People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
The Right to Complain Asserted.

AS hitting supplement to this splendid in.
carnation OF democratic principles beg to call
your attention to the following language used
Dy AhureW jackson in his message vetoing the
United States bank bill:
1T Is to be regretted that the rich and power.
iul TOO often bend acts of government to their
| selnsh purposes Distinctions In society will
always exist under every Just government.
Equality OF talents, of education, or Of wealth.
cannot be produced by human institutions. In
the iull enjoyment Of the gifts Of Heaven, and
the fruits of superior industry. economy and
virtue every man is equally entitled to protec.
tlon oy law. But when the laws undertake 10
add TO these natural and just advantages arti.
nclal distinctions. to grant titles, gratuities,
and exclusive privileges to make the rich richer,
the potent more powerful, the humble members
oil society, the farmers mechanics and laborers
VINO nave neither the time nor the means OF
securing like favors to themselves, have a right
10 complain of the injustice Of their govern.
ment Its evils exist only in its abuses. II ID
would confine itself to equal protection, and as
Heaven does its rains shower its favors alike
on the high and the low, the rich and the Door,
II would be an unqualified blessing In the act
before me, there seems to be a wide and unnec.
essary departure from these just principles
Nor is our government to be maintained or
our union preserved by invasion Of the rights
ana powers OF the several states In thus at.
tempting TO make our general government
strong we make il weak It's true strength
consists in leaving individuals and states, as
much as possible to themselves; in making f.
in he h,,,s ID
not in its control but in its protection; not in
binding The states more closely to the center,
ont leaving each to move unobstructed, in its
proper orbit.
Experience should teach US wisdom. Most OF
the difficulties our government now encounters.
and most OF the dangers which impend over our
union, have sprung from an abandonment Of
the legitimate objects Of government BY our M.
tiJlal legislation, and the adoption OF such
principles as are embodied in this act Many
I'D our rich men have not been content with
equal protection and equal benefits, but have
beSoulht US to make them richer by act Of
congress. By attempting to crafty their
desires we have, in the result OF our legisla.
ton, arrayed section against section interest
against interest and man against man, in a
fearful commotiOn, which threatens to shake
the foundation Of our union It is time to pause
in our career, 10 review our principles, and if
possible revive that devoted patriotism and
spirit Of compromise which distinguished the
sages of the revolution and the fathers of our
union. If cannot at once in justice to the in
terests vested under improved legislation,
make our government what it ought to be, we
can at least take stand against all new grants
of monopolies aldexclusive privileges, against
any prostitution OF our government to the ad.
vancement Of the few at the expense Of the
many, and in favor of compromise and gradual
reform in our codes Of laws and system Of
political economy"