Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-06-13
Onuressive Taxation.

II IA really AmAIler Of wonder that the PEG
pie Of this country quietly submit to q system
of taxes and tariffs which takes hundreds
Of millions Of dollars more from their peck
cts. annually, than 10 needed for any legiti-
mate purpose Of government Our govern
inert is supposed 10 have been founded for
the good Of the governed, and that it sub
Iists on revenue. Therefore no more
revenue should be taken from the people
than ia necessary for the public good. But
the Radical practices upon the converse Of
that proposition. In his political science,
government is founded for the good Of the
revenue. ReveuOo subSiSts BY government,
therefore all the money should be taken
from the people which is necessary for the
good of the revenue. II was never
so before. This is the tvin-self of Radical
ism, and they have flourished and will fall
together.
Look one moment al the matter Of inter
nal revenue. General Washington came to
the Presidsnoy in 1889. From the com
mencemsnt Of his administration down Il
1929, when General Jackson was inAugur
ated-H period, say, of thirty nine years
embracing six wArs-Ihs total amount o
internal revenue collected was $2,577,
093.2g
From the beginning to the ending Of tn,
two administrations Of General Jackson
beginning 10 1929 and ending in 1887, Z
period Of say eight years, em bracing one
war, the total amount Of internal revenu,
collected was sG2, 9I2O9.
From the commencement Of Mr.. Vac
Bursn's administration in 1887 down to the
third year Of the first administration Of Mr.
Lincoln, a period Of say twsnty-sever
years, embracing two wars, the total amour
OF internal revenue collected was $24, 1897,
Oh.
From the fouudS ton of the Union il
1889 to the third yeas of the FIRST admins
trAtion Of Mr.. Lincoln, q period of sA
ssvsuty-four years, EN- brsoing nine wars, tn
total amount of internal revenue colscse
was 1865, OO2.39.
Noble examples of Republican sim picity
noble specimens Of public economy Of tn
peoples resources. What 40 illustriou
model for imitation.
But since those days Of Republican sin
plicity, economy aud honesty, politics
morality has fallen to the lowest depths, az
official capacity been sWooleu to enormou
proportions. From 1865 TO 1871, perlo
Of say eight years, embracing one war, th
party in power are known 10 have take
from the people, under the color Of iniern'
revenue alone, $l,57l 1901 ,6605s, or $50
4s0, l70.06 in excess Of the total receipts
from all sources, of the Government fror
1889 TO 1851, inclusive, q period of say sill
ty.two years, embracing nine wars, and ell
tending through the twelve entire admin
rS.ious Of Washington, Adams, Jefferson
Madison, Monroe, J. Y. Adams, Jackson
Van Buren,, Harrison, Tyler, Polk, TAylo
and in the second year of that Of Mr. Fill
more. And from 1865 TO 1871, period
say six years Of profound peace, the part
in power are known to have taken from tb
people, under color OF internal revenu
alone, 81 ,252, $50, 3l1.2l, or S3,5l4G22.2
in excess Of the total receipts, from a
sources, Of the Government from 1859 I
1874, inclusive, period of say ffy-fv
years, embracing seven WArs, and eIseudiu
through al the intervening ten ADMINISTERS
tons from Washington to Polk
This appalling consumption OF treasure
this oppressive drain upon the labor an
property Of the people, must be Grrests
or the end will be destructive to Republics
institutions.