, 1888-12-04
President Cleveland TO the Fiftieth
Congress.
The Document One of Sound Sense
and Wisdom.
His References TO the Surplus and
Unjust Taxation.
Heavy Shot Dealt at Combines and
M%onopolies.
An Extension of the Debt of the
Union Pacific Urged.

To The Congress Of tie United Stotes:-
As you assemble for the discharge Of the
duties you have assumed as the represen-
tative of n free and generous people, your
meeting is marked by an interesting and
impressing incident. With the expiration
of the present session of congress, the first
century of our constitutional existence as
a nation will be completed.
As we view the achievement ofaRgregat-
ed capital we discover the existence of
trusts, combinations and monopolies while
the citizen is struggling far in the rear or
is trampled to death beneath an iron heel.
Corporations, which should be the care
fully restrained creatures OF the law and
the servants of the people, are fast becom-
ing the peoples masters. Sulll congratu-
lating ourselves upon the wealth and pros
perity OF our country and complacently
contemplating every incident OF change
inseparable from these conditions it is our
duty as patriotic citizens to inquire ct the
present stage Of our progress, how the
bond Of the government made with the
people has been kept and performed.
TARIFF TAX.
Instead of limiting the tribute drawn
from our citizens To the necessities of its
economical administration, the govern
ment persists in exacting from the sub
stance of the people millions which, un-
applied and useless. lie dormant in its
treasury. This fragrant injustice and this
breach OF faith and obligation add to ox-
tortion the danger attending n diversion
of the currency OF the country from the
legitimate channels of business. Under
the same laws by which these results are
produced the government permits many
millions more To be added to the cost of
the living of our people and to be taken
from our consumers which professionally
swell the profits of II small but powerful
minority. The people must still be taxed
for the support OF the government under
the operation of tariff laws, but not 10
the extent that the mass of our citizens
ars Unfortunately buricned, beyond any
useful public purpose and Tor the benefit
of u favored few.
TIE GOVERNMENT,
under thepretext OF an exercise Of its taxing
power, cutters gratultuusly into partner.
ship with these favoritcs to their advaE-
tage and the injury of a vast majority of
our people. This il not equality before
the law. The existing situation is lniuri
GUS to the health OF our entire body poll
tic. 1t STILES in those all patriotic love OF
ountry and substitutes in It's place selfish
greed and grasping avarice. When to the
selfshness of the beneticiaries of unjust
discrimination under our laws there shall
be added the discomfort Of those who
suffer from such discrimination, we will
realize the fact that the bcnefcent pur-
pose OF our government dependent upon
the patriotism and contentment Of our
people are endangered.
COMMUNISM
Is a hateful thing and Il menace
to peace and organized government.
But the communism Of combined
wealth and capital, the outgrowth of
over weening cupidity and selishness,
which insidiously undermines the justice
and integrity OF free institutions is not
less dangerous Than the communism and
oppressed poverty and toll which, exas-
perated by injustice and discomfort, at
tack with wild disorder the citidel of rule.
He mocks the people who propose that
the government shall protect the rich and
that they In turn will care for the labOrlng
poor. Any intermediary between 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 in
situations a glittering delusiun. aud the
pretended boon of American citizenship a
shameless imposition.
A Just and sensible revision of our tariff
laws should be made for the relief Of those
of our countrymen who suffer under the
present condition. Extravagant appro-
priations of public money, with all their
demoralizing consequences, should not be
tolerated either as a means OF relieving
the treasury OF its present surplus or as
furnishing pretexts for resisting n proper
reduction in tariff rates,
PATERNAL GOVERNMENT.
1t cannot be denied that the selfish and
private interests which are so persistently
heard when efforts are made to deal in a
Just and comprehensive way with our tariff
laws are related 10, if'they are not rcspon
sible for the sentiment largely prevailing
among the people, that the general gov
eminent is the fountain of individual and
private aid, that it may be expected to
relieve with p%aternal care the distress Of
citizens and communities, and that from
the fullness Of its treasury it should. upon
the slightest possible pretext of promoting
the general good, apply public funds to
the benefit of localities and individuals.
Nor can it be denied that
THERE Is a GROWING
assumption that against the government
and in favor OF private claims the usual