The Jasper weekly courier., 1876-10-20

/
expenses should be kept down 10 the
lowest point. Yet the cost of govern.
ment in 1875, above all payments on ac.
count of the war, were nearly twice as
great as the largest amount they ever
reached before that period. They are
more than twice "a great as they wcrG
when we sent fleets and armies Ia con-
quer Mexico. That taxation. and the
way in which il is put on, has crushed
the business OF our country, j. made
clear by what you now see in New
York.
Why is your city now filled with
strangers? Why does its business sud-
denly revive? Merely because the great
railroad lines put down 10 the lowest
point their taxes for carrying property
and persons. This has sent the produce
OF the West 10 the markets Of the world.
enabling its people TO buy our goods Of
home or foreign make, and come 10 the
East for purposes of business or pleasure.
II the railroads should put up their
charges again-and it is said they will
soon do so-then all this " i'll be changed.
| business and travel will fall off az once.
II the cutting down OF railroad taxes
gives new life 10 business. then Il reduc-
ton OF the greater charges OF govern
incnt will do the same thing.
We can not afford to have our pros
peri;y hang upon the policy of corpor-
ations. | think they acted wisely and
well when they put down their charges.
By this they help the public But il j.
not believed that they can afford 10 kccp
them down. Railroad manager, claim
.l 4 L.
materials of their roads. and it, influence
upon the price of labor. makes nearly
ouc-lhird the cost of their construction
| This taNaiinn has become n part OF
their capital upon which they must earr
dividends. We see that the business o,
the country has not onl Y 10 pay its taxes
but il must enable the railroads 10 pa,
their taxes. Beyond that. they must hC
enabled to pay dividends on former ts Y
lation. which makes part of thei'
Icapital. We must not. therefore. lie
Ipend upon low railroad CHARGES fol
lasting relief. We ought not TO look tC
Them, but TO our government. IL rail
lroads can reform their expenses. th'
government can do the same thing. II
burdens are too great, and they a"e i'm
posed in n way that is unequal fHd m
lust. About three times as much A. tn
whole cost Of our government formcr.!
is now taxed upon commerce. Thes'
taxes are cumulative upon the grain o
the West, il it is sent TO market. Thel
lessen the home business. aud have Ocs
troyed our carrying trade upon the seas
Commerce is the great driving vince
which set all other industries in motto
II has been loaded during the past .iv
years hy an average pnasial charge o
more than Sl75.OoO0OG. This ha- en-
ferbled H. action aud lowered il, pow er
aud this H. the cause Of the depression o
business and the distress OF labor. III
reforms demanded bv the supporters o
Mcssrs Tilden aud Hendricks are 10
: mere theories. they cuUceru the wei
fare of every person, 81 every home. .
every business pursuit in Our country.
We can. if we will. have teniold NOR
relief rom cutting down governmen
taxes than railroads have given IL. W
must at this election evoke the spirit y
reform. IL must control not only AT tn
lcapital Of our | nion. bat in the govern
mcnt of every state. city aud town.
New York has suffered beyond NJ
, other cities from hostility 10 commercC
and from the oppression aud unccuF
policy Of the general govcrumcr'
Surely. then. her merchants, her ne
chanics aud laborcrs, will help Ms in ;hi
+ work of rctrenchment aud reform.
am truly yours. SC,
IGopArIo SrYNnrp.