Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-12-06

The Suspension Of the Further Coinage Of
silver Recommsnded-.tIso the FOrma-
tIon a New Courts to Relieve the SUI
pre,ue Court, the Amendment of Laws
Relating to Public Lsnds, A Prissn for !,
United States Prisoners. and Revision OF
Pension Laws-Reference Made ." the
ssckvIIls Incidsnt.
President Cleveland's annual message, sent
70 congress Monday opens with a review OF
the material progress OF the country during
the first century Of its existence as nation,
ana an exhaustive argument in favor Ut
tariff revision. Nearly one-fourth OF the
message is devoted to consideration Sf
these topics The president says
AZ Won assemble for tho dhcharge OF the
duties you have assumed as tbs representa-
,tives Of a free and generous people, your
Imeeti ne Is marked by an interesting and tna-
,pressiye incident. With the expiration of
the present session Of the congress, the hrs5
century Of our constitutional existence as
nation will be completed. Our survival for
one hundred years is not sufficient to assure
us that we no longer have dangers to Tear IN
the maintenance. with an Ns promasea
blessings. of government founded upon the
freedom of the people The time rather ad-
fnonishes us to soberly inquire whether an
the past we have always clos>ly kept IN the
course of safety, and whether we have before
ns a way plain and clear Which leads to
happiness and perpetuity.
ssss When. the experiment OK our government
was undertaken the chart adopted for our
guidance was the constitution. Departure
Al thara lain Is
IL Is only by strict adherencs to the direc-
( kion they indicate and by restraint within
the limitations they fix that we can furnish
proof to the world Of the fitness of the Amer
lean people for selfgovernment. Eg NJ
The equal and exact justice OF which We
boast as the underlying principle OF our IN .
Z stitutious, should not be confined TO the re-
iations OF our citizens to each other. The
government itself is under bond to the
American people, that in the exercise of its
functions and powers it will deal with the
body of our citizens in manner scrupu-
lously honest and fair and absolutely just.
II has agreed that American citizenship
shall be the only credential necessary to
Justify the claim Of equality before the law,
and that no condition III life shall give rise
to discrimination in the treatment OF the
people by their government.
The citizen OF our republic, in its early
DAYS, rigidly insisted upon full compliance
with the letter OF his bond, and saw stretch
ing out before hima clear field for individ-
ual endeavor His tribute to the support OF
his government was measured by the cost OF
Its economical maintenance.
And he was secure in the enjoyment Of
che remaining recompense Of his steady and
contented toll. In those days the frugality Of
the people was stamped upon their govern
ment, and was enforced by the free, thought.
full and intelligent suffrage OF the citiE IA.
Combinations, monopolies and kregatt0Rs
/, OF capital were either avoided or sternly
regulated and restrained. The pomp and
glitter Of governments less free offered nc
temptation and presented no deluston to the
plain people, who, side by side, in friendly
Competition, wrought for the enoblement
and dignity OF man, for the solution 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 place of wealth and luxury; Oul
manufactures yield fortunes never dreamed
of by the fathers OF the republic; cur busi
ness men are madly striving in the race fol
riches, and immense aggregations of capital
outrun the imagination in the magnitude ot
their undertakings We view with prids
and satisfaction this bright picture OF oul
country's growth fnd prosperity, while only
q closer scrutiny develops a somber shading
Upon more careful inspection we find tht
wealth and luxury of our cities mingled with
poverty and wretchedness and unremuner
ative toll. A crowded and constantly in
creasing urban population suggests the i'm
povershment of rural sections and discon
tent with agricultural pursuits. the farm
er's son, not satisfied with his fathers simple
and laborious life, joins the eager chase f0
easily acquired wealth.
We discover that the fortunes realized b,
tr1,r ,E.xfv~
reward OF sturdy industry and enlighJene,
foresight, but that they result from the dis
eliminating favor of the government, an
are largely built upon undo exactions fron
the masses of our people. The gulf betwee
employers and the employed is constantl
widening. and classes ARE rapidly forming
one comprising the very rich and powerful
while in another are found the toiling poor
Az we view the achievements of aggre
gated capital, we discover the existence Q
trusts, combinations and mn res. whil
the erizen is strugglin far i 'tr, o"
tramuei to Gesrh lenes 'Ia IN e
60, it,fr t:t,iis. sF3i|t..t sIs u ci!etN,
testr raliIeu CREATURES "a t.. AHA ca
servants of the people, are iasd Deconing th
peoples masters
Still congratulatiRg ourselves upon th
wealth and prosperity at our country aa
con,,lacently G ntenptaIa,g every ihci-l
is uur duty rs patrlute cltgzans 10 inqair,
ct the present stage Of our progress, how th
bond OF the government made with the pei
pie has been kept and performed.
Instead OF limiting the tribute drawn froI
our citizens, to the nece sslties of its econon
ical administration, the government persist
In exucting from the sub-tance OF the PEI
pie millions which unapplied and useless i
dormant in its treasury. This hagrant IL
Justice and this hreacn II faith and ohlig
zion utid TO extortion the danger attendin
une diversion of The currency OF the countr
from the legitimate channels If business
Under the same laws by which these r
suits are produced, the government permi
many millions more TO bs added TO the co
OF the living of our people and to be take
from our consumers, which unreasoaabl
swell the profits OF a small but powerful N
+ n0rity. ts3t sSftss
The people must still be taxed for the su
y AorC Ut the government under the operate
# .of tariff laws But TO the extent that 81
miass OF our ciLixsus are nordinately bu
dened beyond amy useful public purpose 81
for the benefit of favored few, the COVE
Aaent, under prstext Of an exercise OF
5 taxing power, enters gratnitousy into pat
nership with these favorites. TO their adva
4 faRe and 10 the injury OF @ vast majority
Fl our g,eupe, This Is not equality before q
law.
s The existing situation is luxurious to Il
health OF our entire body polite III STILES,
8 those Eor whose benefit II Is permitted, all Z
triotie love OF country, and snbstifRtes In
place seliish greed and graspiag avaris
Devotion 10 American citizenship Tor lts os
sake and for what IL should accomplish as
motive to our nations advancement and :
happiness Of all our people, Is displaced
the assumption that the government, inste
of being the embodiment Of equality, Is i
al instrulnentalitY through which espec