Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-11-30
SUPPLEMENT.
From the President.
the PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF
THE MESSAGE IN BRIEF.

assemble for the discharge of the duties you
have assumed a. the representatives Of free ana
generous people. your meeting is marked by an
Interesting and Impressive incident. With the
expiration of the present session OF the congress-
the first century OF our constitutional existence
a nation will be completed. Our survival for
one hundred years Is not sufficient to assure us
that We no longer have dangers to fear i'll the
maintenance, with all its promised blessings OF
government founded upon the freedom of the
people. The time rather admonishes us to
soberly inquire whether in the past We have
always closely kept in the course of safety, and
whether we have before us way plain and
clear which leads TO happiness and perpetuity.
when the experiment of the government was
undertaken. the cnart adopted for our guidance
was the constitution. Departure from the lines
there laid down is All admission of its failure 1t
is only by strict adherence to the directions
they indicated, and BY restraint within the linn
itatiOns they fixed. that We can furnish proof to
the world Of the fitness of the American people
FOR self government.
The equal and exact justice OF which we boast
as the underlying principle of our institutions
should not ne confined TO the relations OF our
citizens to each other. The government itself Is
under bond 10 the American people that IN the
exercise OF its functions and powers II Will deal
with the body OF our citizens IN manner
scrupulous1y honest and fair, and absolutely
Just 1t has agreed that the American c1ten-
shin 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 dis
elimination in the treatment III the people by
this government.
THE CITIZENS DUTY.
Still concentrating ourselves on the wealth
and prosperity of our country, and complacently
contemplating every incident OF change IN
separable from these conditions II is our duty as
patriotic citizens to inquire at the present stage
of our progress how the bond OF the government
made with the people has been kept and per
formed. Instead OF limiting the tribute drawn
from our citizens to the necessities of its econo
mica administration, the government persists
in exacting from the substance of the people
millions which nnapPled ana useless lie do o0d
this breach of faith ana obligation add to ex-
tortion the danger attending diversion of the
channels of business. Under the same laws by
which these dangers are produced, the govern
ment permits many millions more to be added to
the cost OF living OF our people ana 10 DE sksl
the profits of a small. but powerful minority.
The people must still be taxed for the support
OF the government under the operation OF tariff
laws, but to the extent that the mass Of our citi
zens shall not be Unfortunately burdened beyond
any useful purpose and for the benefit Of favor
ed few.
OF its taxing power, enters gratuitously INTO
partnership with these favorites, to their advan-
people. This is not equality before the law. The
existing situation is Injurious to the health OF
our entire body polite. 1t straes In the favored
class all the patriotic glow of the country, and
substitutes in its place selfish greed and grasping
avarice. Devotion to Am erican citizenship FOL
its own sake, as a motive to oar nations advan
displaced by the assumption that our govern
ment, instead of being the embodiment Of equ
atty is but an fundamentally through which
gained. The arrogance Of the assumption i!
unconcealed. 1t appears In the sOrdid disregard
OF all but personal interest, In the refusal e
advantage, and in combination to perpetuatt
such advantages through efforts to control legis
lation and improperly control the suffrage OF thu
Our workipgmen, enfranchised from all delu
sions and no longer frightened by the cry tina
their wages are endangered by just revision 9
the tariff laws, will reasonably demand through
such revision steadfer employment, cheape
means of living in their homes freedom 10
themselves and their children from the doom 9
perpetual servitude, and an open door to thei
advancement beyond the limits OF laborinl
class.
Others of our citizens whose comfortsland ex
penditures are measured by moderate salarie
and fixed incomes, will insist upon the fairnes
and business of cheapening the cost OF neceS
saries for themselves and their families
When, to the selfishness of the benefciaries o
unjust discrimination under our laws, ther,
shall be added the discomfort Of those who will
suffer from such discrimination, We shall re
alize the fact that the benefcent purposes O
our government, dependent upon the patriot
ism and cOntentMent Of our people, are endan
gered.
THE TARIFF SHOULD BE REDUCED.
A sensible revision of our tariff laws should b<
made for the relief Of those of our countrymer
who suffer under the present conditions. Sucf
revision should receive the support of all WHIT
Love that justice and eqnaity due 70 t%s n
tee and equality our government ,hnds II
strength and its power to protect the citizen ant
his property; all OF who believe that the content
better with the spirit Of our institutions thar
colossal fortunes, unfairly gathered, In the hand
OF few; Of all who appreciate that the forpesf
ance and fraternity among our people, which
recognize the value of every American interest
are the snrest guaranty Of our national progress
lean skill and ingenuity in every market Of thu
world, with a resulting restoration OF American
commerce.
The necessity of the reduction of our revenu,
is so apparent as to be generally conceded, bu
the means by which this end shall be accom-
plished, and the sum of direct benefit which
of the utmost importance. There should be M
scheme accepted as satisfactory by which tn
burdens of the people are only apparently re
moved. Extrayagant appropriations of public
money, with all their demoralizing conseQuen
ces, should not be tolerated, either as a mean
Of relieving the treasury of its present surplus
or as furnishing prctexts for resisting prOpe
reduction in tariff rates. The existin~ evils an,
injustices should be honestly recognized. boldl
met and effectively reinedied. There should b
fected, fair aud conservative toward existing In
dustries, but which will reduce the cost to con
samers OF the necessaries OF life, while it :'rn
free raw materials, and permits no injury to tn
interests of American labor. The cause TO
Wnlcn tne Ddttle is WAgeQ is comprised WIth1I
! lines clearly and distinctly defined. 1t should
al never be compromised 1t is the peoples cause
FEW ILLUSTRATIONS.
few of the numerousS illustrations of th
condition may be stated. The crowded con
Iltlon OF the calendar of the supreme court, anC
ue uelay TO suitors and the denial to justice re
suIting tnerefrom has been strongly urged upOI
me a,tentlon OF the congress, with plan TO
tne reiief OF the situation approved by those vel
able 10 judge of its merits. While this ssubjec
remains without effective consideration man,
laws have been passed providing for the holdini
OF terms OF inferior courts at places to suit tn,
convenience of localities, or to lay the fOun
dat1on OF an application for the erection of
new public buildings
Repeated recommendations have been sub
mitfed for the amendment and change Of thu
laws relating to our public lands, SO that thei
spoliation and diversion to other uses than 70
homes of honest settlers might be prevented
While a measure to meet this conceded necessit,
Of reform remains awaiting the action of con
gress, many claims to public lands and appli
cations for their donation in favor of states ant
individuals have been allowed.
plan in aid of Indian management Is re
Commended by those we'll informed as contain
ing valuable features in furherance Of the SO
luton of the Indian problem, has thus ia
JAILED of legislative sanction, while grants o
doubtful expendency to railroad corporations
permitting them to pass through Indian reser
Vamons, have greatly multiplied.
Inc questions between Great Britain and tn
90 1optn