The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-26

while Mr.. Rollins has put it as high as 240
millions. Assuming the Seoretary's estim stes
ior customs, lands and all other sources to be
correct, the deficit would thus be Just 80 mil
lions; and admitting that the expenditure
would not exceed, in all, 372 millions, instead
OF realizing a surplus of 8 millions as esti-
mated by him, the deficit would be II millions.
We waive consideration Of the estimates of Mr..
Rollins and Mr.. Wells.
IL may be said that any predictions as b the
year rs revenue, based upon the results thus far
reached, are premature and even unfair. But
let 1t be remembered that it is the common
practice of all our financial authorities to
accept the results Of the first quarter of every
fiscal period as fair index OF the years total.
The House Committee of Ways aud Means
use precisely these results for guidancs ia
tax-legislation for the ensuing year. The
question is, whether there is any likelihood
OF something occurring between now and next
July to carry the average receipts of the re
naming three-quarters above those of the
one now almost passed. There is no good
reason to expect such a result, and we are
forced to the belief that large deficiency
cannot be avoided, except in the event of
honest, remedial laws being provided
early next session. Until some such change
is made, the problem whether a low rate
OF whisky tax will yield as much revenue
as high one cannot be solved; for the reason
that under the existing state of things as ar
ranged by the radicals, bent upon the per petu-
alton OF their power, no correct and complete
results can be- obtained. We certainly have
no encouragement to expect that either whisky
or tobacco will come to the relief of the Trea-
sury and bring the years yield up to the
needed amount controlled as those two sources
are by radical influence now as well as before
the tax was reduced last July. Nor can the
general business of the country be looked to
in the contingency, depressed as it has been
kept by radical maladministration. View
ing the situation from the most hopeful
standpoint, the whole revenue for the year
may reach ITS millions, which will then
leave deficiency of twenty-one millions, that
must be made up by customs, lands, and other
sources, or be covered by increased taxation
next year. 1t would be idle to suppose that
even the lowest of the official estimates will be
met fully; and the fact cannot be concealed
from the people. Nearly an entire quarter
has gone by, and yet tho aggregate revenue
for that period stands on the Treasury books
at thirty eight millions only. This of itself is
an indication of the general mercantile pros
tration; owing chilly to the disturbed state of
the country, produced by the un"ousttu-
tional attempts of the Rump to postpone the
reconstruction of th3 Southern States until it
could be made the foundation OF permanent
radical domination.
Revenue deficits are among the least of the
evils which must inevitably atilict the country
so long as those attempts are continued, and
they will continue until the overthrow of the
radicals is effected. Under the radical system
it is but rational to expect business depression,
oppressive taxation, corrupt civil service,
laundering legislation, national demoraliza-
tion, and those tlagrant violations of inligi-
dual rights that are the natural concomitauts
Of arbitrary political rule. The people have,
the power to decide whether they will longer
submit to these gross abuses at the hands of
their trusted servants.