The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-11-11

world, and the cost Of bringing back
what is wanted for consumption, are the
to Western prosperity. What
makes these costs of carrying2 The
railroads must have a return for the ex-
penses Of their structure and for their
operations. When you look into the
expenses you find not only the sums
paid for the actual cost Of materials and
labor, but the sums paid to Government
for taxes. These direct and indirect,
make at least one-quarter OF the cost oil
the highways of commerce, so that men
who live great distance from markets,
in addition to the unavoidable charges OF
transportation, have in fact to pay taxa
ton by the mile: the more they pay for
carrying the more they have to pay for
taxes. Ifthe duties charged upon iron
rails and other materials, and the in
creased cost of labor made by taxation,
are taken into account, 1t will be seen
that I have under-stated the effects OF
taxation upon the cost Of these tracks Of
commerce. If these were called tolls
they would more clearly express the
truth. It is said there is no other way
of getting revenue. That may be true,
but if it is true, then our Government
should keep within its constitutional
limits; it should not, by Capitalization,
make debts and unequal taxation. Gov
ernment debts and taxation divide our
Union into debtor and creditor States
This is dangerous relationship. AL
ready the passions which it engenders
are appealed to by those who seek to ex-
cite sectional passions. 1t has given
birth to the theory Of imitation. Denun-
Citations of the older States Of the East,
and desire to iniure their citizens, were
quite as strong in the late election in
Ohio as the wish to help the West.
Those sectional prejudices have been felt
and seen in the halls of Congress. They
have shaped legislation, they disturb the
calmness and fairness which should al
ways characterize the legislation OF q
great country These results have not
been accidental they will always follow
in the footsteps of expenditure, debt and
taxation by the General Government.
They were foretold long since as clearly
as they can be described now. More
than ten years ago, in a message to the
Legislature, in speaking of sectional
iealousies, l called its attention to this
threatened cloud in these words:
"The danger of controversy would be
increased by our vast national debt.
This, mainly held by a few Atlantic
States, divides our country into the per;
ilous sectional relations of debtor and
creditor regions. The ownership of this
debt cannot be diffused over our country
so that the same communities which pay
taxes will receive incomes. The indi-
vidual advantages of protective tariffs
growing out of this debt would be largely
gained by the creditor States, which also
enjoy disproportionate share OF poliu-
cal power" r u
Does not every consideration Of pru-
dence and patriotism demand that our
Government shall use its revenues as far
as possible to pay off this dangerous
debt? Should it not avoid that policy OF
Capitalization which engenders so many
schemes for expenditures, and which in
wolves continued expenditures and in
creasing taxation2 The most baletul ef-
feet of this taxation is shown in its de-
struction of commerce and business. 1t
is the real source of the distress felt in
our workshops and in all the fields of in
dustry. A tax upon the expectation OF
our products would be so hurtful that our
forbids its imposition by
Congress. Yet we find that the taxation
madt by our debt and expenditures is Of
the same nature and works the same
evils. As l have shown, it falls heavily
upon the transportation of the produce
of the West. Let us trace out all its in
huenCes. 1t is constantly and truthfully
said that business will revive when we
can get market for our agricultural pro-
ducts. We have plenty to sell, and the
people of Europe want it if they can get
it upon favorable terms. And they would
gladly give more than the West asks.
What, then, stands between the pro-
ducer and consumer? The cost of trans
portation, increased by taxation. Do
away with this and wealth and pros
perity would at once flow in upon us.
That cannot entirely be done, bnt we
must cut it down to the lowest possible
rate. In great degree craftsmanship in
this country must concern itself mainly
about this movement of property. This
quality called value means simply
thing in its right place-in the place
where it is needed. If this could be
brought about in our country without
cost, all our burdens and troubles would
disappear. AS we cannot do this, we
must get as near to it as we can. All
taxation is hostile TO this purpose, and
that kind of cumulative taxa
lion which now hurts the West and then
reacts upon US of depriying us Of our
customers. 1t constantly happens that
our ability to export turns upon a trihing
margin Of profit A few years since an
effort was made to restore our commerce |
With the West by cutting down the tolls
upon our canals. This effort saved our
Doatmen from bankruptcy. In concert |
with number of the business men of
his city gave time and study to
The subject. We found that reduc-
ion of three cents upon a bushel
of wheat would bring large quantities to
market that otherwise would not be
moved. Three cents is but a small part |
If the taxes paid upon a bushel of wheat,
lirectly and indirectly, when it is car
lied from the banks of the Mississippi to
he harbor of New York, but we will |
AXE that trifling sum into our calcula-
ions Ifthe dealer at the West can see
hat he can make that profit in each |
oushel, be will send this staple to mar
zet. By doing 80 he will give to the
armer his price and employment to car
'iers along many hundred miles Of lakes,
'ivers, canals and railroads. Its value,
when it reaches this city, will be paid |
,ut TO our merchants and mechanics.
The driving-wheels Of industry and art |
viii be set in motion, and cheerful labor |
will gladden. our land. Grain sent abroad
pays our debts and saves our coin. Gold |
md silver is made plenty because the |
products of our mines are kept at home.
Every man knows that we dig enough of
he precious metals from our own rich |
mines to supply all our wants and help
he commerce of the world if it was not |
lrawn from us by taxation and sent else