National Republican., 1882-11-30
The Internal Taxcs.


the reduction of taxation, and they have
met with an appreciation by the press
generally which we hardly expected.
The newspapers by preponderating ma
jority are in favor of retaining the tax
on whisky, though for different reasons.
Some would have it retained for the same
reason given by us, because without il
there will not be sufficient revenue To
meet the necessary expenses of the gov
ernment. Some would have it retained
in order to avoid an increase of tariff
duties, thus enlisting the free-trade ele-
ment against the proposition of Mr.
Kelley to wipe out entirely the pres
ent internal-revenue system. Some
assume that whisky is pure luxury
and every man can easily escape the tax
by declining to use it, and hence this
form of taxation is entirely voluntary
and free from the charge of being oppres-
sive. Some of the more pronounced moral
and religious newspapers, and especially
the Post, are alarmed at the prospective
disasters to ensue from "free rum" and
place their opposition on such exalted
ground as cannot fail of making power.
ful impression on the public mind. We
are specially jubilant over the elevated
attitude of our neighbor because of its
large circulation among that class of our fell
low citizens whose preiudices are ratherin
another direction, and whose reading Of
the religious journals is apt to be desul.
tory and superficial. It's well that they
should be reasoned with by one holding
their confidence and fully awake to the
evil which would overtake them were
the government to remove its moral in
fiuence against the rum trade and thus
widen the sluice-ways ofan appalling
Such concurrence of weighty consid
erations is rarely found in favor of any
special measure, and should the Presi
dent give his official recommendation in
favor of the retention of the tax this
portion of the revenue question will be
practically settled.
On the matter of tobacco there is moi
so much unanimity, and there are many
who incline to keep tax on that article
at q lower rate, reducing the tax or
whisky to avoid the collection of a sur
plus revenue. The reasons for this course
in our judgment, are destitute of strength
and far from convincing The great
moral argument of the Post on rum does
not apply here, and to 60 into con
test shorn of its preponderating power
may be to tempt defeat and overthrow
upon the whole measure of reduction
Tobacco may not always be harmless ant
may be luxury, but in general esteem
it is so near a necessity, or at least 9
solace to tn poor, that proper Difference
to the wishes and interests of SO large 6
majority of our voting population is de
manded.
We must reduce somewhere. To keeI
up part of the tax on tobacco will
necessitate reduction on whisky, anc
this will lose us the influence of oul
contemporary, and tend to the widenin.
of the sluiceways of evil. Another OBJ
lection equally good, though not al
weighty, is, that without getting any
more money and with doing less good
we shall be at much greater expense ant
cause double the annoyance to tn,
people. The required amount of interna
revenue being secured, simplicity anC
cheapness in collection become the mex
considerations after the moral motive.
cease to act. The number of small manu-
facturers and dealers in cigars is so grea
that the cost of examination and inspec
ton is large, and the annoyance t
men engaged in an humble way il
an unquestioned honest calling is {
thing to be avoided. The presence
of the government in the form of ex
aminers and tax-gatherers, and some
times of spies and detectives, is agains
the spirit of our institutions, and neve
justifable under any plea but necessity
In this case there can be no such plea
for the necessity is so clearly lacking tina
it is proposed to supply it by actually re
ducing the tax on conceded luxury.
Let us away, then, with all interna
taxes save that on liquors, and avoi
thereby all serious disagreements whicl
can endanger reduction and the goot
sense of the country will assuredly in
dorse Congressional action, and ther
will be no need of disturbing the pros
porous business interests of the com
munity.
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