The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-01-02
Public Debt, Taxation, Tariff, &c.

The financial condition of the country,
enters very largely into the political dis
cussions of the day. That there is large
public debt resting OH the nation, is true.
That this debt is one OF the inevitable
consequences of a protraeted wars all sknow
very we'll. One would think from the wordy
defamation Of the democratic party, that
if the power were placed in its hands, the
public debt could be disposed of satisfac-
torialIy without burdening the people with
taxation. The public dept being assumed
a fixed fact, how is the interest to be met,
and the principal to be reduced
without money The Democracy evidently
do not want resort to direct taxation, to
meet this demand; for the journals of that
party, are laboring to make the people be-
lieve that our present taxes are enormous
crushing the energies of industry. The
great mass of that party profess to be hos
tile to our present tariff: insisting on free
trade with all the world. So then it does
not propose to derive any thing from rev
enue tariff, to pay the national expenses.
There does not appear toobe sanyi article
of trade or commerce, which the Democracy
propose to have largely taxed, in fact the
olamor is, for reduction on all articles
now highly taxed The whisky tax which
is now $500 per gallon, is asked to be re-
duced to 25 or 80 cents per gallon. The
cotton tax which it is said yields twenty
million per annum, is asked to be repealed
for the benefit of the impoverished South.
The tobacco tax which yields a large
item of revenue is pronounced oppressive.
The revenue stamp tax, and the tax on in
comes, are declared a nuisance. Where
then is the money to come from, to enable
the democracy to relieve the people from
tax burdens? Yet in the face of all this,
the Democratic journals tell us what hap
Ply exemption the people would experience,
if we only had democratic rule 1t is true
the National Iatelligencer, the Presidents
organ at Washington. has just hit upon an
economy, which it thinks would help in the
present exigency. The Inteyligencer pro-
poses to reduce the size of postage stamps
one-half. This it is argued, would save pa
per, mucilage, and weight in transporting
the mails. A wonderful discovery this,
to aid the government to pay the public
debt!
As there is no nameable way by which
the public expenditures can be met, without
the burdens of taxation, or tariffs or large
import duties, it follows that all the demo-
cratic party could or would dc, to rid the
country of its liabilities, would be repuda-
ton of all obligations to pay.
We ask the candid reader therefore, what
can be the meaning of the democratic de-
nuncIation oftaxes, tariffs. internal rev.
enue laws, &c. Does it mean paying, or |
reputation We are not the advocates of
high tariff, or taxation unnecessarily. large, |
but we hold the notionaf, honors is involved |
in the payment of the public debt When
therefore politicians talk loudly against
Lakes, tariff & import duties it can mean
nothing less, than dshonor of the nation.
al credit, and reputation of the peoples
obligation to pay If our national credit
IS sustained, the people must do it, no out
hide money power will do it for them.
Ivy ho ia 20
right direction, retrenchment will be one
Of the watchwords of the Republican party.
Gen. Grant has already inaugurated the
movement by dismissing officials, whom ;
t is unnecessary should be kept in CON- !
mission. Let his endeavors of reform be i
seconded in the civil departments There
re multitude of drones-holding mere /
mcclure positions, who should be displaced. !
Congress indicates q determination, to
ut down the national expenses, to the [
owest possible figure. Secretary Mo Col
ough in his annual estimate asks sS72, 900, /
100 for governmental expenses for the year. !.
congress will probably insist upon a re. =
uction Of this estimate 7o,00O,00O
This can be done without disaraue ing I
be machinery of the government. Let s.
be people insist on public economy, and 4
{ the same time take care that the ma
onal faith ie not impaired, i,
Cincinnati has q, 465 scholars in her pu a
c schools, Of whom 10, 122 study German. II