Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-12-04
It Still Confronts Us.
The President Stands by His
View of the Tariff.
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.

FORMER CommunicatiOn-A Revision of
The Customs Duties n Necessity-The
sistesaien Given a Going Over for Their
stus of Omission and Comm ssion The
saekviiie Episode Reviewed-Financial,
Land and Indian Questions Considered.
To the coseREss OF TIRE UNITED STATES: As
you assemble Tor the discharge Of the duties YOU |
have assumed as the representatives OF a free and
generous people, your meeting is marked by an
Interesting aud impressive incident. With the |
Nirauon OF the present session of the congress
y first ceutnry Of our constitutional existence as |
: Ron VIII be completed Our survival for 100 |
{ 1tls not sufficient to assure us that we no |
yer have dangers 10 fear in the maintenance |
WITH all its promised blessings of a government |
,ounded on the freedom of the people The time |
'ather admonishes us to soberly inquire |
whether IN the past we have always |
closely kept in the cour,e Of safety,
and whether we have before us a way plain and
si-ar which leads TO happiness and perpetuity
lNefttizen OF our republic in its early day rig
ttf Asisted upon full compliance with the let
him thls bond, and saw stretching out before
tIibp,. clear field for Individual endeayor. His
ineasUto q the support OF his government was
2anca 70 by the cost of its economical mainte-
he shu ne was secure in the enjoyment of
" content'-i toll. In those days the
of the people was stamped uuon their
government and was enforced by the free
thoughtful and intelligent suffrage of the citi
zens. Combinations, monopoles and aggreea-
lions OF capital were either avoided or sfernly
Regulated and restrained The pomp and glitter
OF governments less free, offered no temptation
and presented no delusion TO the plain people
who, side by side In friendly competition " ought
for the eunoblement and dignity of man, Tor the
solutlon OF the problem of free government and
tor the achievement Of the grand destiny await
Us the land which God had given them CEN
kry has passed. CUR cities are the abiding places
,fiweslsh and luxury, our manufactures yield
fsstun $ never dreamed of by the fathers of the
fFE 4r,,ar
- Sc for riches, and immense aggregations OF
capital oltrun the imagination in the magnitude
0! their undertakings.
When the experiment of our government was
Undertaken the chart adopted for our guidance
was the constitution Departure from the lines
there aid down is failure. IL is only by a strict
adheren e to tine direction they Indicate and by
restraint within the limitations they fix that we
can furnish proof to the world of the fitness of
the Nmeiican people for self government. The
equal and exact justice Of which we boast as the
underlying principle of our institutions should not
BE- c5Htuel TO the relations Of citizens
70 each other. The government itself is under
bond 70 the American people, that in the exercise
Of it, functions and powers it viii deal with the
body OF our citizens in manner scrupulously
honest and fair, and absolutely just. It has
sssiSd that American citizenship shall be the only
credential necessary to justify the claim of
equality before the law, and that no condition in
He shall give rise to discrimination in the treat
ment of the people by the government.
We view y it'll pride and satisfaction this bright
HlChult u bhl LOuIAlN > EIoNtH anu prosperity.
While only closer scrutiny develops a somber
shading, upon more careful inspection we find the
wealth and luxury OF our cities mingled with
poverty and WretchedneSs and unremunerative
toll crowded and constantly int reasing urban
population suggests the impoveriShmeut Of rural
s ct o aud disconten with agricultural pursuits.
The farmer sson not satisfied with his fathers
simple and laborious life. Joins the eager chase
for easily acquired wealth We discover that the
fortunes realized by our manufacturers are no
longer solely by reward of sturdy industry
Ir.-k+. 8, a.
result from the discriminating favor
of the government, and are largely
built upon uldue exaction from the masses of our
people The gulf between employers and the EN-
ployed is constantly widening and classes are rig
Idly forming, one comprising the very rich and
powerful, while in another are found the toiling
poor.
