Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-12-06

outset of the message that with the ex-
piration OF the present session Of Coz.
gress the first century Of our eOnsti-
tutional existence as a nation will be
completed, and this circumstance, be
Observes, admonishes US to inquire 60
berly whether in the past We have
kept closely in the course Of safety
marked out in the constitution, and
whether the way before US is plain
and clear. Equal and exact justice
between the government aud citizens,
as well as between citizen and citizen,
is the underlying principle of our in
stltutions. In the early days Of the
republic this principle was RICHLY in.
sisted on. The tribute Of the citizen
to the support Of the government was
measured strictly by the cost Of its
maintenance. In those d.ys the fru.
gali:y of the people was stamped up
On their government and enforced bv
A thoughtful aud intelligent suffrage.
Combinations, monopolies and aggre-
cations Of capital were avoided or
sternly regulated. A century has
passed. Now our cities are filled with
wealth and luxury; our manufscto-
ries yield fortunes never dreamed Of
by the fathers Of the republic, and
immense sggregations of capital out
run the imagination in the magnitude
of their undertaking.. At first view
this is bright picture, but closer
scrutiny reveals a sombre shading.
Side by side with the wealth of our
cities We see poverty and unremuner-
alive toll. Increased urban popula-
ton suggests the impoverishment OF
rural sections. The fortunes of our
manufacturers are no longer solely
the reward Of sturdy industry and
foresight, but result largely from the
discriminating favor of the govern
ment being built upon undue ex-
actions from the people. Two
well-defned classes are being form
ed-on one side the very rich and
powerful, on tho other the toll.
ing poor. Closer inspection discloses
the existence of trusts and other like
monspoliss tramplipg upon the un-
organized masses, while corporations
which should be the carefully.re-
strained servants of the people are
fast becoming their masters. The
cause and cure of these invasions Of
the principle of equality before the
law lies in our system Of taxation.
The high tariff, in the interest OF ia.
vorsd few, exacts unneeded millions
from taxpayers, part of which mil.
lions go to swell the surplus in the
treasury, while the rest and much
the larger part go to making of mil.
ionsires. The effect is to iniure the
health of the entire body polite. In
the beneficisries OF high tariff taxes il
stiles all patriotic love OF country
and its place is taken by s.lfsh greed
and grasPing avarice. The govern
meut is regarded by the favored class
not as an embodiment of equality. but
as au instrumentality through which
individual advantages are to be gained
This view is unconcealed. 1t isman.
ifssted in q sordid disregard Of all but
personal interests, the refusal to abat,
for the benefit of others one iota o
selfish advantage, and in combination
t. control legislation and improperly
influence the suffragss of the people
On the other hand, . spirit of discon.
tent is generated among those not in,
cluded within the circle OF tariff ben,
ehts. Farmers selling in foreign mar,
ksts and buying under compulsio1
only in the home market find them.
selves impoverished, their lands de.
clining in value and their debts in.
creasing. Workingmen and other.
not engaged in farming are likewise
victims Of the unequal laws. Com.
munlsm is hateful thing. but here ia
communism OF . combined CAPT.
tai, the outgrowth OF cupidity aud
sslhshuess. It exsspera!s s the dis.
contented and threatens with dis.
order the citadel Of rule. The
idea that the government shall pro.
tect the rich so that they shall protect
the poor is wrong and absurd. No
intermediary between the people and
their government is required; its ex.
istence makes the boast of free insti.
tuticns a glitterinG delusion. What
Is wanted is just and sensible re-
vision Of our tariff laws for the relief
OF the forgotten masses. The nsces-
s'ty OF reduction of our reuenue 10
conceded. Ext:avagant appropria.
hons should not be accepted in lieu