The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-12-11
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.


required by the Constitution. 1t is
an elaborate document, touching on
all the important national and inter
national questions. Written in the
Presidents usual clear, conservative
and thoughtful manner, it is worthy
Of perusal by every citizen interested
IN the country's welfare.
Among the important subjects dis
cussed are the Cuban question, the
atrocities in Turkey, government
finances, the national banks, imml-
grafton, coasts defenses, the postal
service, pensions, agricultural exports
civil service reform, interstate com
merce, tariff laws. retirement and can
collation. of greenbacks, trusts and
monopolies.
What President Cleveland has to
say on the last topic is interesting both
because of the Importance of the sub
iect and because of the recent criti-
cisms of the administration on this
point. After stating that the people
Tightfully take a deep interest in this
subject the President says: Il refer
10 the existence of trusts and other
huge aggregations of capital, the OBJ
iect of which is to secure the monopo-
~ OF some particular branch of trade,
industry or commerce and to stitie
wholesome competition. When these
11Snallv the
cround that though they increase
profits they also reduce prices and
thus may benefit the public. 1t must
be remembered, however, that Il re
duction of prices to the people is not
one of the real objects of these or
carnations, nor is their tendency nee
essarily in that direction. If it oc-
ours in particular case, it is only be-
cause it accords with the purposes or
interests of those managing the
scheme.
Such occasional results fall far short
Of compensating the palpable evils
charged to the account of trusts and
lnonopolies. Their tendency is to
crush out individual independence
and to hinder or prevent to free use
of human character. Through them
the farmer, the artisan and the small
trader is in danger OF dislodgment
from the round position of being his
own master, watchful of all that
touches his country's prosperity, in
which he has an individual lot, and
interested in all that affects the add
vantages of business, of which he is
factor to be relegated to the level of a
mere appurtenance to great machine
with little free will, with no duty
but that of passive obedience and
with little hope or opportunity of ris-
ing i'll the scale of responsible and
helpful citizenship.
To the instructive belief that such is
the inevitable trend of trusts and mo-
nopolies is due the widespread and
deep-seated popular aversion in which
they are held and the not unreas on
able insistance that. whatever may
he their incidental economic advan-
tages, their general effect upon per
sonal character, prospects and useful
ness cannot be otherwise than iniur-
ious
Though Congress has attempted to
deal with this matter by legislation,
he laws passed for that purpose thus
ar have proved ineffective, not be-
cause for any lack of disposition or
attempt to enforce them, but simply
because the laws themselves as inter
l,reted by the courts do not reach the
difficulty. II the insufficiencies of eX-
listing laws can be remeded by further
legislation it should he done The
fact must be recognized, however,
that all federal legislation on this sub
Iact may fall short of its purpose be
cause of inherent obstacles, and also
because of the complex character OF
cur governmental system, which,
while making the federal authority
supreme with, in its sphere by metes
nd bounds which cannot be trans
ressed The decision of our highest
court on this precise question renders
il quite doubtful whether the evils of
trusts and monopoiies can be ade-
Quately treated through federal ac-
on, unless they seek directly and
.urposeiy to include in their objects
transportation of intercourse between
the United States and foreign coun-
tries.
1t does not follow, however, that
this is the limit of the remedy that
may be applied. Even though it may
lie found that federal authority is not
broad enough to fully reach the case,
there can be no doubt of the power of
the several States to act effectively in
the premises, and there should be nc
reason to doubt their Willingness to
judiciously exercise such power"
The subject which excited the most
curiosity and the one towards which |
the Presidents position was not Ger
tainly known was the Spanish-Cuban |
war and our attitude toward the af |
fair. There is no doubt but that the
Presidents message year ago did |
much to awaken England to the sit |
nation and to lead to the recent AMIGA |
BILE and happy settlement of the Vene.
zuelan boundary dispute, and not a
few expected that the President would |
take a decided step in the Cuban mat
ter.
But the position taken by the |
President in his message on Monday |
il both sound and conservative. |
while we synpathize with strug-
Cling liberty, yet we have no right by |
the law of nations to intervene in this |
contest between Spain and her re
caIcitrant colony" President Cleve-
land takes the ground that as yet |
Cuba has not made good her claim to |
recognition, and that the Cuban gov
eminent is not IL de fdct0 government |
but exists only on paper. He deplores |
the destruction of the industrial value |
OF the island, and states that the |
american interests in Cuba are more |
than merely sentimental and philan- !
thropic, that fifty millions of Ameri- |
can capital are invested in Cuban |