Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-12-12
LAST BUT BEST!
President Cleveland's Message
to Congress Last Week.
He Denounces Trusts, Com
bines and Rings,
And Says a Halt Must be
Called, or
There VIII be an Uprising of
the People.

IIesluehl's message was presented 10 DOtn
houses and read.
President Cleveland opens his message to
Congress by calling attention to the fact that
with the expiration of the present session Of
Congress the first century of our constitutional
history is completed The time admonishes us
to sOberly inquire whether in the past we have
always closely kept in the course of safety, and
whether we have before q 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. Departure from the
lines there laid down is failure. 1t is only by a
strict adherence TO the direction they indicate,
and by restraint within the limitatio they
f1x, that we can furnish proof TO the world OF
the fitness OF the American people for self-gov-
ernment.
The equal and exact justice of which we
boast as the underlying principle of our instl-
tutions should not be confined TO the relations
OF our citizen 10 each other. The Government
itself is under bond to the American people
that in the exercise of its functions and powers
II will deal with the body of our citizens in a
manner scrupulously honest and fair and abso-
lutely just We view with pride and satisfac-
ton the bright picture of our country's growth
and prosperity, while only a closer scrutiny de-
velops somber shading. Upon more careful
inspection We find the wealth and luxury of our
cities mingled with uoverty and wretchedness.
crowded and constantly increasing urban pop
ulation suggests the impoveTishment OF rural
sections and discomfort with agricultural pur-
suits
We discover that the fortunes realized by our
manufacturerers are no longer solely the re-
ward of sturdy industry and enlighted foresight
but they result from the discrimi ating favor of
the Government and are largely built upon un-
due eXaction from the masses OF our people.
The gulf between employers and employed is
constantly widening and classes are rapidly
Efrcr fb.a r~rfoh a,,I,
erful, while in the other are found the toiling
poor.
Corporations which should be the carefully re-
rained creatures Of the law and the servants
of the people are fast becomin the peoples
masters. Still cougratulating ourselves upon
the wealth and prosperity OF our country, and
complacently contemplating every incident Of
change iuseparahle from the conditions,
Is our duty patriotic citi-
Eens to inquire at the present stage of our pro-
gress how the bond of the Government made
with the people has been kept and performe d.
Instead Of limiting the tribute drawn from our
citizens TO the necessities OF its economical ad-
ministration, the Government persists N ex-
acting from the people millions which, unap-
plicd and useless. lie dormant in its treasury.
This Migrant injustice ani this breach of faith
and obligation add TO extortion the danger at
tending the diversion OF the currency OF the
country from t.ie legitimate channels of bust
ness.
Under the same laws 10y which the results
are produced the Government permits many
millions more to be added to the cost OF living
OF our people and to lie taken from our CON
Eumers, which unreasonably swell the profits
Of a small but powerful minority The people
must be taxed for the support OF the Govern
ment under the operation of tariff laws. But
to the extent that the mass Of our citizens
are inordinately burdened beyond any
useful public purpose. and for the bene-
fit OF q favored few, the Government
under pretext OF an exercise of its taxing pow
er enters gratuitously into partnership with
these favorites 10 their advantage and to the
injury OF vast majority of our people. This
Is not equality before the law The existing
situation is injurious TO the health OF entire
body polite 1t STILES in those for whose ben
eft il is permitted all patriotic love of country
and substitutes in its place selfish greed and
! grasping avarice.
When TO the selfishness of the beneficiaries
OF unjust discrimination under our laws there
shall be added the discomfort of those who
suffer from such discrimination will realize
the fact that the benefcent purpose of our
| Government dependent upon the patriotism
and contentment OF our people, is endangered.
Communism is a hateful thing, and menace
! TO peace and organized government. But the
| communism of combined wealth and capital,
| the outgrowth Of oyerweaning cupidity and
selfshness which insdiously undermines the
| less dangerous than the communism OF op-
| pressed poverty and toll. which exasperated
/ by injustice and discomfort. attacks with wild
disorder the citadel of rule.
| He mocks the people who proposes that the
! Government shall protect the rich and that
| they IN turn viii care for the laboring poorl
! ANY intermediary between the people and their
! Government, or The least delegation OF the care
and protection the Government owes 10 the
| humblest citizen in the land, makes the boast
OF free institutions giitteriDg delusion and the
I pretended boon of American citizenship Q
! shameless imposition.
| a Just and sensible revision OF our tariff laws
should be made for the relief of those of our
countrymen who suffer under present condi
/ tions. Such revision should receive the sup
| port of all who love that justice and equality
/ due 10 American citizenship; OF all who realize
that in this justice and equality our Govern
ment Gnds its strength and power tc
Of all who believe that the content
ment, competence and comfort Of many
accord better with the spirit of our institutions
I thar colossal fortunes unfairly gathered In tbs
( hands Of q few; OF all who appreciate that the
/ !orbeaTance ana fraternity among our people
/ which recognize the value OF every kmeri m
interest are the surest guaranty OF our national
/ progress and of all who de ire to see the pro
ducts OF American siill and ingenuity il
! every market of the world, with re
/ Eultiug restoration OF American commerce.
Existing evils and ipiustices should be honestly
/ recognized, boldly met ana effectively rene
I died. There should be no cessation OF the
struggle until plan is perfected. fair aud con
servative towards existing industries but which
will reduce the cost 20 consumers OF the neces-
/ saries OF life, while it provides for our manu-
facturers the advantage OF free raw materials
and permits no injury TO the interests OF Auneri
can labor. The cause for which the battle i,
4. limo n1a
/ tinctiy defined. At snould never &c compromised
], is The peoples cause.
II can not be denied that the selfish and rri
vate interests which are so persistentiy heard
when efforts are made TO deal in a Just and
comprehensive manner with our tariff laws ar,
related 70, Il they are rot responsible for. the
I sentiment largely prevailing among the people
that the General Government is the fountain OF
individual aud private aid: that Il NAV te
she distress OF citizens aud conmuni
ties and that from the fuiiness OF
rs treasury 70 should. upon the
slightest possible Tretext q promoting tho
general good. apply puulc funds 20 the beneff
OF localities and individuals nor can Z be &c
- asainft the Government aud in favor o.
private claims AID interests. The usual rnle.
rnd iiIaitaiion q business principles and just
dealing should be waived.
These ideas have been unhappily much Ell
couraged by legislative acquieseence. Relief
from contracts made with the Government Is
easily accorded in favor of the citizen as the
ssiiurs 70 support claims against the Govern
nent by pssoi u often supplied by no bettel
consideration than the wealth OF the Govern
ment and the poverty OF the claimant Gratui
ties in the form OF pensions are granted upor
no other real ground than the needy condition