The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-05
Reducing the Revenue.


country by revision OF the tariff, the
related question should be raised as to
whether those very interests do or do not
REQUIRE that there should be a large reduc-
ton made in The revenues OF the Govern
ment, and therefore a revision OF the tariil.
The note to which we refer is subioined:
10 the Editor Of the Dispatch;
Dear Sir,--In view OF the fact that our
national taxing systems produced last year
n SURPLUS revenue OF over l45,OOO,OOO,
and that the tariff and tax bill passed by
the last Congress will probably not reduce
This Surplus more than S70,000,0O0. will
there not still be demand for further
reduction ~ national taxes when the Forty
eighth Congress conyenesy How can this
reduction be made without a revision OF
the tariff! 1t is true that any legislation
IN record 10 the tariff has a tendency to
unscttle certain businesses, but this Is rot
sufficient reason for still continuing an I'M
necessary burden upon the people. The
peoples interests are above personal inter-
estS. WEST NIRGINIAN.
/. There viii probably be made next
winter demand for further reduction OF
taxes; but we, and those who agree with
Us, as do, we think. majority OF the peo-
pie OF Virginia, and OF the United States,
hold that the best possible way OF reducing
the revenues Of the Federal Government
will be the entire abolition Of the internal
revenue system. This system was totally
unknown before the war. 1t is contrary to
the genius OF our institutions, repulsive TO
or people, a standing menace to fair clec-
lions and impartial courts and jul
rics, terror to the ignorant, bur
then 10 the tobacco interests, and an
a5omination TO all intelligent freemen.
Il pOpuiates the mountains with spies
and iniormors, encourages corruption in
Office. dchases the civil service, and affords
unscrupulJLs and unprinciplcd partiSans
an opportunity 10 Ierpetuatc in office a
party which was born Of the passions OF
war and is unfit TO live at this day. 1t sta
fions elcctioneerersl IN every portion OF every
State, and pays them ont OF the treasury of
the United States for doing the work OF
that same belated party. 1t keeps up
war between the North and the |
South by arrestng, imprisoning, ana
for faithfully discharging their duties |
under the laws OF their several States. 1t /
has not one single redeeming feature. On |
the contrary. the entire department ought |
TO be swept from the face Of the earth at |
the earliest possible moment. III all inter-
nal taxes be abolished, the receipts OF the
Government will 10y that act be so greatly !
reduced that there will be little or no sur
plus revenue collected thereafter. We
offered ten years ago to support pro-
tectlye tariff of any reasonable merits If
Mr.. KELLEY, Of PENNSYLVANIA, the leader
of the protectionists in the House Of Rep
resentatiyes, would only do away with all ,
internal taxes. BY the way, he has more
than once declared himself in favor Of this
policy, but has always permitted his party
friends in Congress to oyerrule his wise
intention.
,. Ii what we have said be admitted,
there Is no necessity to argue the question
further. But we would remind our CORE
spondent that the United States Senate and
the President Of the United States are both
opposed to any further revision Of the tariff
in the interests of the -protectionists,
and would render abortlve the utmost
efforts o, the Democrats OF the House OF
Representatives in that direction. And
there is nothing else which would so iniure
the Democratic party in 1884 rs the cry
from every stump that but for the breaks
put upon the Democrats in Congress
by the Republicans the whole coun-
try would have been thrown open TO
foreign competition in every branch
OF manufactures, thousands OF workmen
thrown out Of employment. and all the
business-interests Of the country irrepara-
bly, damaged. No explanations would |
avail. The Democrats might protest that |
no such results would have followed their |
legislation if it had been successful, Just |
as the Codlitionists in Virginia now day |
after day try TO explain away their late de- |
feat. but il would all be 10 no purpose. |
In 1880 we lost Indiana as a consequence |
Of having inserted in the National Dem |
ocra,ic platform the words, "a tariff |
for revenue only" The Democratic |
tulUlOlO3 VI GSlsDuSN- |
ments in that State were made to be-
lieve that the election OF HANCOCK would
bring ruin and destruction upon them.
The State was flooded with tariff docll-
ments. crowded with the best and ablest
OF protectionist stump-speakers, and car
ried in October by the Republicans. 1t
was too late for the Democrats to rally
their forces for the November election,
though they in vain essayed to do So
General HANCOCK wrote letter declaring
the tariff to be local ISSUE but it fell still
born. The battle had been decided. An
unsuccessful attempt next winter TO re-
duce the tarifi would leave the Democratic
party in much worse plight in 1884 than il
was In 1850. We cannot but hope that the
Democrats viii be too wise to sacrifice
their party in an effort to do what they
know beforehand their opponents will not
allow them 10 do.
3. But our knowledge Of the men who
will constitute the next House Of Repre-
sentatiyes induces us TO believe that that
body will not engage in any Quixotc legis-
lation. Some changes in the existing tariff
viii be almost unavoidable; but none will
be made which will justify partisan opposi-
ton. Certain mghly-obie features
may be remoyed--ieatures which even Mr..
KELLEY would not dare to apologize for
but there will, we suppose, be no such
general revision OF the tariff as would
please the Republicans-tba is, such a re-
vision as would supply them capital for the
tnro.iIor,finl