The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-12-06
Our Surplus Revenue.

NOTEWORTHY LETTER FROM HON. JAMES q.
BLAINE. HE ADVOCATES THE DISTRIBC-
TION OF THE REVENUE DERIVED FROM THE
TAN OF SPIRITS AMONG TIE VARIOUS
STATES.
Augusta. Me-, Nov. 22d, 1883.
Charles Emery Smith. Esq, Editor Press
Philadelphia:
My Dear Sir.-l have your note inquiringif
would be willing to give. i'll the more authentic
form OF letter over my own signature certain
views which expressed in conversation sex
eral weeks since. touching ar important tinan-
some observations made to one of your assist
ant editors i'll regard 10 the proposition OF the
Republican state convention of Pern>y lvania
for 1.-THE distribution Of the surplus revenue of
the national Treasury among the States"
understand You TO refer st i'll more particularly
to Il suggestion of my own a. substitute for
the Pennsy lyania proposition. 10 which thought
| saw fatal objections. | have no reason for
Withholding my views, and admit the wisdom
of your suggestion that would better state
them myself than to have them possibly mis-
stated BY others. The proposition of the Penn
sytNania Republican convention is TO distribute
"amon@ he States any surplus in The national
Treasury that may arise from Il redundant rev
enue. The first objection which see 10 this
proposition Is the utter uncertainty Of the
amount OF "redumdant revenue"
1t may be one million or il may be Ont hum
bred millions. The amount, spending IL il
docs on 80 many coming, ncic>. cannot be de-
termned III advance with even approx innate
eNactnc>s, and the States could not, therefore.
depend upon a steady resource. Unless steady
it would not bring relief. because it would not
enable the States TO dispense with any part Of
their own systems of taxation. An occasional
gift from The national Treasury would not be
valuable That was proved by the distribution
Of the revenue under the ari of 1886, III The
Presidency Of General jackson. II lid no
good Ii was frttered away in ALI tho states.
HERE, IN MAINE.
they made an absolute per capita distribution
of il among the entire population, a trtmg
sum To each. That, of course. threw contempt
upon the whole measure. There is Il second
objection to the pcnnSl yania proposition
which, ia my Judgment, l. still more serious. Ii
you simply resolve to distribute the "reduHdant
national revenue among the States, You impose
on senators and representatives Il divided i'll
tcre>t. which would bc embarrassing and b urt-
fu. For the benefit OF their States. especially
OF those States that might be in pressing need
Of money, senators and representative would
desire the 'rrdundant revenue to be a. large
a possible. Ihi> would present q constant
temptation 10 withhold appropriations from
objects OF a really national character. 1t would
De Unfair TO senators ana representatives 10 lHV
upon them and before them obligations and
motives which would constantly tend 10 turn
them from the straight path of duty to the
national government You cannot have the
national government and the state government
Joint owners in the >.tnlr treasury without
mi>ehievous conflict. such a partnership j. at
war with the Weil-bcimg Of both State and