Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-04
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

year ago, it will be widely approved as
in the main n judicious state paper.
The president introduced his message
with what is in the nature Of homily
upon the duties of the government and
the departures that have been made
from a strict observance of constitu-
tional obligations. He reminds the
country that at the expiration of the
present session OF congress the first cen
tury of our constitutional existence as u
nation will be completed but we must
not feel assured from this survival
of an hundred years that. there
are no dangers to fear. The time
seems opporttlnc TO the president for a
sober inquiry as TO whether in the past
we have always kept in the safe course
and whether the way that leads to
happiness and perpetuity is clear and
plain. Has the government been con-
ductcd on constitutional lines, and Us
bond to deal honestly, fairly and justly
by the people been always regarded?
1t is evident Mr.. Cleveland does not
think these requirements have been
complied with, and his outlook is somc-
what pessmistlc. He finds reason for
pride aud satisfaction in the country, S
growth, but there is a sombcr shading
to the bright picture. This appears in
the widely contrasting conditions OF
people in the cities, where,
with wealth and luxury are
mingled poverty, wretchedncss and un-
remunerative toll. Crowded cities sug-
gest the impoverishment of rural sec
tions and discomfort with agricultural
pursuits. There is an eager chase for
easily acquired wealth, the fortunes Of
our manufacturers arc largely built
upon undue eXaction from the masses of
our own people, and there is a constantly
widening gulf between employers and
the employed, leading to the formation
of classes of the rich and powerful on
the one hand and the toiling pooron the
other. All this the president deems to
be due to radical departure from the
old lines, and he evidently regards it as
an extremely menacing state of affairs.
Pointed reference is made to the
growth of aggregated capital in
and monopolies, which, instead of being
carefully restrained creatures Of the
law, arc fast becoming the peoples
masters.
Passing to the consideration of the
tariff and the surplus, the president
leaves no room to doubt that he is firmly
anchored in the position taken in his
message Of last year. He declares the
existing situation, involving u partner
ship OF the government with a favorite
few of the people, to be injurious to the
health of our entire body polite. 1t
stiles all patriotic love of country. sub
stituting selfish greed and grasping
avarice. Those who had hoped for any
suggestion OF compromise from the
president regarding a revision of the
tariff, with view to bringing
the parties in congress together so that
a measure might be passed at the
present session, will be disappointed.
His plain counsel to his party is to ad-
here to the lines already marked out.
THE cause for which the battle is
waged,' says the president, "is COM
prised within lines clearly and dis
tinctly defined. 1t should never be
compromised. 1t remains to be seen
whether the influence of Mr.. Cleveland
with his party is as great after defeat
as when the promise of victory seemed
bright If he retains his past influence
there is little ground Of hope that his
party in congress will recede from
its position. Yet there may be demo
Gratis who will find it eype-
dent, in view of the expression
of the popular judgment to depart some
what from the lines marked out by the
president, and thus enable compro-
mise to be effected which will at the
present session give the country the re-
lief it requires.
Regarding tho state of the union,
there is the familiar assurance of do
nestle tranquility and peace with all
nations. Our foreign relations have
been strengthened and improved in
some directions, while the questions
still to be settled are in the presidents
opinion susceptible of satisfactory ad-
justment by frank diplomatic treat
ment. The president Expresses solici-
tude respecting the settlement of
the fisheries dispute, and invokes
the earnest and immediate atten-
tion of congress to the question, still be-
lieving that the treaty of last February
furnished practical and satisfactory
adjustment, honorable to both coun-
tries.
The president justifes his course
in the Sacbville-West matter as neces-
sary to the maintenance of mutual con-
fdence between the two countries,
charactcrizing the conduct of the min
lister as unpardopable.
The Chinese question is regarded as
satisfactorily disposed of, and generally
our foreign relations are untroubled.
The president urges forcibly the duty
of passing proper measures to insure q
right disposition Of the public lands,
not only as n matter Of pres
ent justice, but in forecast of the
consequences to future generations.
"Our dear experience" says the presi-
dent, 'ought sufficiently to urge the