The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-07
The Presidents Message.

principles and aims ofthe founders of the Re.
public. He reterates the necessity for re-
form of the unjust tariff laws and shows no
sign of weakening in the position assumed
by him with reference thereto.
President Cleveland may well speak boldly
in favor of tariff reform, as his views on the
subject were sustained by a majority of the
American people, in the recent election.
He denonnces the inequality of the present
tariff taxation, and says:
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 mil
lions which unapplied and useless lie dormant
in its treasury. This fragrant injustice aud this
breach of faith and obligation add to extortion
the danger attending the diversion of the cur
rency OF the country from the legitimate chan
nels of business.
Under the same laws by which these results
are produced, the government permits many
millions more TO be added 10 the cost of the
living OF our people and to be taken from our
consumers, which unreasonably swell the pro-
tits of a small but powerful minority.
The people must still be taxed for the sup
port of the government under the operation
OF tariff laws. But to the extent that the mass
of our citizens are inordnately burdened beyond
any useful public purpose, and for the benefit
OF favored few, the government, under the pre-
text of an exercise of its taxing power, enters
gratuitously into partnership with these favor
ties, TO their advantage and to the injury of a
vast majority of our people.
now FARMERS SUFFER-.
Our farmers, says President Cleveland, long
suffering and patient, struggling in the race of
life with the hardest and most unremitting toll,
Will not fail to see, in spite of msrepresenta-
tons and misleading fallacies, that they are
obliged to accept such prices for their pro-
ducts as are fixed in foreign markets where they
compete with the farmers of the world that
their lands are declining in value while their
debts increase; and that without compromising
fovor they are forced by the action of the gov
eminent TO pay, for the benefit of others, such
enhanced prices for the things they need, that
the scanty returns oftheir labor fail to furnish
their support or leave no margin for accumula.
ion.
THE woRKINGMAN's DEMAND.
Our workngmon, enfranchsed from all de-
lnsions, aud no longer frightened by the cry
that their wages are endangered by a just re-
vision of our tariff laws, will reasonably demand
through such revision steader employment,
cheaper means of living in their homes, freedom
Tor themselves and their children from the
doom of perpetual servitude, and an open door
TO their advancement beyond the limits of
laboring class. Others OF our citizens whose
comforts and expenditures measured by
upon the fairness and justice of cheapeuing the
cost of necessaries for themselves and their
families.
lie also denounces the communism of cap.
ital and monopoly, which Expresses poverty
and toll, which mocks the people by propos-
ing that the government shall protect the
rich and that they in turn will care for the
laboring poor.
He again recommends Just and sensible
revision of our tariff laws, for the relief of
those OF our countrymen who suffer under
present conditions. He says the necessity
OF the reduction of our revenue is SO appar-
ent as TO be generally conceded, and depre-
Gates extravogant appropriations of public
money, with all their demoralizing conse-
quences, either as a means Of relieving the
treasury of its present surplus or as pre-
text for continuing the present tariff
He points out to Congress number of
things requiring attention, such as changes
in our laws respecting public lands, our In
dian policy, &C., to all of which the attention
of Congress has already been directed.
AT PEACE WITH THE WORLD.
President Cleveland announces with salts
faction that we ore at peace with the whole
world, all the little matters of difference with
foreign powers being in way to be satisiac
torily adjusted.
He invokes the immediate attention of Con-
gress to the Canadian question, and refers to
the dismissal of Lord Sackville, the British
minister, in fitting terms.
OTHER TOPICS ADvERTED TO.
He recommends survey ofthe boundaries
between Alaska and Canada, and mentions
the Samoan question and also the question of
The preservation of our supremacy in the Ha-
waiian Islands. He notes the disturbances in
Hayti, and says steps have been taken for
the preservation of American interests in
that republic. He advises a treaty of COM
mercal reciprocity with Mexico.
A reorganization of the consular service is
recommended, with fewer principal consular
offices.
He suggests that Congress should provide
for the governments participation in the
centennial celebration at New York, on April
30, 1889, of the Inauguration of Washington
as President.
The revenues of the government for the
year 1888 show an increase, and the expen-
ditures show decrease, notwithstanding an
increased payment of over $5,00O00O for
pensions. For that year the surplus, nclud,
ing the sinking fund provision of SAT ,0OO, 900,
was $110,6l2,1l6; for 1889 the estimated sur
plus is $lO4,OOOO0O; for 1890, $1O1 1899, 511
Up to December l, 1888, the purchases OF
bonds with surplus funds in the treasury az
gregated $04,7O0,4 400, including premiums
amounting to SIT ,50s,613. The transaction
was not good one, it is urged, for the PEG.
pie, as 1t means to them loss-in interest on
money uselessly taken out of their business
of 500, 100000.
Within twelve months, the President says
eleven efficient, modern steel men-of-war will
be added to our navy. These will be paid
for out of the savings of the department I'M
der the present administration.
The President notes the large increase in
the business of the Postofflce Department
and his recommendation of increased com.
pensation for the 1854 postmasters of the
fourth class will meet with the hearty appro.
val of that number of persons, at least.
The right disposition of our public lands is
an important question requiring the atten.
ton of Congress. Over 100000 acres
have been recovered from illegal usurpation
but new legislation is needed to give the peo.
pie their own. The enactment of general
pension law is urged. The expenditure last
year under this head was $S2 ,Oss. 1856, or 81
per cent. fthe total expenditure of the year
The existence of great laxity of ideas on the
subject ofpensions is called TO the attention
ofCongress and the discontinuance of vicious
precedents in granting pensions for partisan
and irrelevant considerations is advised. The
adjustment of the relations between the
government and Immigrant railroads is q