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Si) IS 97 lii lit 31 VOL. II. LINCOLN TON, N. C, FRIDAY, DEC. 14, 1888. NO. 30 THE MESSAGE ON F, O F T II I S A IS LEST A HER ICAX STATK PA FEUS A ftlrong nnl OomprelieiiHive I'ri'Hoiiiatlou t fliuSlaltt of the liilon, Condition mnlM'iM ol'llio lMihlie Nor Tlco, tlie JV?ooeKilj for Ro forui and Reduction of Hie Hevomie To the Congress of the United States: As you assemble for the discharge of the duties yon have aatmmed, as the representatives of a free and geuerou.s people, your meeting ia marked by an interesting and im pressivo incident. With tho expire ation of the present session of the Cougres, the tirat century of our constitutional existence as a nation will be complete. ADMONtISUEI TO KEKf THK RIGHT WAY. Our survival for one hundred years is not sufficient to assure us that we no longer have dangers to fear in the maintenance, with all its promised blessings, of a govern ment founded upon the freedom of lhi people. The time rather ad monishes us to soberly inquire whether in the past we have always closely kept in the course of safety, and whether we have bo for o us a way, plain aud clear, which leads to happiness and perpetuity. THE CONSTITUTION Odl CHART. When the experiment of our gov ernment was undertaken, tho chart adopted for our guidance was the Constitution. Departure from the linea there laid down is failure. It is ouly by a striot adherence to the direction they indicate, and by re straint within the limitations they fix, that wo can furnish proof to tho world of the fitness of the American people for self government. EUAL AND EXACT JUHTICE. The equal and exact justice Of which wo boast as the underlying principle of our institutions should, not be confined to the relations of our citizens to each other. The Government itself is under bond to the American people that in the exercise of its functions and powers it will deal with the body of citizens in a manlier sei upuloiuly honest and fair absolutely just. It has agreed that American citizenship shall he the ouly credentials uecces ary to justify the claim of equality before the law, and that no condi tion in life shall give rise to dis crinikiation iu the treatment of the people by their Government. IT. U GAL GOVERNMENT MONOPOLY AN1 AGGREGATION. Tha citizens of our Republic in its early days rigidly insisted upon free compliance with the letter of this bond, and saw stretching out before him a clear held tor individ ual endeavor. Ilia tribute to the support of his government was measured by the cost of its ecou omical maintenance, and he was secure in the enjoyment of the re maining recompouce of his steady and contented toil. Iu those days the frugality of the people was stamped upon their Government, and was enforced by tho free, thoughtful aud intelligent suffrage of the citizen. Combinations, mon opolies, and aggregations of capi ta), were either avoided or sternly regulated and restrained. The pomp and glitter oi governments less free, offered no temptation aud presented no deluiion to the plain people who. 6ide by side, in friendly competition wrought for the euuoblenieut and dignity of man, for the solution of the problem of free governmentjand lor the achievement of the grand destiny awaiting the laud which God had given them. A century Las passed. Our cities are the abid ing places of wealth and luxury; our manufactures vield fortunes never dreamed by the fathers of the republic. Our business men are madly striving in the raee for rich es, and iumen8e aggregation of capital outrun the imagination, in the magnitude ofjtheir undertakings in the eager chase for easily acquired wealth. MSCBIMINATING FAVOR OF THE O0V ERNMENT. We discover that the fortunes realized by our manufacturers are no longer solely the reward of stur dy industry and enlightened fore sight, but that they result from th discriminating favor of the govern ment, and are largely built upon undue exactions from the masses of our popple. Tho gulf between etn ploy era a'td tho employer is con stant')' widening, and clashes are rapidly forming, One comprising the very rich and powerful, while iu another are found the toiling poor. BANGER OF I'NR ESTR A T VED CORPORATE TOWFR As we view the aehievment of aggregated capital we discover the existence of trusts, combinations and monopolies, while the oitizen is struggling far in tho roar, or is trampled to death beneath an iron heel. Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of tha law, and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the'peo pltt's masters. Still congratulatiug onrselveg upon the wealth and prosperity otour country, and com placently contemperating every in cident of change inseparable from these conditions, it ia our duty as patriotic citizens to inquire at the present stage of oar progress, bow the bond of government made with the people has been kept and per formed. Instead of limiting th tribute drawn from our citizens to the necessities of its economical administration, the Government persists in exaotion from the sub stance of the people's millions, which unapplied and useless, lie dormant iu its treasury. This n"ag rant injustice and this breach of faith and obligation, add to extor tion the danger attending the diver sion of the currency of the country from the legitimate channels of business. TAKING THE MANY FOR THE FEW. Under the same