The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-12-05

the Only sure Remedy Against
Evils of Combinations-Whi OPP
posing Any General Tariff Change.
He UphoIds the Principle of Reel
procIty - Advocates Reduction of
Duty on Cuban Imports Into This
Country Importance of building
the Isthmian Canal and the Pacific
Cable Urged-The Philippines and
Other Insuiar Questions.
Washington, Dec. 3.-The president
In his annual message to congress
says:
The congress assemblies this year un-
der the shadow of a great calamity.
On the 9th of September President Me
Kinley was shot by an anarchist while
attending the Pan-American EXPOSE
ton at Buffalo and died in that city
on the 18th of that month.
OF the last seven elected presidents
he Is the third who has been murdered,
and the bare recital of this fact is
sufficient to justify grave alarm among
all loyal American citizens. Moreover.
the circumstances of this. the third as
sasslnation of an American president,
have a peculiarly sinister significance.
Both President Lincoln and President
Garfield were killed by assassins of
types unfortunately not uncommon in
history, President Lincoln falling "A
victim to the terrible passions aroused
by four years of civil war and Presi-
dent Garfield to the revengeful vanity
of a disappointed office seeker. Presi
dent Mckinley was killed by an utter
ly deprayed criminal belonging to that
body of criminals who object to all
governments. good and bad alike, who
are against any form of popular lib
erty IL 1t Is guaranteed by even the
most just and liberal laws and who
are as hostile to the upright exponent
of a free peoples sober will as to the
tyrannical and irresponsible despot
Anarchy md Annrchists.
The president continues with a
eulogy OF Mr.. Mckinley. then turns to
the subject of anarchy, denouncng its
doctrines and preachers. He says:
earnestly recommend to the congress
that In the exercise of its wise discre-
the coming to this~country of aharch
lists or persons protesting principles
hostile to all government and justify
ing the murder of those placed in au-
thority. Such individuals as those who
not long ago gathered in open meeting
to glorify the murder OF King Hum
bert of Italy perpetrate crime, and
the law should insure their rigorous
punishment. They and those like them
should be kept out of this country. and
If found here they should be promptly
deported to the country whence they
came, and farreaching provision should
be made for the punishment of those
who stay. No matter calls more
urgently for the wsest thought of the
congress.
A Subject For Federal Courts.
The federal courts should be given
jurisdiction over any man who kills
or attempts to kill the president or any
man who by the constitution or 10y
law is In line of succession for the
presidency. while the punishment for
portioned to the enormity of the of
Tense against our institutions.
Anarchy is crime against the whole
human race, and allSmankind should
band against the anarchist. His crime
should be made an offense against the
law of nations. like piracy and that
form of man stealing known as the
slave trade.
The president next considers bust
ness conditions. which he finds highly
satisfactory. He continues:
The tremendous and highly complex
industrial development which went on
with ever accelerated rapidity during
the latter half of the ninetecnth cen
fury brings us face to face at the be-
ginning OF the twentieth with very
serious social problems. The old laws
and the old customs which had almost
the binding force of law were once
quite sufficient to regulate the ac-
emulation and distribution of wealth
Since the industrial changes which
have so enormously increased the pro
ductive power of mankind they are NO
longer sufficient.
Trade Combinations.
The growth of cities has gone on be-
yond comparison faster than the
growth of the country. and the up
building of the great industrial centers
has meant startling increase not
merely In the aggregate of wealth. but
In the number OF very large individual
and especially of very large corporate
fortunes. The creation of these great
corporate fortunes has not been due
to the tariff nor to any other govern
mental action. but to natural causes
In the business world operating in 9th
er countries as they operate In our
own.
The process has aroused much an
tagonlsm, great part of which Is
wholly without warrant. 1t is not true
that as the rich hive grown richer the
poor have grown poorer On the con
trary, never before has the average
man. the wageworker, the farmer, the
small trader. been so we'll Off as In this
country and at the present time. There
have been abuses connected with the
accumulation of wealth. yet II remains
true that a fortune accumulated II,
legitimate business can be accumulat.
ed by the person specially benefited
only on condition of comforting i'm