The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-12-08
A Review Of the Various Departments
Of the Government
Tho Fisheries Question is in an
Unsatisfactory Condition.
The Sackville West Episode Touched Upor
The Indian Question. Pensions. and
Our Foreign Relations Pretty
Thoroughly Discussed.

grcss on the Sd. contains over twenty thou
sand words The following is n synopsis OF th
document:
IN ne Congress Of The thitd states:
AS YOU assemble for the discharge of tn,
duties you have assumed as the representa-
tiHcS of u free and generous people, your meet
ing is marked by an impressive incident. Will
the expiration of the present session Of tht
Congress- the first century of our constitutions
existence Us q Nation will be completed. Ou
survival for one hundred years is not sufficient
20 assure us that we no longer have dangers t.
fear in the maintenance. with all its promised
blessings, OF government founded upon the
freedom of the people. The time rather ad
monishcs us to soberly inquire whether in the
past we have always closely kept in the course
OF safety, and whether we have before O
way plain and clear which leads to happiness
and perpetuity. The citizen Of our Republic
In its early days rigidy insisted upon full com
pliancc with the letter OF this bond, and saw
stretching out before him clear tield for ind
vidunl endeavor.
undertaken the chart adopted for our guidance
was the Constitution. Departure from the lines
there laid down is failure. Ii is only by o strict
adherence 10 the direction they indicate, and
10y restraint within the limitations they fix, that
we can furnish proof to the world of the fitness
OF the American people for seif-govcrnment.
The equal and exact justice Of which we
boast as the underlying principle OF our insti-
tutions should not be confined to the relations
OF our citizens to euch 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 III q manner scrupulousy honest
aud slir and absolutely just. 1t has agreed
thnt American citizenship shall be the only
Credcntial necessary to justify the claim OF
equality before the law and that no condition
III life shall give rise to discrimination in the
treatment OF the people by the Government.
IN those days the frugality OF the people was
stamped upon their government, and was en-.
forced by the free, thoughtful. and intelligent
ilrIge of the citizen. Combinations, monopo-
lies. and aGgregations of capital were either
avoided or sternly regulated and restrained.
The pomp and glitter OF governments less free
offered no temptation and presented no delu-
Sion TO the plain people who side by side in
friendly competition wrought for the cnnoble-
mcnt and dignity of man. for the solution OF
the prob en- OF free government and for the
achievement OF the grand destiny awaiting the
land which God had given them. A century
has passed. Our cities are the abiding places
OF wcali h and luxury; our manufactures yield
fortunes never dreamed OF by the fathers OF the
Republic; our business men are madly striving
III the race for riches, and immense aggrcga-
tions OF capital outrun the imagination In the
magnitude of their undertakings. We view
with satisfaction this bright u cture OF our
NbNIAIN > BEbN VI prosperity, Nnllc only "a
closer scrutiny develops sombcr shading
Upon more careful Inspection we find the
wealth and luxury of our cities mingled with
poverty and wretchedness and unremunera-
tive toll crowded and constantly increasing
Irbnn popu alton suggests the impovcrishinent
oi rural sections and discomfort with agricul-
IuiIi! pursuits. The farmers son, not satisfied
with his fathers simple and aborious life, joins
the eager chase for easily acquired wealth.
We discover that the fortunes reahZcd by our
manufacturers are no longer solely the reward
OF sturdy industry and enlightened foresight,
but that they result from the discriminating
favor OF the Government and are largely built
upon undue exaction from the masses OF our
people. The gulf between employers and the
employed is constantly widening and classes are
rapidly forming-one comprising the very rich
and powerful, while in another are found the
toiling poor
as we view the achievements OF aggregated
capital, We discover the existence of trusts,
combinations and monopoiies, while the citizen
is struggling far In the rear or is trampled to
death beneath no iron heel. Corporations which
Should be the carefully restrained creatures of
tie law and the servants OF the people. are fast
becoming the peoples masters. Still, con.
ourselves upon the wealth and
OF our country, and complacently
every incident of change insep-
arabic from these conditions. 1t is our duty as
patriotic citizens TO inquire, at tho present
stage of our progress, how the bond OF the Coy
cranent made with the people has beeu kept
,nd performed
Instead OF limiting the tribute
lraWn from our citizens to the
necessities OF It's economical admin
ist:ation the Government persists in extracting
from the substance of the people millions, which,
and useless lie dormant In its treas |
ury. This fragrant injustice and this breach of |
faith and obligation add 10 cxtortion the danger
country from tie Legitimate channels OF bust |
ncss |
Under the same laws by which these results |
are produced, the Government permits many |
millions more to be added to the cost OF the liv
ing OF our people and to be taken from our con- |
suiners, which unreasonably swell the profits OF |
a small but powerful minority. The people |
must still be taxed for the support OF the Gov. |
crnment under the operation ofturiT laws But |
10 the extent that the mass OF our citizens are |
nord nately burdened beyond any useful public |
purpose, and for the benefit OF q |
favored few the Government under |
pretext OF an exercise OF its taxing
powers, enters gratuitously into partner
ship with these favOrtes to their advantage
and TO The injury OF u vast majority of our peo-
pie. This is not equality before the law
The existing situation is injurious TO the
+ cdlth OF our entire body polite. 1t stiles, In
hose for whose benefit IL Is permitted, oil pat
-iotic love OF country and substitutes In Its
I ace selfish greed and grasping avatice. De-
'olon TO American citizenship for It's own sake
l.d :or what II should accomplish as motive
% our nations advancement and the happi-
lcss OF all our people, is displaced by the as
sumption that the Government, instead OF be-
1s the embodiment OF equality, is but an in
through which especial and ind-
'dual advantages are TO be gained. The
rrogunce Of this assumption Is unconcealed.
appears In the sOrdld disregard OF all but