The Delta independent., 1888-12-11


AS you have assembled for the discharge
of the duties you have assumed as the rep
resentatives of free and generous people,
your meeting is marked by an interesting
impressive incident. With the expiration
Of the present session of the Congress, the
first century of our constitutional exist
once as a nation will be completed. Our
survival for one hundred years is not suf-
fcient TO assure us that we no longer have
dangers to fear in the maintenance, with
all its promised blessings, of a government
founded upon the freedom of the past. The
time rather admonishes us to soberly in
quire whether, in the past, we have always
kept closely on the course Of safety, and
whether we have before us "A way, plain
and clear, which leads to happiness and
perpetuity.
When the experiment of our Government
was undertaken the chart adopted for our
guidance was the Constitution, and any de-
parture from the lines there laid down is Il
.ailure 1t is only by a strict adherence to
the directions they indicate and by re
straint within the limitations they have
fixed, that we can furnish proof to the world
of the willingness OF the American people
for such Government.
The citizen of our Republic in its early
days rigidly insisted upon a full compliance
with the letter of this bond and saw
stretching out before him n clear field for
Individual cndeayor. His tribute To the
support of his Government was measured
By the costs OF its economical maintenance,
and he was secure in the enjoyment OF the
remaining recompcnse OF his stcadyand con-
tented adherence TO ii. In these days the
frugality OF the people was stamped upon
their Government and was enforced by the
free, thoughtful and intelligent suffrage Of
the citizcns
The equal and exact justice of which we
boast the underlying principles of our in
stitutions, should not be confined 10 the re
lations OF our citizens 10 each other. The
Government itself is under bond TO the
American people that in the exercise of its
functions and powers IL Will deal with the
body of our citizens In manner scrupn-
lously honest and fair, and absolutely just
u has agreed that American citizenship
shall be the only crcdcntial necessary TO
Justify the claim of equality before the law,
and that no condition In life shall give rise
10 discrimination in the treatment OF the
people by this Government
Combinations, nonopolies and aggrcga-
tions of capital were then avoided, or sternly
regulated and restrained. The pomp and
glitter of government less free, offered no
temptation and presented no dclusion TO the
plain people who, side by side In friendly
competition. wrought for the cnnoblcmcnt
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 cen
tury has passed, our cities are the abiding
places of wealth and luxury; our manufac-
lures yield fortunes never dreamed Of by the
fathers of the republic. Our business men
are mRdly striving IN the race for riches, aud
the immense aggrcgations of capital outrun
the Imagination In the magnitude of their
undertakings.
We view with pride aud satisfaction the
bright picture OF our country's growth and
prosperity, while only closer scrutiny do
velops n sombc shading. Upon n moro
careful inspection we find the wealth and
luxury OF our cities mingled with poverty
and wrctchcdncss and unremuncraicd toll,
aud the crowded and constantly increasing
urban population suggests the iDpovcrish-
mcnt Of rural sections Discontcntcd with
agricultural pursuits, the farmers son no,
satisfied with bis fathers simple
and lhborious life, Joins the eager chase for
easily acquired wealth. We discover that
the fortunes realized by our manufacturers
arc no longer solely by reward OF sturdy in
dustry url enlightened foresight but that
they result from the discriminating favor
of tho Government and are largely built
upuu uuduc cSaction from tho masses OF
our people. Tho gulf between the employ
or and tho employed is constantly widening
aud classes arr constantly forming, one
COMPRISING the very rich aud powerful,
while In another are found the toiling poor.
As we vicw tho achievements of nTgre.
gated capital we discover the existence of
trusts combinations and monopolios, while
the citizen Is struggling far In the rear or
Is iramplcd 10 death beneath an iron heel.
Corporations, which should be the careful
ly restrained creatures OF the law and the
servants OF the people, arc fast becoming
the pcoplc's masters.
Still congra,ulntinr ourselves upon the
wealth aud prosperity Of our country, and
complnrrutly contemplating every incident
OF change inscparable from these condi-
,ious. II Is our duty as patriotic citizens 10
Inquire at the present stage Of our progress
how tho bond Of the Government, made
with tho people, has been kept and per
formcdi Instead Of limiting the tribute
drawn from our citizens 10 tho necessities of
its economical administration. the Govern
mcnt persists In cxnc,inE from the sub
stance OF the people millions, which unap-
piled and useless, lie dormant in its treas
ury.
faith and obligation add 10 cStortion the
danger. attending the diversion of the cur
rrucy of the country from the Legitimate
channels OF business. Under the same laws
by which these results arc produced the
Government permits many millions more to
be added to tho cost Of living of our people
md to he taken from our consumers which
unrcasonably swell the gains of small but
powerful minority
INEQUALITY or TAXATION.
The people must still bo taxed for tho
support of the Government under the oper-
alton of tariff laws, but to this extent that
tho mass OF our citizens are Unfortunately
burdcncd beyond any useful public purpose
aud for the benefit OF favored few. The
Government, under pretcxt of an exercise
of it's taxing powcr cntcrs grntuitonsly
into partnership with these favoritcs 10
their advantage aud 10 the injury of vast
majority OF our people. This is not equality
before the law. The existing situation is
Injurious TO the health of our entire body
polite IL STILES In us all tho patriotic love
OF country and substitutes In its place sell
fish greed and grisping avaricc
NOT PATRIOTISM nut GREED.
Devotion to American citizenship for its
own snko md for what II should accom-
plish MS motive TO our Nations advance
mcnt and the happiness of NIL our people Ia
displaced by tho assumption that the Gov
ernmcnt instead Of being the embodiment
OF equality IL but nm instrumentality
through which especial and individual ad-
vnntagcs are TO be gained. Tho arrogance
of thls assumption Is upconccnlcd. II up
pears In tho sordid disregard OF nll but per
sonal interest, In the refusal TO abate for
the benefit of others ono iota OF selfish nd
vantage and In combination 10 porpetuatc
.,,,l, nJynntnfyca throuy 9Th CfTprtq In control