Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-12-14
President CIeveIand's Last

To the Congress Of the United States:
As YOU. assemble for the discharge Of
the duties you have assumed. as the rep
Fssentatives Of a free and generous peo-
pie, your meeting Is marked by an inter
estjng and impressive incident and the
expiration Of the present session OF con
gress, the first century Of our constltu-
IiOnal existence as a nation will be COM
pieted.
Our survival for one hundred years is
not sufficient to assure Us trial. We no
longer have dangers to fear in the main
tainance with all its promised blessings
ola government founded upon the freedom
OF a people. The time rather Rdmonishes
to soberly inquire whether IN the past
We have always closely Kept
IN the course Of safety and whether we
have before US a way plain and clear,
which leads to happiness and perpeUulJy.
The citizen Of our republic In Its early
days rigidly insisted on the compliance
with the letter and the law, stretching
out before him q clear field for individual
endsaVOr. His tribute to the support OF
his government was measured by the
cost of It's charter, economical maintain
ance, and he was secure IN the enjoy
ment Of the remaining recOmpenEe OF
his steady and contentsd adherence TO 1t
in those days The frugaliby of the peO-
pie was stamped upon their government
and was enforced By the free, thoughtful
and intelligent suffrage Of the citizen.
Combinations, mOnOpOlies and aggrega-
ton of capital were either avoided or
sternly regulated and restrained. The
Domp and glitter of governments less free
offered no temptation and presented no
delusion 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 trrde
Of
the grand destiny awaiting the land
which God had given them. A century
has passed, our cities are the abiding
places Of wealth and luxury; our manu-
factories yield fortunes never dreamed Of
by the father Of the republic our business
men are madly striving In the race for
riches. Immense aggregatlons Of capt.
tai Outrun the imagination IN the magnl-
tude Of their undertakings.
When the experiment OF our govern
ment was undertaken the chart adopted
for our guidance was the constitution. A
departure from tine lines there laid down
Is failure. 1t is only by a strict edher-
ence to the direction they indicate, and
by restraint within the limitations they
Jay, that we can furnish proof TO the
world of the ability of the American peO-
pie for self government. The equal and
exact justice, of which we boast as the
underlying Princip pie OF our institutions,
should not be confined to the
relations 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 viii deal with the body of our
citizens IN a@manner scrupulOusly honest
and absolutely just. 1t has agreed that
American citizenship shall be the only
credential necessary to justify the claim
of equality before the law and that no
condition in life shall give rise to discrim-
inatiOn IN the treatment Of the people Of
their government.
TWO PICTURES.
We view with pride and satisfaction
this bright picture of our country's growth
and prosperity, while only a closer scru-
tiny develops a sOmbre shading. Upon
a more careful inspection We find the
wealth and luxury Of our cities mingled
with poverty and wretchedness and unre-
munerate to it. A crowded and constant
ly increasing population suggests the
Impeachment Of rural sections and
discomfort with agricultural pursuits.
The farmers son, not satisfied with his
fathers simple and laborious life, begins
the chase for easily acquired wealth.
SURPLUS -TRUsrs-nABoR.
He then denounced the aggregation Of
money by trusts and fears that the exist
ance of the nation is threatened by the
corporations which are calculated TO
bring communism TO the land. He
thinks tbs surplus in the treasury a con-
slant menace as the people will rise to
throw of the yoke that places the unneC
essary burden upon them. He accuses
the government Of entering into part
nership with the rich by which all the
poor are made to succumb to the cOmbi-
nation and the love of country Is stihed.
He claims that the farmers are daily
growing poorer through the deteriOr-
alton Of their lands and the lower
ing Of prices Of their products.
He says the wOrkingmen are CRYING
for relief and demanding steadier employ
ment, as under the present system they
are fast approaching perpetual servitude,
he thinks this condition will surely bring
an uprising against the government, if
some relief Is not given.
THE TARIFF.
A just and sensible revision of our tar
If law should be made for the relief Of
our cOuntrymen who suffer under the
present condition. Such a revision
should receive the support OF all who
love that justice Of equality due to Amer
lean citizenship; OF all who realize that In
this Justice and equality our government
finds its strength andit power to protect
the citizens, and his property;
OF all who believe that the con
tented competence and comfort OF
many accord better with the spirit Of our
institutions than colossal fortunes IN
fifty gathered In the hands Of a few; OF
all who appreciate that the forbearance
and fraternity among our people which
recognize the value Of every American IN
terest are the surest guarantee Of our
national progress and Of ali who desire to
see the products OF American skill and
the world a resulting restorav
tion Of American commerce.