The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-08-31
The Public Revenue.

There are two sources from which the
government derives the revenue required to
pay the interest on the public debt, the PEN
sions of disabled soldiers. and the ordinary
expenditures requisite to the administration
Of national affairs. These are duties on inn
ports, or the tariff, and the internal revenue
system, or the tax on whisky and tobacco.
If we abolish the latter, as Is proposed by
Sam. Randall and the Pennsylvania demo-
Gratis, we a. once diminish the public reve-
nue. by the sum of S100.000,000 annually.
1t is altogether probable that the democrats
will make an effort 10 repeal this tax, at the
next session of congress. 1t will be in
weighed against as unjust, unequal and bur
densome, and especially in the South, where
illicit distilleries flourish, and any system of
taxation for the support of the general gov
eminent is regarded as little better than rob-
berry, where revenue officers are mobbed and
murdered, there will be a prolonged cry for
free whisky and tobacco. This tax is, no
doubt, burdensome, bat the burden falls only
on those who use these two needless, and
worse than useless, Injuries. 1t may also be
regarded-and perhaps justly-by our dem
ocratic friends, as unequal, especially the tax
on whisky, which, although republican lux
ury, may truthfully be termed democratic
necessity. Doubtless the democratic party
pays more than pro rata portion of this
tax, but ii Is because il consumes more of
the whisky. While the democratic party
would, if it had the power, overthrow the in
ternal revenue system, free traders would
abolish duties on imports, and thus leave the
government absolutely without any income
whatever. Could these two schemes be car
ried to a successful issue, there would be but
one other resort, direct taxation. This would
bring the National tax-gatherer to every
mans door, and require the payment into
the treasury of the general government, of a
greater sum than is now required to pay all
state, county, and local taxes. This would
prove a burden beside which the burden of
the present system is too insignificant to
merit a moments consideration. The re-
publican party, although ready at all times
10 remedy existing defects, if any such there
be, will neither repeal the internal revenue
system, nor abolish the duties on imports,
but will maintain both in full force and
vigoT. And while collecting its annual hun
dred millions of dollars from the two most
worthless articles ever manufactured by man,
will, also, by its tariff, compel foreign ma
tions to pay for the privilege of marketing
their goods in this country, and, at the same
time, build up, protect, and strengthen our
OWL Industries, ana LnuS dQu 10 the wealth.,
happiness and prosperity of our people.
Its past financial record is complete
guaranty of its future success III the man
agement of our National finances. Starting,
as it did, at the close of the war. with pub
lie debt of nearly S30O0,000,000, it has not
only carried on the government during all
the years that have since elapsed, without
increasing the debt, but it has promptly met
all national obligations, paid accruing in
terest, and reduced the principal nearly one
half. At the same time it has steadily less
ened the burdens of taxation, and has reduced
the annual interest charge nearly 100000
OO0. 1t has refunded a large part of the
debt at rate of interest only one-half as
great as it originally bore, and brought up
the credit of the nation, until it has no equal
on earth, in that respect. Greenbackers, a
few years ago, were wont TO cite the example
OF France as worthy to be followed by us,
and to contrast French finances with our
own. Yet France has to-day public debt
of Sf,OO0,0O0,O00 and the amount is steadily
increasing, and threatens the very existence
of the French republic.
The American ipeople will be 10th TO en-
trust the government of this country to any
party which advertises to overthrow our
present satisfactory and successful financial
system, merely TO enable such party to ma
terialize its financial vagaries, or to expert
ment with untried and visionary plans and
policies.