laws by which these results are produced the Gov-1 ernment permits many millions more to be added to the cost of the our oonsnmern, which unreasonably swell the profits of a small but pow erful minority. The people must still bo taxed for the support of the Government under the operation f tariff laws. But to the extent that the mass of onr citizens are inordi nately burdened beyond any use ful publio purpose and for the bene fit of a favored few, the govern ment, under pretext of an exercise of its taxing power' enters grationa ly into partnership with tbeixe favo rites, to their advantage, and to the injury of a vast majority of our people. This hi not equality before the law- The existing situation is injurious to the health of our entire body politic. It stifles in these for whose benefit it is permited, all pa triotio love of country and substi tutes in its place aelfish greed and grasping avarice, WELL AROUSE IRRITATION AND DISCORD. Tho grievances of those not in cluded within the circle of those beneficiaries when fully realized will surely arouse irritation and discontent, Our farmers long gof fering and patient struggling in the race of life with the hardest and most unremittiug toil will not fail to eee in spite of misrepresentations and misleading fallacies that they are obliged to accept such prices for their products as are fixed in for eign markets where they compete with the farmers of the world, that their lands are declining in value while their debts increase and that without comptugating favor they are forced by the action of the gov ernment to pay for the benefits of other such enhanced prices for the things needed that the scanty re turns of their labor fail to furnish their support or leavo no margin for accumulation. ARROGANCE OF AVARICIEUS 310 NOPOLISTS. Devotion to American citizenship for its own sake and for what it should accomplish as a motive to our nations advancement and the happiuesa of all our people is dis placed by the assumpfion that the government instead of being the embodiment of equality is but an instrumentality through which es pecial individual advantages are to be gained. The arrogances of this assumption is unconcealed It ap pears in the sordid disregard of al but personal interest in the refusal toabitefor the -benefit, of others one iota of selfish disadvantage and in combinations to perpetuate such advantages through efforts to con trol legislation and improperly iu liuence t he sufferings of the people. WORKINGMEN WILL INSIST OX CUEAFF.K LIVING. Oor workwomen enfranchised from all deductions and no louger frightened by the cry that their wages are endangered by a just re vision of our tariff laws will reasou aoly demand through such revision steadier employment cheaper means of living in their homes freedom for themselvod and their children from the doom of peipetnal servi tude aud au open door tu their ad vancement beyond the bants of a abot ing class. Others of our citi zens whoaajcomforts and expendi ture are measured by moderate salaries and fixed incomes will in sist upou the fairness and justice of cheapening tho cost of necessaries for theinselvea and their families. When to the selfishuess of tho beueficicaries of unjust dlscrimina-. tion under our laws there shall be added the discontent of those who suffer from such descrimioation we will realize the fact that the benefit cent purpose of our Government dependent upon the patriotism and contentment of our people are en dangered. COMBINATION BREEDS COMMUNISM. Communism is a hateful thing and menace to peace and organ ized Government but the commun- ism of combined wealth and capital the outgrowth of overweening cu pidity and selfishness which insidi ously uudermiues justice and integ rity of free institutions is not lees dangerous than this communism of oppressed poverty and toil which exasperated by injustice and dis content attacks with wild disorder the citadel ot rule upon which .vU-..H Mf in icall ( iotvihn tft own- ership the numberless homes of eni lightened equal and promineat oitb zeus- Tbey come to ratioual ses sion with the warning example in our eye of iniquities iu landed pro- prietorship which other countries have permitted and still suffer. A shA'meLess Imposition. He mocks the people who proposes that the Government shall protect the rich and that ihey in turn will care for the poor. .Any intermedi ary between the people and thtur Government or the least delegation of the care and protection the Government owes to the humblest citizen in the laud makes the boast of free institutions a glittering de lusion and the nretended boon of American citizenship as a shame less imposition. THE NECESSITY EOR REVENUE REDUC TION. Tho necessity of the reduction of our revenue is so apparent as to be generally conceded, but the means! by which this end can be accom plished, aud the sum of direct benefit which shall result to our citizens, present a controversy of the upmost importance. There should be no scheme accepted as satisfactory by which the burdens of the people are only apparently removed. Extravagant appropria tions of public money with all their demoralization of consequences should not be tolerated, either as a means of relieving the treasury of its present surpluss, or as furnish ing a pretext for resisting a proper reductiou in tariff rates. Existing evils and injustice should b hon estly