The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-03
rhe rnternal-Reyenue system.


The Pennsylvania Democrats have array
cd themselves side by side with the V'r-
pinia Democrats In demanding the total
abolition OF the internal-revenuc system.
The Dispatch has for years advocated the
repcal Of all internal taxes. More than ten
wears ago it, founder declared through his
naper his willingness TO favor any reason
ably-high protective tariff as considera-
ton for relief from the intoleratle vexa-
lions. inconvenience, and burthens OF the
internal-revenue department.
We trust that the good example set by
the Democrats OF the two great states OF
PENNSYLVANIA and Virginia will beiol'owed
in every State OF the Union, so that when
the Democratic National Convention shall
meet next wear, IL will know that the pco-
plc everywhere demand the extirpation OF
Ills cancer. On the 9th OF June last, we
described the inlerna-revenue department
as II appears to us OF the South in the fol-
lowing words:
at Is contrary to the genius OF our in
stitutions. repulsiye TO our people, stand
ing menace to far elections and impartial
courts and iuries. terror TO the ignorant,
a burthen TO the tobacco interests, and an
abomination to all intelligent freemen.
u populatcs the mountains with spies and
iniormers. encourages corruption in office,
debases the civil service, and affords UNI
scrupulous and unprinciplcd partisans an
opportunity 10 perpetratc in office party
which WAS born OF The passions OF war and
Is unfit 10 live at this day. ltsfations eiec-
tionecrers in every portion OF every state,
and paws them out OF the Treasury OF the
United States for doing the work OF that
same belated party. II keeps up war be-
tween the North and the South by arrest
ing, imprisoning, and prosecuting south
ern election officers for faithfully dir
charging their duties under the laws OF
their several States. II has rot 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"
The Virginia Democratic State Conyen-
ton condensed the above charges into the
few words following:
ave favor the unconditional and imme-
date abolition Of the internal-reyenue sys-
tcm-a nursery Of spies and inforlhers; Il
menace 10 the freedom OF elections; an In
tolerable burden on the taxpayers; a
source of the greatest corruption; and in
its practical operation special burden Oh
this State and her interests"
The Republican party desire TO perpetu-
ate this system, and will, we doubt not,
declare next year through their National
Convention in favor Of keeping up the in
ternal-revenue department., which has at
least twice enabled the Republicans to seat
Presidents of the United States. The Re- |
publicans will ground their advocacy OF
the continuance of the internal taxes upon |
the fact that whiskey and tobacco are
luxuries. The spies and informers are |
their spies and informers, and do their |
work. The elections they do not desire to |
be free from that sort OF control. The cor
ruption is OF a sort that results to the ben
eft of the Republican party. Why should
that party advocate or desire the destruc-
tion OF a department which has perpetu-
ated their power for at least eight years
longer than the untrammelled voters OF
the country were willing for them to con-
troll the Government!
Now, Theses same Republicans OF the
United States are represented in Virginia |
by the MALONE Republicans or Coalition |
lists. VIII these latter go before the people !
OF Virginia next year upon the national
Republican platform? II so, they will be
repudiated by those people. Some OF them
profess to regard the Democratic platform
adopted in Lynchburg as having been
stolen from them. Very well. Let them
speak out on this question. Was this
plank stolen from them? Let them tell the
voters in the year 1883 whether or not they |
will next year support for President OF
the United States Republican nominee
pledged to perpetuate the internal-revenue
system.