Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-04-28

Great Revenue Reform meetlhB
From the New York Evening Post OF the Sls
inst
Mr.. Edward Atkinson who, we may
ssy, for the information OF some OF our
readers. ia q manufacturer was called
TO the chair and made sn able speech,
from which we extract the following pas \
ssges:
We, as free traders, advocate a tariff
Of duties upon certain foreign imports
for the purpose Of getting revenue. We
submit to 8 revenue tariff as one OF the
neces essary evils Of taxation.
We claim that such taxes shall be lev
led ss far as possible upon articles which
represent the results Of labor, rather than
upon those which enter into the process
of labor.
We say, protect the laborer by promot-
fug abundance and not scarcity OF Iron,
steel, copper, lesd, wool, leather, lum-
ber, food snd clothing; snd tax him, if
you tax bim Es all, upon tea, coffee, su-
gar, spices, liquors, silks and other srti-
cies which may be ciSssed as comforts or
Iuxuries rather than a. necessities.
We say, IL you tax the tooisi fuel, 1000
ard clothing Of the lsborer, so Sc in any
manner, or 10 any extent, to deprive him
hilsj the power OF buying any comforts
or IuxCries even if they were free from
sny duty; by such duty you tax the pro
cess by which he earns his wages. Leave
his mower. bis Fitsl force untrsmmeled
and deprive him by tsEstiOn OF the least
amount, even OF luxury sDd comfort.
If our opponents allege that this is free
trade: ave, 81 20 make Us more ObnOx-
ions they charge that this is British free
trade, let them make the charge and
make the most OF il.
We shall only reply, call 1t by what
name vcu will, it is the most perfect sys-
tenn Of protection which Is possible under
anv revenue law. 1t is not perfect, D. T
can 1t be until we need no revenuf.
sfSxation uuder tsriff or excise can never
be unsSs 9 b.essiDg in Itself it is only
auestiou 81 more or less interfereLcs
with the occupation and free choice Of
the people.
WHAT THE REFORM LEAGUE MANS.
We intend to promote the pslicy Of
uoElnterfeTence. We intend, II possible,
70 defeat Copper tariff bills, MoOrhead
tariff bills, wool and wOOlen tariff bills,
iron and steel association tariff bills, and
20 demsnd Of Congress 6 revenue tariff
bill, enacted with the single ides OF OBJ
tanning revenue So the least cost TO the
community.
We intend to promote such legislation
upon the ground thst tariff bill ls tex
bill, and that the only benefit which can
accrue to any special interest, called fJr
or granted under the name Of protection,
can be granted only through SD Unequal
sty and unjust discrimination in the bur
den OF the taxes.
We eek gradual snd cautious change.
tits expSSlsd that in the current fiscal
wear endiEg June so, the Government
will have a surplus revenue over e al IN IN
terest and expenses of $50 0G4, 900 to S40,-
900 900.
This will be a sUYblUs in gold from Gus
toms above gold Expenses. 1t will be
surplus over and above the payment OF
$4,000 O05 bounties which will not ac-
erue again.
We have then st least $50 900 coo TO
epply, If we will, to the abatement OF
dHtieES and with such abatement we can
sweep out of existence all the little petty
taxes upon eggs, tUtter, cheese, 4 our,
meat and fsh-the taxes upon Lumbar,
hides, salt. drugs, paints and dyestuffs,
upon Tin, lead, copper, pig iron aud iron
rails; upon wool, hemp, jute and other
so-eslled raw materials.
We can by the wise use Of the surplus
st!ike out from eighty to ninety per cent.
OF all the articles named in our present
tariff. aDd adjust the duties upon manu-
Eactures Of iron and steel, textile fabrics,
tea, coffee, sugar, liquors and silks upon
a simple, moderate aud effective plan,
and vet have an simple revenue.
Would this be relief from taxation or
uot7 Is this that horrible bUgOear, Free
Trade, or not?
1t the nearest approach to it which
our burden Of debt and expense makes
poesiSle, aud for that reason We free
traders aa SOcAte it.
THE REFORM LEAGUE AND PcLTTICAL
PARTIES
We begin g movement this evening in
Massachusetts, OF which we can hardly
taKe in the foil scope and meaning. II
the time is ripe, as / think it is, the end
of what we nov take part in will per-
mans be to REMODEL existing political psT-
ties and change the fiscal policy Of this
nation. The Cx'gency OF war, and CT
measures believed to be necessary since
the war, have welded together in the
dominant party men whose views upon
fiscal policy differ widely, while IN the
marty which is now in the minority are
many who are in hearty sympathy and
accord with US La the work we are now
IL, as believe, the late elections and
the passage Of amendments TO ths Con-
etitutiOn have settled the questions upon
which parties have been divided, and
have made them, FOR tie future; ques-
fions Of administration rather than iegis-
Iation, then the time hiss come for di-
vision upon the questions OF revenue re-
form. upon taxes, tariff, currency and
the civil service. While we have not
come here to form q political party, we
do intend to mould public opiRioB, as
Far as we are abie, and to compel stten-
ton Is What we believe TO be the truth in
these matters, and thus assure ourselves
that whoever is elected TO the Congress
of the United States. shall do the acts we
think necessary to be done and II we
have the truth with Us it shall prevail as
surely as did one truth work out its re-
salts. although first fssbiy spoken by one
who Is here with Us to nigh, and who,
40 we ali men. has proved his faith In
the infinite justice OF God, through dan