Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-12-07
CLEVELAND'S VALEDlCTORY
He PieaGs for Reduced Taxa.ion--h
Resume Of the Go !ernment
Business.
The Gist ofa Long Mesa re.

corting the chaplain, Mr.. Butler. When
the gavel descended there were AZ senators
present. Mr.. Buffers prayer was brief.
AT its conclusion Senator ingalls, announc-
ed the senate in session.
Mr.. Sherman offered resolution In
structing the secretary TO notify the house
that the senate was ready for the transac-
tion Of business. The resolution was
adopted.
Under resolution offered by Mr.. Nor
rill and adopted, the president pro tenn APP
PORTED Mr.. Morrill, and u committee TO nou
fy the president.
A resolution by Mr.. Cameron was adopt
ed making the regular hour OF assembling
12o'clock.
The senate then went into informal re-
cess to await the presidents message
The house was called u order, ana a1ter
the chaplain had offered prayer the clerk
called the roll of the house. The secretary
OF the sena read the announcement that
the upper body of congress had reassem-
bled, was ready for business and had
appointed committee to act with similar
committee on the part OF the house TO wait
upon and notify tha president that congress
awaited his pleasure. AT the conclusion III
the roll call, the speaker appointed Messrs:
Holman, 40 Neill and Turner members or
the COMMITTEE to notify the president The
house then took recess TO 30, at which
time the message was submitted.
SYNOPSIS OF THE MESSAGE.
The presidents message opens with re-
hinder at this session of congress Will
mark the close of century of constitution
al existence. He reminds congress that
the constitution was the chart of guidance
laid down by the fathers Of the country, and
that departure from it means failure of our
institutions. He draws a bright picture OF
the country's growth, but says that upon
more careful inspection we find the wealth
M mingled
poverty and wretchedness and unremuuer-
alive labor a crowed and constantly in
creasing urban popui ton suggest the i'm
poverishment of the rural sections and dis
content with agricultural pursuits. The
farmers son, not satisfied with his father $
simple and laborious life, joins the eager
chase for easily ac Iuired wealth, and SO
economic conditions have become difficult
of solution. We discover that the fortunes
realized by our manufacturers are no long
er solely a reward of sturdy industry and
enlightened foresight, but that they result
from the discriminating favor of the govern
ment and are largely built upon undue ex-
action from the masses of our people. The
gulf between employers and the employed
is consla ntly widening and classes are rap
idly form ne, one comprising the very rich
and powerful, while in another are found
the toiling poor.
"As we view the achievement of aggre
gated cap tai, we discover the existence OF
trusts, combina ions and monopolies, while
the citizen rs struggling far in the rear or is
trampled 10 death beneath an iron heel
Corporations, W ich should be the carefully
restrained creatures OF the law and the ser
wants OF the people, are fast becoming the
peoples masters. Still congratulating our
selves upon the wealth and prosperity OF
our country, and complacently contemplate
ing every incident OF change inseparable
from these conditions, IL Is our duty as
citizens present
stage of our progress, how the bond the
government made with the people has been
kept and performed.
Instead of Hmi ing the tribute drawn
from cur citizens TO the necessities of its
economical administration, the government
persists in exacting from the substance OF
the people millions which, unapplied and
useless, lie dormant in its treasury. This
fragrant injustice and this breach of faith
and obligation a ID to the extortion and the
danger attending the diversion of the cur
reucy Of the coun ry from the Legitimate
channels of business. Under the same laws
by which these results are produced, the
government permits many millions more 70
~ be added TO the cost of the living of our
Peep and 10 be taken from our consumers,
which unreasonabiy swell the prof of a
small but powerful III nority. The people
must still be taxed for the support of the
government under the operation of tariff
laws; out TO the extent that the mass OF
our citizens are Unfortunately burdened be.
yond any usefu public purposes and for the
benefit OF favored few, the government,
under pretext OF an exercise OF its tax n z
power, enters gratuitously into partnership
with these favorites, 10 their advantage
and 10 the in urv Of a vast MAORI v of our
people. This is not equality before the
law"
After the prelude the president argues
that such conditions are injurious TO the
nation, making the government an instru
ment for private gain; and he says that the
farmers and labOrers will see only too soon
that they are being taxed under an unjust
theory of taxation, without compensatory
favor. When this discomfort and the self
ishness OF the benefciaries of protect We
tariffs are realized. we will realize that the
beneficent purposes of our government are
endangered. Communism is a hateful
thing, and a menace To peace and organized
government But the communism of com.
bined wealth AMI capital, tie outgrowth OF
overweening cupid ty and selfshness which
insduously undermnes the justice and ia
tegrty Of free institutions, Is not less dan
geruus than the communism OF oppres sed
poverty, which, exasperated by injustice
and discomfort attacks with wild disorder
the citadel OF rule.
''There are people who propose that the
government shall protect the rich and that
they in turn will care for the laboriug poor.
Any intermediary tetween the people and
their government, or the least delegation OF
the care and protection the government
owes TO the humblest citizen In the land,
makes the boast of free institutions gilt
tering delusion, and the pretended boon OF
American citizenship shameless imposi-
ton.
"a just and sensible revision Of our tariff
laws should be made for the relief of those
OF our countrymen who suffer under pres
ent conditions. Such revision should re-
ceive the support of all who love that JUS
tice and equality due to American citizen
ship; of all who realize that In this
justice and equality our government finds
its strength and its power to protect the cit
zen and his property; of all who believe
that the contented competence and comfort
of the m ny accord better with the spirit of
our institutions than colossal fortunes IN
fairly gathered, in the hands of the few; Of
all who appreciate that the forbearance
and fraternity among our people, which
recompense the value of every American
interest, are the surest guarantee Of our
national progress, and of all who desire to
SEQ the products of American skill and in
genuity in every market of the world, with
. resulting restoration OF American COM
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