The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-16

settlement Of our rate Of taxes and our tariff
is demanded By the public. The people wiz
no longer brook the neglect Of these ques-
tions. Il has required q vast supply of patri-
otism TO endure these Sights In the past,
but they must be settled soon. While recon
struotion affects the South and the nation,
taxes affect the pocket of each man, and the
tariff is Of vital importance to all manufao-
turers and their employees. These come much
nearer home, and they therefore demand
much greater care in their adjustment.
In the first place, the present system Of
taxation needs revision. We are proceeding
entirely too fast in the work of extinguishing
the national debt. 1t is very pleasant, and
cause Of just pride, to say that we have de-
creased the burden one hundred millions in
year or so. But it is not fair to our genera
ton that we should be called upon to pay it
off. We have done a great work in fighting
the battle and in lending the money, and it is
only proper that those who, in the future, are
to reap the benefits, should also relieve us of
some Of our weighty load. 1t must be remem-
bered that while it requires rate of five per
cent. and more on the present annual reve-
nue. Of the nation to pay off the interest, yet
if we allow the debt to remain without
diminishing it in the least, in the course Of
ten years or more the product of our rapidly
growing country will increase at such a ratio
that we will require not more than three per
cent. to raise the same sum as now requires
five per cent. 1t is, therefore, to the real in
terest of the American people to foster the
industries of the country, to remove from
them as much of the burden as is possible, and
while negleoting to decrease the debt by over
taxation to-day, to postpone for the future its
settlement, when the vast resources of our
country are developed. This subject should
receive the immediate attention of our Con-
gressmen. At the present rate of taxation we
have surplus, after paying the in
terest. We do not want a balance of
ninety millions, or the like. If we
| have an excess of ten millions, it will be
all that we will require By this means we
will be enabled to throw off the tax on many
of the necessaries, and doubtless be able to
exclude from taxation that portion of a mans
income which is actually expended in the
support of his family. We have reason to
believe that the tax of five per cent. on the
savings of the people would be sufficient, with
well-ordered tariff, to raise the $12O, ,OOO, 900
or so that are annually needed to meet our
interest. The attention of all our public men
should be directed, previous to the meeting
of Congress, to the solution of the question
to the settlement of the vexed issue, how to
relieve the needy, cease to oppress the poor,
nOh n ind Tod
The second great question to be settled is
that of the tariff. The present schedule was
wretched compromise lily calculated to satisfy
any one. We want revision of the imports
There is no question but that for many years
to come our native industry must be fosteret
by tariff, which, while it is not so high as Il
be virtually prohibitory, shall at least put ouI
manufactures on footing of equality will
foreign establishments. Such a regulation i!
to the interests of the employed as well as the
employer and is of vital value to us of Penn
sylvania. What we want is to see such nice
balance adjusted as will protect Oul
native industries, but at the same time
not prevent foreign competition, fo
if competition be prevented, as il
desired by some, a state of things will b.
brought about which will subject the masse
to imposition at the hands of the capitalists
while, if the tariff be placed too low, the pric
of labor must fall, because of the fall of tn
current price of the article. The subject i
one Of great difficulty, and we need some com
prehensive mind to handle it. We see NO on
among our public men capable of grasping it
without the aid of others, and therefore mus
rely on the general contributions to the fun
of information, in order that we may gail
the result we need. If these two questions b
properly considered previous to the assembling
of the two Houses there will be little time lef
for political discussion. Our Congress vii
have its time all taken up with the vita
question, and opportunity be given it t
gain far more prestige before the people thai
it could win by the best of pOlitioa
speeches. For the people, while they admir-
a brilliant speaker, have lasting confidence il
the man who relieves them from unnecessar.
burdens and while providing for their proteC
ton, yet sees the national honor is preserves
inViolate.