The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-12-05
[Washington D. q speoial. !


Washington d. c. special
Tho second session OF the Iiftieth Congress
convened at noon. December ID, the greater por-
tion Of the day being consumed in the reading
of President Clevelands m ssage, OF which the
following is a comprehensive digest
A CENTURY FREEDOM
10 the Congress of the United States:
As you assemble for the discharge OF the duties
YOU have assumed as the representatives of a
Iree and generous people, your nesting is
marked by an interesting and impressive moi
dent. With the expiration of the present SEES
sion OF the Congress the first century of our
constitutional existence a. n nation will be COM
pleted. When the exp riment OF our Govern
ment was undertaken the chart adopted for our
guidance WAS the constitution. Departure from
the lines there laid down is failure. IL IS only
by a strict adherence 10 tho direction they indi-
cate and by restraint within the limitations they
have fixed that We can furnish Iroof 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 be confined TO the relations OF our
citizens 10 each other The Government itself
as under bond to the American people that. in
the exercise of its functions and powers, il will
deal with the body of our citizens in manner
scrupulously honest and fair. and absolutely
just. 1t has agreed that American citizenship
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 dscrmina-
ton in the treatment OF the people by their
Government. The citizen OF our Republic in
its early days rigldly insisted upon full compl
ance with the letter of this bond and saw
stretching out before him n clear field for indi
vidual endeaVor. His tribute TO the suppoi of
his Government WAS measured by the cost Of its
economical maint enance, and he was secure in
the enjoyment of the remaining recompense
In those days the frugaliUy OF the people was
STAMPED upon their government and
for ced by the free, thoughtful and in. eiligent
suffrage OF the citizens. Combinations, mon
opoles and aggregations OF capital were either
avoued or sternly regulated and res ia ned.
The pomp and gli,J r of governments less free
offered no temptation and presen ed no delusion
~ he 4
competition wrought for the ennobleni snt and
dignity of man, fer The solution of the problem
of free government and for the a hievement of
the grand destiny awaiting the Ian which Goi
bad given them A century has passed. Our
Cities are the abiding places OF wealth and
luxury; our manufactures yield fortunes never
dreamed OF by the fai hers OF the Republic our
business men are madly striving in the race for
riches, and immg nse 5gregations of capital out
run the imagination in the magnitude of their
undertakings
We view with pride and satisfaction this
bright picture of our countrys growth and
prosperity, while only n closer scrutiny devel-
ops Bomber shading. Upon more careful in
spection we Ind the wealt tn and luxury of our
cities mingled with poverty and wretchedness
and unremunerative toll. A crowded and con-
stautly increasing urban population suggests
the impoverishment of rural sections and dis
content with agricultural pursuits: The far
mer's son, not satisfied with his fathers
simple and laDorious life joins the eager
chase for easily acquired wealth. We dis
yer that the fortunes realized by our manu-
facturers arc no Longer solely tn reward of
sturdy industry and enlightened foresight but
that they result from ths discriminating fa or
of the Government and are largely built upon
undue exaction from the mas sess OF our people.
The gulf Letween employers AM the employed
Is constantly widen ng, and classes are rapidly
forming, one comprising the very rich aud pow
eriul while in another are found the TOLL 6
poor. As we view the achievement of nggre-
gated capital. We scover the exis enco
of trusts, combinations, and monopolies.
While the citizen is stru Cling far in tn rear or
Is tramp!ed TO death beneath IN iron heel, cor
poratiOns, which should be the carefully re-
strained creatures OF the law and the servants
of the people, are fast becoming the peoT3e's
masters still CONTEMPLATING ourselves upon
the wealth and prosperity OF our coun.r and
complacently contemplating every incident OF
change inseparable from these conditions, IL -
our duty as patriotic citizens TO inquire at &c
present stage OF our progress how the bond OF
the Governm, mt made with the people has been
kept and perform d.
EXISTING TARIFF BURDENS
Instead OF limiting the tribute drawn from our
.citiz,ns TO the necessities OF its economical
administration, tho Government persists in
acting from the substance of the Peep millions
which, unappie1 and useless, lie dormant in its
treasury. Tnis Migrant injustice and this
breach of faith and obligation add to extortion
che danger attending the diversion OF the cur
rency of the country from tho legitimate chan
uels OF business. Under the same laws by
which these results are produced, the Govern
ment permi many millions more TO be added
90 the cost or the living OF our people
and to be taken from our consumers, which
unreaSonably swell the profits OF small
but powerful minority The people must still
be taxed for the support of the Government I'M
der the operation OF tariff laws, but to the ex-
tent that the masses of our citizens inor-
dinaely burdened beyond any useful public pur-
pose md for the benefit of n favored few, the
Government, under the pretext of an exercise
OF its tax ng power, enters gratuitously into
partnership with these iavorites TO their advan-
tage and TO the in ury OF n vast majority OF our
people. This ia not equality before the law.
The existing situation 4 njurious to the health
of our whole body polite. IL stiles all patri-
otic love OF country, AMI substitutes in its place
cal lh pr A nd nj pra on IN
American citizenship for it's own sake and
for what il should accomplish
motive to nations Advancement and the
happiness OF our people, is displaced by the as
stump ion that tho Government, instead OF
being the embodiment OF equality. is but an in
sSrumen atty through which especial and indi-
vidual advantages are TO be gained The AFRO
gance OF this assumption ia unconceaed. 1t
appears in the sordid disregard OF all but per
soma interest in tho refusal to abate for the
benefit OF others one iota of selfish advantage,
and in combinations TO perpetuate such ad-
vantages through efforts TO control Legislation
and improperly influence the suffrages OF the
people.
The grievances Of those not included with n the
circle OF these bcnehciaries, when fully realized,
will surely arouse irrita ion and disc ontent.
Our farm rs long suffering and patient strug
Cling in the race Il lie with hard and unremit-
ting toll, will not fail TO see, in spite OF mis-
representations and misleading fallaces. that
they are Obliged 20 receive such prices for their
products are fixed in for ign markets. whore
they compete with tbs farmers OF the world that
their lands declining in value while their
debts Increase; and that without COM
pensating favors they forced 10y the
action OF the Government TO pay FOR the
benefit OF others enhanced prices for
the things they need, that the scanty returns
OF their labor fail TO furnish their sup
port or leave no margin for accumula ion.
Cnr workinGmen enfranchised from all delu-
sions and no longer frightened by the cry that
their wages are endangered by n Just revision
OF our tariff laws, will reasonably demand,
ehrough such revision, steadier employment,
cheaper means OF living in their homes. With
freedom for themselves and their children from
the doom of y rpetual eer itude, and an open
door 10 their advancement beyond the limits OF
n boring class. Others OF our citizens. whose
comforts and expenditures are IN assured by
moderate salaries and fixed incomes. will Insist
upon the fairness and justice OF cheapening the
cost Of necossaries for themselves and their
famihea. w en- 30 the sefsnness OF the bench
Charles OF unjust discr alton under our laws
there shall be ad led the discomfort of those who
suffer om such adiscrimina lou, we will real
iIe the fact that he b nehcent purposes OF our
Government. which dependent upon the
patriotism and contentment OF our people. are
endangered.
Communism Ia n hateful thing and menace
90 peace and organized governm mt. But tie
communism OF combined wealth and capital the
outgrOwth OF overweening capital and selfish
ness which ins ldious undermnes the Justice
and integrity OF free Ina stitutions. is not less
dangerous than the communism of oppressed
poverty and toll. Which. aspe ated by in
Justice and discouten, .tacks wi h wild dis
81 ~ II. 49,. -