As we view the achievement of aggregated cap
ital, we discover the existence OF trusts, combi-
nations and mouopolieS, while the citizen is strug
CLING tar IN tie rear or is trampled to death be-
meath Al iron heel Corporations, which should
be the carefully restrained creatures of the law
and the servants Of the people, are fast becoming
the peoples masters. Still congratulatiug our
selves upou the wealth and prosperity of our
country, and c9mplcentiy contemplating every
incident II change iuseparahls from these condi-
tions, II is our duly as patriotic citi-
rens to inquire at the present stage
of our progress now the bond of the government
made with the people has been kept and per
formed
Instead OF limiting the tribute drawn from our
ClllEftS TO Ihe ueGesSEleS OF lIS economical
ministratiOn the government persists in eXactlng
from the substance Of the people millions which
unapplied and useless, lie dormant in It's treasury
This fragrant injustice and this breach of faith
and obligation add to extortion the danger at
tending the diversion of the currency of the
country from the legitimate channels OF business
produced the government permits many millions
more to be added TO the cost of the living of ouI
people AID to be taken from our consumers
which uureasonahly swell the profits az a smal
hut UDWnrfui minority The ppnulP mn still M
taxed for the support OF the government under
the operation Of tariff laws but to the extent thai
the mass Of eur citizens are inordinately burdenet
oeyoLd any uetu public purpose, and for the
benefit OF favored few, the government, under
pretense Of an exercise OF lis taxing power, en-
ters gratilusly into partnership with these favor
ties 10 their advantage and TO the injury O
vast majority Of our people. This is not equality
before the law. The existing sitnhtinn is injuri
Gus to the health OF our entire body polite l
stiies ln those all patriotic love Of country ant
substitutes In its place selfish greed and graspnI
avarice Devotion to American citizenship 10
its own sake and for what II should accomplish
as motive to our nations advancement
and the happiness Of all our people is displaced
by the assumption that the government nstea
Of being the embodlme Of equality, is but an in
sir7imentality through which especial and indi
vdual advantages are to be gained
The arrogance OF this assumption i uncor
csaled, II appears in the sordid disregard Of a
but persona interests in the refusal to abate fo
the benefit of others one inta of selfish advaut
ages ana la combinations 10 prrpetuate such at
vantag's through efforts to control legislatio
and improperly influence The suffrage OF the rec
pie The grievance uf those not included With
the circle of these beuefciaries. when fully rea
lied, viii surely arouse irritation and di
content Our farmers, hong suffering an
patient, struggling Ia the race Of life with III
hardest and most unremittng toll will not fail I
see, In spite of Misrepresentation aud misleadin
fallacies that they are obliged To accept sue
prices for their product as liked IN reign ma
ke:s. where they comp te with the farmers of tb
world. that their lands tipt.liuiVv in yplr
while their dents Increase. and that withor
compensating favors they are forced by the a.
ton OF the government TO pay for the benefit
others such enhaucrd prices for the things the
need, that the scnuy returns
their labor fail to furnish their suppo
or leave co margin for accumulation our nor
ingmen, enfranchsri from all decisions and
longer frightened by the cry that their wages a
endangered by l'ist revision of our tariff law
will reasonably demand through such revsiC
steadier emplDym"uf, cheaper means of living
their homes, ( eedOm for themselves aud the
children from tn doom of perpetual s-ryitud
and an open door 10 their advancement teyol
the limits Of a labnriug class. Others Of o.
uZens whose comforts and expenditures n
measured by moderate salaries and fixed neon
viii insist upon the fairness and Justice Of cheaI
ening the cost of uecesSariss foi themselves al
their families
When to the srifshness Of the benefriares
unjust Discrimination HIdcr our laws there sha
be added the di,coutsnt ot those who suffer frol
such discrimination, will realize the fact tn
the beneftrcnt purpa7e5 Of our government, d
pendent upon the patriotism and contentment
our people, are = ldaitgered Communism is
hateful thing, and = menace to peace and orga
lied government. But the communism of col
bned wealth and capital, the out ,roa III 1T owe
weeniDg cupiiity aud selfshnsss, which insi
tously undelmines the justice aud integrity Of fr
institutions, is not less dangerous inan Il
communism OF opposed poverty aGd invites
exasperated by injustice and discomfort
attack with wild disorder The citadel of rul
He mocks the people who proposes that tl
government shall uFDf,apf rich and that tn
10 turn will care for the lahoripg poor. Any
termediary between the people and their Cover
ment or the least delegation of the care and pr
lection the government owes to the humble
citizen III the land makes the hoast Of free ins
tutions gimmeriug delusion and the pretend
boon Of American citizenship a shameless imI
sition
lust and sensible revision of our tariff la
should be made for the relief of those OF o
countryneu VINO suffer under present condition
Such revision shoull reGeive I
support of all who love tn
all who realize that in this justice and equalit
our government finds It's strength and It's power
protect the citizen and his property; of all wi
believe that the contented competence aud col
fort Of many accord better with the spirit of o
institutions than colossal fortunes unfair
gathered In the hands of a few; of all who appr
cafe that the forbearaDce and fraternity amor
our people, which recognize the value OF eve
American interest, are the surest guarantee
our national progress and or all who desire
see the products Of American SKILL and ingenu
In query market of the world with a resulta
restoration of American commerce.
The necessity Of the reduction Of our revenue
80 apparent as to be generally conceded bu. d
means by which this end shall be accomplishe
and the sum Of direct benefits which shall resu
TO our citizens present controversy of the u
most Importance There should be no scheme a
cepted as satisfactory by which the burdens
the people are only apparently removed E
trayagant appropriations Of public money wit
all their demoralizing consequences should n
be tolerated., either as q means Of reIieving u