The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-21

lnecnanlc MS JOOiS, anu Iucy dh pay
the money therefor to the traders who
have already paid the manufacturers
the tax on the same, imposed by
the Republican party to enable the
protected barons, out of their vast
wealth thereby accumulated, to res
pond when occasion requires to the
success of the Republican party mana
gers. That is what protection is now,
purely political and class meas
ure, aiding in Republican
victories, enriching persons who
contribute the means for achieving
these victories. Internal revenue
taxes are paid to the government.
They are such, or at least portion
are, as it is not unjust to impose. The
taxes on whisky and tobacco
for instance, making a great
part of the internal revenues,
can well enough be con-
tinued. They fall on those who in
dulge in those things which do not
contribute either to mans health or
happiness, and can therefore properly
be taxed heavily. To entirely do
away with internal revenue taxation
at this time might affect the financial
condition of the government. Under
Republican administrations there
have been enacted laws which annu-
ally require enormous drafts upon the
federal treasury. The estimated in
ternal revenue for the current year is
S14OO0OOOO, and the government
stands obligated to pay over SlOOOeO,-
600 annually in pensions. Lower tariff
duties would, after awhile, make it
possible to greatly reduce, even to
abolish, internal revenue taxes; but
the revolution must not be sud-
den, because it might be dis
astrous. In 1912 Mr.. Clay
showed that the government might
be benefited in financial way by re-
ducing import duties to nominal
rate. Wherever the experiment has
been tried, it has been found that the
reduction of the tariff has increased
the volume of imports. This
is necessarily so. The aim
of protective tariff is to
exclude foreign exports, and it
really ceases to be protective when it
permits foreign products to come into
the country freely. The low tariff
which permits foreign products to
compete freely with dometic products
is tariff for revenue, and yields rev.
enue in proportion to the needs of the
country and the activity of foreign
competition. The more that for
eigners sell to us the more they will
buy from us. international trade is
hut system of exchange, and, in the
long run, no country can buy from an
other more than it sells. Mr.. Kelley,
the protectionist, declares that should
the abolition of internal taxes cause
the necessity for more income,
the duties on foreign goods would
have to be raised in order to secure the
increase. Mr.. Kelley, and those like
him, therefore, are in favor of the alb
olition of internal revenue taxation,
that import duties may be increased
They are really in favor Of
temporary ruin for the country
bankruptcy of the government-that
the political barons may continue to
enjoy the haryests they have been an
nually reaping for twenty years
These men would adopt extremes TO
their own selfish ends; they would un
settle public credit, that private mil
lions may be converted into billions,an'
billions into tens of billions. fit were
| practicable to abolish internal revenu
taxation altogether, and to reduce tn
J tariff to the revenue standard, and T.
r obtain from that source the Who'll
| sum necessary for paying the ex
{: penses of the government, W
? should still say that the interna
revenue taxes on tobacco an
whisky ought to be retained. Al
taxation is an evil. The amount takel
; from the community in taxation is
,, loss to the community, although not
: loss without some compensations. N
{ people can grow rich by taxation.
). is to the interest of the people that, S
+ long as any money is required to b
U raised by taxation, it should be raise
|. by taxes upon articles which are nc
a absolute necessaries of life, and whic
I no person, therefore, need use unles
{ he chooses to do so. Suppose that tn
government should raise $780, 0,OO0,OC
year by the duties on import:
u That sum and vast de-
9 more would be paid b
the whole body of the peopl
I Every man, woman and chil
d would pay part of it, and pay, in a
u dition, a considerable sum for I'll
g profits and margins ON the cost of Il
u necessaries of life as enhanced by Il
Is tariff. When, on the other hand, sue
G. revenue is derived from tax {
Is whisky and tobacco. the whole amour
ie is paid by the consumers of the
le articles, in proportion to each one
or consumption; and no person who do
u not make use of tobacco or liquor,
who is not engaged in the business
IN manufacturing or selling liquors al
is tobacco, would have to pay sing
o. cent towards the expenses of t
" government. The policy of &
"a protectionists is fully develops
rs and we are glad to see that King Ca
m Gus is asserting his sway at Washin
to ton in binding Democrats to polici
nd which viii not allow the peoI
ny to be quietly outraged
&C. those who have robbed the
a through a long series of years. We /
X heve that nrm Democratic hearts m,
hold the majority in concre