The National tribune., 1882-09-28
try has need of men with fixed principles
and settled convictions
Let tbe Taxes Alone.


1t is already evident that the question of
a reduction in the internal revenue taxes is
going to be one of the Leading questions in
the next Congress, if not during the ensuing
session of the present Congress. THE TRIB-
UNE, as our readers know, has always taken
the position that there is, at present at least,
10 necessity for any material modification
in our revenue laws as they now exist. The
tax levied upon tobacco and whisky, from
which articles our revenue is principally
derived is neither burdensome nor excessive.
Neither whisky nor tobacco can be reckoned
as a necessary Of life, and the tax is, there
fore, levied not upon the needs of the public,
but upon its follies and appetites. AS for
the tax upon patent medicines, the only
persons who desire it's repeal are the manu-
lacturers themselves, and even they admit
that should it be removed they will not
reduce the price of their medicines to con-
sumers. Indeed, they could not very well
do so without disturbing the whole con-
duct Of their business As rule, patent
medicines are sold at retail for round
PRICES cents, so cents, rs cents, and 81
and the removal of the one cent, two cent,
three cent, or four cents tax levied in the
shape Of an internal revenue stamp, while it
would put money into the hands of the
manufacturers, would not induce them to
put the price at one, two, three, or four cents
less per article to the consumer.
We cannot understand how any sensible
man, whether in public life or not, can adyo-
cate the repeal of taxes which clearly are
not oppressive, which are easily collected,
and which contribute so largely to the finan-
cial prosperity of the Government. 1t is
true, the collection Of our internal revenue
taxes requires the employment of a large
force of Office holders, and we can readily
see that the Democrats would profit
largely by the overthrow of our whole in
ANlIStl ISfSlluS Stili - NIIOiSSiiS NtE-
charge of these officers. This, however, is
not question of politics, and except that it
would benefit the Democratic party, we do
not see that there is any reason why anyone
should advocate the repeal. AS far as the
interests of our ex-soldiers are concerned, we
are very sure that the effect of such a repeal
would be disastrous. The cry of an empty
Treasury" has hitherto been the principal
obstacle to the payment by this Government
of the debts ii owes our veterans, and their
enemies would be only too glad to have
another excuse for opposing pension legisla-
tiOn. This country is in more prosperous
condition now than it has ever been in its
history. We are growing rich surely and
rapidly. The Treasury overlows with
money. Only last Saturday the Secretary
of the Treasury issued a call for S25, 100000
of unexpired bonds, thus anticipating the
payment to the bondholders of what the
Government owes them. Why should it not
treat the soldier with equal consideration?
His claims are as much entitled to be re-
garded as preferred as the bondholders', and
we demand that before one cent of taxes is
taken off from those who are perfectly able
to pay them that the Government shall set
tie in full and forever with the men who
saved the Union