recognised, boldly met and effectively remedied- There should be no cessation ot the struggle until a t)lan is perfected, fair and conservative, toward existing in duatries, but which will reduce the coat to consumers of the necessaries of life, while it provides for our manufacturers the advantage of freer raw materials, and permits no injury to the interests of American labor. The cause for which the bat tle is waged is comprised within lines clearly and distinctly defined. It should never be compromised. It is the people's cause. JCST AND SENSIBLE TaRIF REVIS ION. A just and sensible revision of 'our tariff laws should be made for our countrymen who mil. r und- r pres ent condition. Such a revision should receive tho support of all who love that justice and equality due to American citizenship of all who realize that in this justice and equality onr Government finds its strength and its power to protect the citizen and his property of all who believe that the contented many accord better with tho spirit of our TriHtitutions than colossal fortnnes unfairly gathered in tho hands of a few; fall who aps preeiat that forbearance and fraternity among our people which recognfze the value of ciery Anieri cau interest as the surest guarautee of our national progress ; and of all who debire to see the products of American skill and ingenuity in every market of th6 world with a resulting restoration of American commerce. Selfish and private interests. It cannot be denied that the eel fish and private interests fhich are so persistently heard when efforts are made to deal iu a just and com prehensive manner with our tariff laws, are related to, if they are not J responsible for the sentiment larges ly prevailing among the people,that the general government is !Le foun tain of individual and private aid, that it may be expected to relievo with paternal caro the distress of oitizeus and communities, and that from the fullness of its treasury it should, upon the slightest possible pretext of promoting the general good, apply public funds to local- ities and individuals. Nor cau.it be j denied that thtre is a growing assumption that, as against the government aud in favor of private claims and interests, the usual rules and limitations of business princi pies and just dealing should be o-.aitr1 TlinsA ii'lAQ hfJVTi infMl PT1- happily much encouraged by legis lative acquiescence. Itelief from contracts made with the govern ment is too easily accorded in favor of the citizen. The factum to sup port claims against the government by proof, is often supplied by no better consideration than the wealth of the government and the poverty of the claimant. Gratuities in the form of pensions are granted upou no other ground than the needy condition of the applicant, or tor reasons less valid. And large sums are expended for public bnild iug;s and other improvements, upon representations scarcely claimed to bo related to public needs and necessities. The extent to which the consideration of such uiattors subordinate and postpone action upon subjects of great public im. pottance. but involving no special, private or partisan interest should arrest attention aud leadtoiefor- niatiou. SOME NECESSARY REFORMS. A few of the numerous illus trationa of this condition may be stated. The crowded condition of the calendar of the Supreme Court aud the delay to suitors and denial of justice resulting therefrom, ha been strouly urged upou the at tention ot the Congress, with a plan for the relief of the situation ap proved by those well able to judge of its merits. While this subject remains without effective consider- ation, many laws have beeu passed providing for the holding of terms of inferior courts at places to suit the convenience of localities, or to lay the foundation of an application for the erection of new public buildings. NEEDED CHANGE IN THE LAND LAW- Repeated recommendations have been submitted for the amendment aud change of the laws relating to our public lands, so that their spo liation and diversion to other ues than as homes tor houest settlers, might be prevented. While measure to meet this conceded necessity of reform remains await ing the action of Congress, many claims to the public lauds and ap plications for their donation in favor of States and individuals, have been allowed. NEGLECTED TUBLIC BUILDINGS. The propriety and necessity ot the the nlirf ot ihoe of erc:iun of one or mors prisons for the confinement of United States convicts, and a post otiioe building in the .National Capitol, are not disputed but these needs yet re maiu unanswered while scores of puhlio buildings have been erectf d ! to pc rsuade mv countrymen so far where their necessity for public! as 1 mav that it is not in a splendid purpose is not apparent. A re- j Government sopported bv monop. vision of onr ponton laws conhliolies aud aristocratic' establish easily be made which would lost un-nts that Ihey will iiud ha-.pine upon just principles and provide! or their liberties i-rofticm but for every worthy applicant, but wmie our general pension laws remain confuted and imperfrcr, hundreds of pitvato pent-ion 1;wh are annnaljy parsed which are tho sources ot iiujust discrimination and popular demoralization. FRIVATE ENDS DEFEAT fTRT IC I E i TSI. ATIOV. Appropriation bills for the sup ruiM" -egove,umem are uereairdj I . : . , i - . ,a i, . . , . -. i uy iimi auu