National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-13
THE NATIONAL HONOR.

There are really but two vital questions
connected with the discussion of the rev.
enue bill. The first is, shall the credit of
the nation be preserved intact? To this,
we take it for granted, the Republican
party has but one answer TO make. Its
history and traditions alike forbid that it
shall be negative. The second question
is, how can the requisite amount Of rev.
enue best be raisedY Upon the reply to
this query, men may naturally and reason
ably differ. But, after all, the matter is
one of so slight, real consequence that we
take it that it will only be magnifed by
denagogues and solely for personal and
partisan purposes. AS We took occasion to
remark few days ago, the aggregate rev.
enue of the Government amounts to less
than ten dollars per capita per annum Of
our population, and the estimated deficit to
only one dollar per capita per annum. We
submit that in this view of the case II Is
little less than pure nonsense to talk Of the
immense additions TO "the burdens Of the
people" The people will not thank their
representatives for this pretended sympathy
all llGl ubh 10 Auub WIS lHul NV
be wasted, fritteredaway in useless expendi.
lures. They are abundantlY able to pay the
honest debts Of the nation. They do not
ask 10 have them repudiated. They do not
wish to have their national pride wounded
by the continual shouts Of poverty and
misery which some Of our demagogues are
fond Of ringing in their ears. They know
that such statements are untrue false as
false can be. They only ask that legisla
ton may be in favor of the full employ
ment Of their labor, and they will cheer
fully foot all necessary bills. But they will
Tot submit to be constantly advertised to
the outside world as a nation Of starving
beggars, unable to pay ten dollars per an.
mum for the luxury Of elfgovernment.
They laugh at the idea, which some men
are fond Of depicting in glowing words with
lippant tongues, that they are likely to be
overcome and impoverished or starved be-
cause they are taxed three cents day each
for the expenses Of the National Govern
ment and the interest on the public debt.
We do not wonder at it. We sympathize
with the feeling. 1t is, in fact, extremely
ludicrous when properly analysed.
Why, what article Of prime necessity in
household affairs can be purchased with
the tax of a day? The milk for your
coffee, perhaps the box of matches, or the
daily paper. But even one OF these could not
be purcbased by the proposed additional bur-
den Of one third of a cent day. Perhaps
the most sensible way of all others in which
to provide for the present emergency
would be the collection of seven and a
half per cent. additional tax upon all i'm
portant goods, both free and dutIable, or
even upon dutiable alone.
If the present tariff be fair one, which
we believe is generally admitted by the
consumers, the parties most interested,
then the simple ad valorem increase
of such percentage as would yield the
required revenue would certainly be just
as fair. But as it is the opinion of many
that spirits and tobacco and sugars, &c,
are luxuries consumed in greater pro-
portion by the rich than the poor,
the present bill has been framed. And
inasmuch as the collection of the addi-
tional tax will involve no extra expense,
we are inclined to think the committees
bill is preferable to The other method of
smaller percentage upon all impOrtatiOns.
The difference, however, is too small to
make much delay or talk about. Time is
money just now, and what is to be done
must be done at once in order to be effect
i've. nany attempt is made to satisfy class
objections and interests by notifications;
If this door is once opened, the Committee
on Ways and Means will find its entire time
occupied in hearing objections and sugges-