Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-12-07
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S
MESSAGE.

houses AT 1:3O P. NJ. the message of
President Cleveland was received aud read.
1t is lengthy document and covers
wide field. Like his other Official acts and
utterances il is characterize by that firm
NESS and boldness which al ne comes from
thorough conviction of the right. In
Speaking Of the message, the Baltimore
san SAYS:
| Mr. leveland writes wi til the author
| itY and power of d man whose information
| is full, and with That air OF confidence
| which springs from the consciousness
that the truth, like other great forces,
| CONTINUES TO move on and grow, notWlth-
Standing The efforts of hereto politicians
| 10 destroy it. Altogether, the message is
exceedingly full and we'll written. II is d
! ii tug supplement o the able state papers
| President Cleveland has given the coun-
| try, and of no public servant, in this gen.
! Grafton at least, can 1t ba more truly said
| lhan of himself, that he has constantly
| guarded the rectltude Of his intentions.
Maintained unsullied his love of country,
| and win unseifisn purpOSe Strlven for the
public good"
| The message in full, affords much of in.
terest TO the general public, but our space
will admit of only the following brief sum-
mary:
The President notes in the outset of the
message that with the expiration of the pres
ent session of Congress the first century of
our constitutional existence nation will be
completed, and this Circumstance, he OBJ
serves, admonishes us to inquire soberly wheth-
err in the past we have kept closely IN the
course of safety marked out in the constitu-
ton and whether the way before us is plain
and clear. Equal and exact justice between
the governu- ent and citizens, as we'll as be-
tween citizen and citizen, is the underlying
principle of our institutions. In the early
days of the republic this principle was rightly
insisted on. The tribute of the citizen to the
support of the government was measured
strictly by the cost of its maintenance. In
j those days the frugality of the people was
! stamped upon their government and enforced
| by thoughtful and intelligent suffrage Com
| blnations, monopolies and aggregatlons of
capital were avoided or sternly regulated.
| century has passed. Now our cities az filled
with wealth and luxury; our manufactures
! yield fortunes never dreamed of by the faith
| ers of the republic, and immense aggregations
of capital outrun the Imagination in the mag
nitude af their undertakings. At first view
this is a bright picture, but closer scrutiny
reveals a sombre shading. Side by side with
the wealth of our cities we see poverty and IN
remunerative toll. Increased urban popula-
ton suggests the impoyerishment of rural
sections. The fortunes of our manufacturers
are no longer solely the reward of sturdy in
dustry and foresight but result largely from
the discriminating favor of the government,
being built upon undue eXactlons from the
people. Two wel-defined classes are being
formed-on one side the very rich and power
| full, on the other the toiling poor. Closer in
| of lstC oTod
other like monopolies trampling upon the I'M
| organized masses. while corporations which
/ should be the arefully-restra ned 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 favored few, exacts nnneeded
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
the making of millionaires. The effect is to
/ iniure the health of the entire body polite.
In the benefciaries of high tariff taxes it stiles
all patriotic love of country, and its place is
taken by selfish greed and grasping avarice
The government is regarded by the favored
class, not as an embodiment of equality, but
as an fundamentally through which individ
ual advantages are to be gained. This view
| is unconcealed. 1t is manifested In a sordid
disregard of all but personal interests, the re
fusal to abate for the benefit of others one iota
| of selfish advantage, and in combinations to
control legislation and improperly influence
the suffrages of the people. On the other
hand spirit of discomfort is generated
among those not included within the circle of
tariff benefits. Farmers selling in foreign
| markets and buying under compulslon only
in the home market find themselves impover-
| ished, their lands declining in value and their
debts increasing. Workingmen and others
not engaged in farming are likewise victims of
the unequal laws. Communism is hateful
thing, but here is communism of combined
capital the outgrowth of cupidity and selfish
ness 1t eXasperates the discontinued and
threatens with wild disorder the citadel of
rule. The idea that the government shall
protect the rich so that they shall protect the
poor is wrong and absurd. No intermediary
| between the people and their government is
| required; its existence makes thu boast of free
institutions a glittering delusion. What is
wanted is Just and sensible revision of our
tariff laws for the relief of the forgotten mas
ses. The necessity of reduction of our rev
enue is conceded. Extravagant appropria-
lions should not be accepted in lieu of it,
there should be no cessation of the struggle
for tariff reform until plan is perfected which
is fair to existing industries, which will re-
] duce to consumers the cost of the necessares
of life, and which will give our Manufacturers
freer raw materials, without injury to Ameri
cat labor The cause is the peoples. 1t
should never be compromised. There is q
growing assumption that the government must
relieve with paterpal care every individual
and community that makes claim upon It.
This is seen in the ready concessions to intf-
fcient contractors to unfounded claims for
pensions and to demands for unnecessary
public buildings. Meanwhile the real needs
| of the government and people are neglected.
Relief of the Supreme Court, improved land
| laws, plans of Indian management the need
of United States prisons, revision of pension
| laws-these have been urged upon Congre SIS
time and again, and yet are deferred, while
favors are voted to energetic claimants whose
! claims are without merit. Regard for the
constitution would correct these errors of the
legislative body. President Jackson's deter
mination to restore to the people unimpaired
the trust committed TO his charge and to dis
suade the people from admiration of power
full monopolies and aristocratic establish
ments is worthy of all imitation. The foreign
relations of the government are peaceful. The
fisheries question remains to be settel There
has not, however, since March, 1887, been
any case of unfriendly or unlawful treatment
of American fishing vessels. The interfer-
ence of Lord Sackville in the very crisis of
the presidential election, by counsel and adj.
vice. with the suf2rages American citizens
and subsequent impugnment of the Executive
and Senate, was objectionable conduct, espe-
cially in the view of the fact that the counsel
and advice had reference to important ques-
lions now pending between the British and
United States governments, Further recog
milton of the diplomatic character of Lord
Sackvllle was therefore declined. A survey
of the boundary between Alaska and Canada
is recommended. The Samoan question is
mentioned of interest to the people of the
United States, and also the question of the
preser1 alton of our influence in the Hawaiian
Islands. The establishment of diplomatic in
tercoulse with Corea and Persia notable
events of the past year, Tie disturbances in
Hayti are noted, and steps taken for the pro-
| lection of American interests in that repuh bic