provisions to meet private ends, and it is freely asser ted by responsible an.i experienced parties that a bill appropriating money for public internal improve ment would fail to meet with faor lag caus of dispute and to remove unless it contained items more for! : constant menace to the good rela. local and private advantage than jtiona of the two countries and con- for public benefit. These state ments can be much emphasized by an ascertainment of the proportion of Federal legislation which either bears upon its fce its private char- acter, or which, upon examination, develops such a motive power, and yet the people await and expect from their chosen representatives Slliu rail,ouu am ion as win avaiice j the welfare ot tho entire country, i and this expectation can only be answered by the performance ot public duty with unselfish purpose. Our mission among the nations of the earth, and nnr inppaua in a. complishing the work God has given the American people to do, require of those imburdened with the mak ing and executing ot our laws per fect devotion, above ail other things to the public good. i This devotion will lead us to strongly resist all impatience to constitutional limitations of federal power and to persistently check the increasing tendency to extend the scope ot federal legislation into the domain of State and local jurisdic tion upon the plaof subserving the welfare- Tho preservation of the partitions between proper subjects of federal and local care and regu lation is of such importance under the constitution whichis the law of onr very existftneo that no construc tion or expediency or sentiment should tempt us to enter noon doubtful ground We have under taken to discover and proclaim the richest blessings of a lice got em merit with the constitution as our guide. Let us follow the way it points out. It will not mislead u. And surely no one who has taken upon himself the solemn obligation to support and preserve the con stitution can find justification or solace for disloyalty in the excuse that he wandered and disobeyed iu search of a better way to reach the public welfare than the constitution ot ours. I'ROBECUTIoX f'F POLVOAMV- It also appears from this leport that to March 1885 there had beeu but six convictions in the territories of Utah and Idaho uod?r the laws of 18C2 and 1832 punishing poiyga. my aud nu lawful cohabitation as crimes. There have been since that date nearly bOO convictions nnder thoe laws and the statutesoflSS and the opinion is expressed that under such a firm and vigilaut execution of these laws and the advance of ideas opposed to these forbidden practices polygamy in the United States is virtually at an end. THE JACLONIAN PRINCIPLE, What has been eaul is deemed not inappropriate at a time when from a century's heights all view the way already trod by the Amer ican people and attempt to discov er the future path. The seventh President of the United States the eoldier aud Statesman and at all times the firm and brave friend of the people iu vindication of hi course as the protector of popular rights and the champion of true American citizenship declared "The i uc:cn lauuo wo j mum u(' . ambition which leads me on is anmon0p0iy 0f corporations of gras anxious deshe and flvd d-termiua. ' tion to leUor To the pople urn ! injp.thrd tloicicd trust they have i confided to mv charge to heal the y charge to ! wounds ot the Constitution and v.irv it r., ,..... .....1 ,;..., ' a plain stem void of o.nni. i. Uctiiig all ami granting favors .to it no dipiiK:iig its b'msings lik t'.'H dows of ilet.vu tiiisroo and Uli feil H.tvo in tin- Irexhm-HH and beau ty they coutriiuito to produce it U such a Government that the genius ot our people require, such a on only under which our State mav remain tor age to erne united and ! prosperous and trn. CONDITION- or TUn KISIIEUV KSTIOV Having eas.ied iu the discharge of my duty to procure by negotia t:on the settlement of a long stand- turning to be of opinion that the treaty ot February last which failed to receive the approval of the Senate did supply "vt satisfactory, praeti. 'al and final adjustment upon a j basis honorable and just to both patties of the difficulty and ved question to which it related, ami fusing subsequently and unavail july recommended other legislation suffice to moot the exigency created by the rejecting of the treaty. I now again invoke the earnest and immediate attention of'the Congress to the condition of this important question sh it now stands before thtni and the con u fry and for the settlement of which I am deeply solicitous, TH K SACKVILI.E-WEST IN( IIKN I. Near the close of the mouth of fy"fe,gVi-l.?A.pe;urreneeH ot' !'