The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-31
The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES system.

The Internal Revenue System.
A late issue Of the New York Journal Of
Commerce contains an article on the
" Power OF the Oflce-Holdcrs," which
presents some facts especially pertinent to
the canvass in Virginia, and to which our
people cannot give too careful considera-
ton. After calling attention to the hope
az the stalwarts "tc rcc'ect their Presi-
dent by the aid Of this powerful machine
ry.v our contemporary says:
This is the stronghold 81 the present In
ternaI-revenue system. Were IL not for
the political strength to be gained or kept
through these ten thousand ofice-holders
the entire tax would be abolished by the
consent OF all parties. The cry Of free
whiskey and cheap tobacco, as n means OF
debauching the people. Is mere pretence
to hide the real issue.
The effect [of the abolition Of the system]
would be like proclamation OF peace after
q long and wasting war. Everybody would
breathe more freely. and the sense OF relief
would be universal and exhilarating. II
is said that the people have been accus-
toned 10 this Government inspection ana
oversight so long that they do moi shrink
from IL. This is very wide OF the truth.
They have. indeed, become familiar with
the obtrusiveness OF officials watching them
at every turn, but they are as unreconciled
to it as on the day il was first established.
The Journal of Commerce then proceeds
to argue that the system has most blight
ing effect on public morals, as demon
strated in the widely prevalent idea that
evasion OF the law involves no loss OF repu-
taton and carries with it no sense OF
shame. IL also boldly proclaims that as long
rs this excise system is continued the foot
OF the Government is on the recks OF the
people, and adds:
II certainly seems to us that II the public
sentiment we know 10 exist in respect to
the interual-reveuue system were once to
find open expression our legislators would
not dare TO disregard it. Ia any form in
which il can be presented or maintained
excise is unsulted to n free, self-g0verning
people. IL is in its very nature offensive
and irritating. II is n spy upon every
household, il demands the right TO inspect
y
drayload OF produce and merchandise, it
brands and stamps, and measures and
gauges, and levies at every turn OF buyer
and seller. Ii puts its nose into every
body's business, and lays its official hand
upon all the departments OF trade and
commerce. IL was bad enough in war,
when all men expected TO be somewhat
restrained OF their liberty, but in peace it
=. nd nttorlu infnlorahln
There can be no real peace until it is wiped
out so thoroughly as to leave no trace Of its
baneful existence"
In no State in the Union have the essen
tlsl points set forth in the above quotations
been more clearly proved by experience
than in Virginia. Ia the southwestern
portion of the State particularly the people
have for years been under most CALLING
surveillance, the strictness and odi0usness
of which have been invariably intensified
on the eve of an election. Through the
powerful machinery Of the revenue system
as administered by its spies and informers
many 4 voter has been forced either not to
vote at all or blackmailed into allying himself
with party which in his heart he detested.
To-day in that section Of Virginia the in
ternai-revenue strikers are counted among
the most formidable allies OF the Coali-
tionists. And why? Not because their num-
bers count for much, but because OF their
power to drag a man from his family before
q Federal commissioner on trumped-up
charge. They are for the Coalitionsts be-
cause the Coalitionsts are for ARTHUR and
ARTHUR is for them and a continuance Of
their power to plumber the Government
and backmail the people. Virginia is Vi
tally interested in emphasizing the declara-
ton of the Journal Of Commerce that the
revenue thieves must go, and let her see
20 it that she does so on the 9Th OF No
yember.