race for riches and
immense sggregations Of capital outrun the
imagination in the magnitude OF their UNDER
takings We view with priae and satisfaction
this bright picture OF our country's growth and
prosperity, while only Q closer scrutiny de-
velops
A soMBER SHADING.
Upon more careful inspection We find the
wealth and luxury of our cities mingled with
poverty and wretchedness and unremunerstivs
toll. A crowded and constantly increasing
urban population suggests the impoverishment
Of rural sections and discomfort with agricuI-
tural 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 fortunes realized by
our manufacturers are no longer solsly the re-
ward of sturdy industry and enlightened fore
sight. but that they result from the discrimi-
mating favor Of the government, and are largely
built upon undue exactions from the masses of
our people. The gulf between employers and
the employed is constantly widening and
classes are rapidly forming, one comprising
the very rich and powerful, while in another
are found the toiling poor. As we view the
achievements of aggregated capital. we dis
cover the existence of
TRUSTS, COMBINATIONS, AND MoNoroIIna,
while the citizen is struggling far in the rear
Corporations, which should be the carefully
creatures Of the law and the serv-
ants of the people, are fast becoming the peo-
pies masters. Still 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 patriotic citizens TO inquire. 1t
the present stage Of our progress, how the bond
OF the government made with the people hno
been kept and performed.
SURPLUS AND TARIFF.
Instead Of limiting the tribute drawn from
our citizens, to the necessities of its economi-
cal administration, the government persists 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 add 20
extortion the danger attending the diversion Of
the currency Of the country from the legitimate
channels of business. Under the same laws By
which these results are produced, the govern
ment permits many millions more TO be added
TO the cost Of the living of our people and 70
be taken from our consumers, which unreason-
ably swell the profits Of small but powerful
minority. The people must still be taxed for
the support Of the government under the opera
tion Of tariff laws But 10 the extent that the
mass of our citizens are inordinateiy burdened
beyond any useful public purpose, and for the
benefit Of a favored few, the government
"
power, enters gratuitously into partnership
with these favorites, to their advantage and 70
the injury of q vast majority Of our people.
This ID not equality before the law. The
existing situation 10 injurious 70 the health of
our entire body-Politic. IL stiles, in those for
whose benefit il Is permitted ell patriotic love
Of country, and substitutes in its plsce selfish
greed and grasping avarice. Devotion 10
American citizenship for its own sake and for
what il should accomplish - . motive 10 our
nations advancement and the happiness Of all
our people, ID displaced by the assumption that
the government, instead Of being the embodi-
ment Of equality, 10 but an instrumeutality
through which especial and individual advan-
tages are 10 be gained The arrogance Of thD
assumption b uncouceaied. II appear IN the
sordid disregard of al but personal intsresss,
in the refusal 10 sbste for the bsnent Of Others
one iots Of selfish advantage, and In combine
ti0ns 70 perpetuate such advsntAees through
efforts 70 control legislation and impropsrly
inAuence the sufrages Of TIE people.
urEREsTs on TIE voakua clAssA
The grievances of thoss nos fncludsd vithiA
the circle Of tAsss bsnsneiuriss, vhsn fully
realized, win surely so1ss Irritation anA die-
content 0ur lafnGa lsae-suGsri.e -
patient stzugyii1g q - rass - NJ M -
hardest and nest unrsuui5ting tpn wiIl -
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