. de.ep- to my knowledge which made ir my painful but imperative, dutv to ob tain, with as little delay aa possible, a now personal change of diplomatic intercourse in this country with the Government of Great Uritain. The correspondence in relation to thi incident will, in due course, be laid before you, and ill disclose the un pardonal.de conduct. f the official referred ro in hi-- interference by advice and counsel wit Si the sutl rages of Amu ic in citizens in the very crisis o the Presidential elou' tion then near at hand, ami also in his Mibsequf-ns. publi" declarations to justify his action ?upcTadding impeachmeut f the Executive and Senate of the United Sfstes in con nection with important questions now pending in conhoversy be tween t tie two Governments. A C.PAV K OI I KM K The offense 1 hn- committed was mo-t rave, involving disastrous possibilities To the. good relations of the Uni'ed States and Great Lhitian j constituting a gross b'earh of dip. lomatic privilege ;md invasion of th- purely domestic MtT.iirrt and eg ertiiil Kovereighly of tin- Govern men? to which the envoy was ac credited. Having first fulfilled the j j u-fc demands of international corni ty by affording full oppotunhy for her majesty's Government to net in relief of the situation, I considered prolongation of discussion to be unwarranted and thereon declined to further recognize the dipmaticol character of the person whose con tinuation in such function would destroy that mutual confidence which is essential to the good underi standing of the two Governments nd was inconsist'-uf. with the weN fare aud pelf respect of the Govern, ment of the United States. The usual eteDrchargecf communication has pince continued through her majesty's legation in this cdy. i.emandp prompt am. i koi lr iegislatiox. (Jar dear experience ought suth - cifcutly to urge th np-edy enact j ent ot measures of legislation which will confide the future dis-1 en per cmt so that at the pro position of our remaining agricul' jent time about M per cent of :he tural lands to the usages of actual ! total department purchases are husbandry and genuine homes, nor thould our vast tracts of eo-called desert lands be yielded up to the ping individuals as appears to bo much tha tendency under tho ex isting statute. Theso lands require but the supply of water to become fertile and productive. It is a problem of great moment how most wisely for the public good that factor bhall be furnished. 1 cannot but think it perilous to suffer cither theso lands or the success of their irrigation to bdl into the hand ot monopolies which by such means may exercise lordship over the areas dependent on their treatment lorprodiictir.il. Alieady stejvs have been taken to Mecuie accurate and scientific information of the icun try which is the prime, b isis of in telligent action. I'ntil this .-shall bo gained the com no of wisdom apt pears clearly to bo in a ?uspenion of further disposal, which only prom ises to create rights antagonistic to tho commonwealth. No harm cau follow this cautionary conduct. Tho land will remain, and the publio good wants no demand for hasty disposition of national ownership and control. attendance of Indian schools. The average attendance of Indian pupils on the schools increased by over J0O during the year and tho total enrolled reached 1,2V2. The oost of maintenance was not mate rially raised. The number of teachablo Indian youths is now estimate l at. -10,0011 or nearly three times the enrollment or the school It is believed the obstacles in the way of instructing aic all surmoun ted ami that the treasury expendi ture would be a measure of econ omy. OCR 1 KNIONKUS. The number of pensioners added to the rolls during the fiscal 3 ear ended June ,'JO, lbSK, is (Ul.L'Cij and increase of pensions was .-ranted iu ir,71t case-". The nan -.in of 1.1, 7;iO pensioners were diopped from the rolls dniinsr the v ear. lor vari ut the number of aM ('J;?s-U's r i I i; g pensions was 42L.;Vi7; ot thi'se w,.,o sui i ors of the warot 1812; 10,77 willows of those uhot-uvrd Hi thai war, lO.Mf.O (soldiers of tho Mexican war, ami f,101 widows of said soIdietE. One hundred and two different rates of oeiisiouM are paid to these beneficial ies ranging from 2 to 41f,.f,i; per month, the am't. paid for pensions during the fiscal ear was 7S,77r,8n'l.'J2 being an increase over the pieceding year of tff.BtS2S0.L2. REVISION OFTIir. l'KVSIO LAWS I am thoroughly convinced that our g ner d pension laws should he revised and adjusted to meet, as tar as possible in tho liht of onr experience, all meritorious cases. The, tact that, one hundred ami two different rates of pensions are paid cannot, iu my opinion, be made consistent with jn -tice to the perw sioners or to the Government, and tho nuoiercuH private pension bills that are pissed, piedio-ited upon the imoer ft c'ion of general laws, while thev i'n i: i-e. in many (msch existing inequality aad injustice lend additional force to the lecommeri" dation lor a revision of the general law on this subject. COrKATKI WITH 1 R ii KK M 1 M I K ATION The report shows that notsiMis -tandiug the large expenditures for new construction arm trie addi tional labor they involve tho t'-tal ordinary or current expenditures of the department for three years j ending June .30, 1888, aTe less by more than 20 per cent than such expenditures for three years end June 30 1SS1. Thi various neps which have been taken to improve the bnsines methods of trie depart ment are reviewed by the secretary The purchasing of supplies has been conpolidiated and placed niu jder responsible burean heads. This has resulted in the curtailment of i j open purchases which iu the veals jof 1SS4 and 1883 amounted to or ' 50 per cent of all the purchase of j the department tol-s.s than elev- made by contract and after com pletiou as the expenditure on this account exceded an average f Continued to Fourth liijeJ
The Lincoln Courier [1883-189?] (Lincolnton, N.C.)
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Dec. 14, 1888, edition 1
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