Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-02-23

The other excuse, viz That the repeal Of
the whisky and tobacco tar will afford q
reason or pretext for increasing tariff du-
ties, is In the nature Of boomerang a. TO
free-trade For they are daily clamoring
with one voice. and a very loud one at
that, against the surplus Of revenue which
is being annually raised by the govern
ment and demanding its reduction. The
reduction they demand is just about the
amount collected on these articles So,
that II lie taken Oh, the reduction they
call for would be effected almost to dol
lar, without leaving the slightest occasion
or pretext for increasing tariff duties. But
even II the repeal Of these taxes should
produce a deficit in the needed revenue, IL
does not follow that such deficit must be
supplied by an increase Of tariff duties II
is we'll known fact that many Of the du.
ties under the present tariff law are 40 high
az 10 be prohibiive or partially 80. This
was bitterly complaped Of by the demo.
Gratis IN their platform Of 1876. II is self.
evident that in all such cases reduction
Of the duties would increase the importa-
tons and thereby increase the revenue So
il is plain that the deficit suggested, II
there should be any. could be made up by
reducing tariff taxation and thus tighten
ing the burdens Of the people.
But when the disciples Of Golden a,e
asked TO do 90 plain an act Of Justice as
this-an act which can be done without
the least interference with the cause Of
free. trade, and one by the doing Of which
they would obtain the reduction Of reve.
nue. they 90 earnestly snd persistently pray
for, they emphatically and angrily re.
fuse to do it. And these, he II remember.
ed, are the pretended champions Of agri
cultural interes,s-the friends and the on.
ly true friends, as they claim. to the tillers
Of the soil, and the special guardians OF
the rights Of the farmers Of the South and
West, where these rnoducis are chiefly
made.
The system Of internal taxation is, and
always was hateful to the American PEG.
pie. Ii has been seldom resorted to since
the organization Of the government, and
never except in ca'es Of great emergency.
Mr.. Jefferson, the father Of democracy,
pronounced it an "infnndp system. As il
now exists il is extremely unjust and OPP
pressive as we'll as unequal and sectional
in its operation. IL would be difficult TO |
frame legislation that would be more 90.
To illustrate this let US consider for 4 mo-
ment how il effects the States Of Msssa-
chusetts and Kentucky, comparatively.
The total value Of the taxable property Of
Massachusetts, IL times that Of Kentucky,
and yet Kentucky pays more internal rev.
enue than Massachusetts, and all the other
New England States combined, besides
paying her full proportion Of the taxes on
imports.
1t does seem to plain, unseieatifc man
that IL ever there was or could be case
in which those who are 40 wickedly severe
in their denunciation Of the iniquity Of
taxing one portion Of our citizens for the
benefit Of another and 30 thrillingy elo-
luent in their appeals for equality Of bur-
lens, could creditably practice what they
preach, this matter Of internal revenue is
inch case. How men intoxicating their
doctrines can consistently refuse TO apply
he right remedy to this stupendous inius-
ice a Cobdenie may understand, but an
ordinary United States man can't J. b.
Stanford. February. 1888