Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-17
THE G IlBE
Which Ben Butler Thinks, a
Taken at the Flood, May Lead
20 Victory and Permanent Az
cende Acy.

81AN4 01a1AoA 00N1A "a
meat has conducted its Administra
ton il. its administrative as we'll a:
executive branches. 1t must be due
TO the conduct of the General Gov
ernment for the tetion of the people
would not be so universal and unan-
lmOus il arising from any local cause.
There can have been only one thing
done BY the General Government to
produce so general an effect, aud that
s extravaganza in expenditure and
the enormous burdens of taxation
The collection of over 81, 250 600 for
every working day in the year makes
a drain upon the resources OF the
country that would never have been
endured as it has been by us for a
few years, by any other country, and
could only have been borne by us be-
cause OF the enormous protection of
our agricultural resources. This
taxation comes UPON the middle
classes and the w~orkingmen. Of
course they are the largest consumers
Of whisky and Tobacco, upon which
the burden has been. Again, they
consume the largest amount Of every
hing except luxuries on which tariff
revenue is collected. They have
borne this burden without complain
Nc. because they have supposed it was
the necessary 20 S qusnces OF the war,
aud of the necessity OF paying the
National debt. But when they were
awakened by the passage of the River
aud Harbor Bill tor the expenditure
Of $4,000, 900 ov:r the veto OF
The President, they saw that there
must be some other cause than
public necessity for such a vast appro-
priation of public money. They nat.
orally attributed this to the desire of
lhose who passed it to have funds in
their districts to carry the pending
elections, and they were encouraged in
that idea by the President's words in
his veto. The worse the bill grew the
more votes it got; and when the public
learned, in addition to this specimen
81 extravaganza, that there would be
a surplus of 500, 0O0, 900 in tho Treas
ury, they became satisfied that such
amount Of taxation could no longer
be borne. They also heard ii declared
in Congress by members OF both par
ties. and uncOntradicted, that the
tariff which raised the major part Of
this great revenue needed revision,
and yet no steps we're taken to revise
or diminish it"
How aud from whom do you think
any change is to come because of this
election p
The impossibilitg of any immedi
ate results from this election is Que of
The infelicities Of our form Of govern
nent. There can be no change in the
executive substantially which will af
ford any relief to the country until
the meeting Of Congress in 1885, un-
less the President does what every
President has been very unwilling to
do, except 10 great emergencies-call
an extra session in May of that year.
In the meantime, no relief can be
expected from Congress, because the
Congress which has been chosen this
year will not meet until the last month
Of 1883. aud the appropriation
bills passed BY that Congress
will not take effect until July, 1884.
Nothing can be hoped for from the
next Congress, as l have heretofore
mentioned, for want Of time, because
there will be scarcely more than sixty
working days of that Congress, and
experience has showd that such out
going Congress rarely does more than
pass the necessary appropriation bills
to keep the wheels OF government
moving"
rs it probable, in your opinion, that
the Internal revenue taxes will be
reduced?"
There may be an attempt to get
Of the internal revenue taxation in
whole or in part. 1t will be natural
for the leaders Of the RepublicanIarty
IN the House to do that so that the
credit Of sff0rding so great a relief Of
50 many millions to tho people should
not be obtained by the incoming Dem
ocratic Congress, and it is possible that
the Democratic members Of the pres
ent Congress may oppose that action
BY this Congress in order that their
coming Congress may have the credit
Of il. At any rate | do not look to
see it done, as the proposition OF the
Chairman Of the House Committee on
Ways and Means Of the last Congress
was TO cut off a few millions only from
the internal revenue. II this great
drain upon the business resources Of
the country shall be continued for
long years-and | see but little hope
thatit will not be-a single short crop
in a year would bring financial ruin
and disaster lsuch as this country
has never seen. | have SAID there is
no intention of revising the tariff.
and as a manufacturer pretty largely
concerned in wooden, copper and
stone manufacturer quite as largely
as any nan in our State Of my means,
| am quite willing TO say, as | put in
my letter Of acceptance OF the nomi.
nation, and have said many times
during the campaign 70 our people,
that theoretically free trade, were
il possible, would be the best for all. -
What do You think Of the chances
Of electing a Democratic President r.
You have heretofore been asking
my views upon administrative, fnan.
ciAl aud business questions about
which | know something; but | am
not a prophet, or the son Of a prophet,
and ought not to be called upon 10
prophecy"
" hat can the Democrats do to be
successful o.
Garry out the principles Of Jefer
son and Jackson in enacting proper
laws whenever they have On opportu-
nifty adopt a j%udicious tariff, striking
of every surplus, exceptional and
questionable expenditure; bring down
every kind Of taxation TO the lowest
possible point consistent with deiray-
ing the most economical expenditure
OF public money takei in hand the mo-
nopOlies which are raising the price
Of provisions ard other necessaries OF
life; bring back, in this time:of peace,
the action of the Federal government
within ths narr0West limits possible
tor its Efficiency leave all local ques-
tons Of government 10 the several
States, and show by their moderation
economy and craftsmanship that they