Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-04-01
NEW YORK JOURNALS ON THE
TARIFF QUESTION

AOOinC Va tic NV 1Ohh JUL Aaio
are pouring hot shot into our Re-
publican Congress fer its wilfull
failure to deal honestly and fairly
with the tariff question and the
oppressive taxation by which enor-
nous sums are forced every year
from the people which are not re-
quired to carry on the Government.
1t is a crying evil and should be
remedied. The Sun says:
The Republican majority in Con-
gress appear 10 have firmly resolved
that the taxes of the people shall
not be deminished. Though far in
excess of the actual necessities of
the Government, they are TO be
maintained at the same eXoTbitant
figures.
The millions to be drawn from
the people are TO be applied TO enOr
nous projects. Thus the 0pportu-
mites of public plumber are to sur
pass all previous experience, and
the days of Tweedism and Grantism
are TO be put in the shade.
But perhaps the I.eople will have
something 10 say to this vast pro
gramme of plumber when their turn
comes in the year 1884.
The Herald says: Now that the
Republicans have consented to de-
bate the tariff commission bill
the Herald desires to call the atten.
ton Of Congressman and OF the
country to the real question at issue
in revenue matters. This question
has been industriOuSly befogged by
the opponents of reform in the two
houses. 1t is important that it
should be brought back into day
light in the coming debate.
1t is not question of free trade
or protection at all; it is question
of cutting down needless and OPP
pressive taxation by which the peO-
pie are robbed
When a people have contributed
out of their earnings the sum needed
for the support OF their government
and for the payment of just and
due obligations they have contrib
uted all that can rightly be required
Of them. If their rulers force them
to pay more that is nothing but an
{
eminent such surplus tax levy
NAV create revolution. In Il free
and representative government like
our own the people thus robbed by
an act of their representatives
avenge themselves at the succeed
ing elections. In the present case the
people will have opportunity next
November to punish those repre-
sentativeS who shall prove false TO
their trust.
Congress was made aware, three
months and half ago, by the Presi
dent in his message, and by the
Secretary of the Treasury i'm his
report, that the taxes forced from
the people under existing laws had
for some time past been greatly in
excess of all the needs OF the Gov
eminent, and that this eXtOrtiOu of
money not required and for which
there is no honest use, still contin-
ued. These high executive officers,
faithful to their duty, both urged
such changes and reforms in the
rever ue laws as should remedy this
gross abuse OF collecting from the
people more than is needed by their
Government. The President and
Secretary would have failed of one
of their most important duties had
they omitted to call attention to the
fact that $3.50, 100000 per annum-
50 per head for every man, woman
and child in the country, SO from
every man who has TO support a
wife and three children by his labor
is wrung from the people need
le5sly, and therefore unjUstly.
1t was the highest, the most ur-
gent duty of Congress, when, early
in December, it read these official
reports, to instantly proceed to rem
edy this mOnStrOuS wrong. To
force money from the people not
required by the Government is
more indecent and ineXcusable rob-
berry than the levy of an invading
and cOnquering army. 1t is worse
because it is done under cover of
law and because the people elect
men TO Congress TO repeal bad laws
and to remedy their grievances.
What has the Republican majority
done since Congress met to relieve
the people of this oppressive and
tyrannical eXactiOn? What has it
planned or achieved To save one
hundred and fifty millions to the
taxpayers now forced from them in
defiance of right though under the
operation OF laws?
Nothing. On the contrary, the
Republicans have deliberately ma
tured plan which has for its sole
and confessed object to continue this
robbery OF the people for at least two
years longer.