The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1884-08-14
The Democracy and the Tariff

| ne declaration on the tariff. as
made IN its platform of principles by
the Democratic Convention, voices
clearly and forcibly the conviction Of
the Democracy, the historic and ONLY
party of a constitutional revenue
I tariff
''lhat change is necessary is
proven by an existing surplus of
more than $I00,O0O,000, which has
yearly been collected from suffer
ing people. Unnecessary taxation is
unjust taxation. We denounce the
Republican party for having failed
t" relieve the people from crushing
war taxes, which have paralyzed bus
mess industry and deprived labor of
employment of just reward.
The Democracy pledges itself to
purify the administration from cor
ruption, to restore economy, to re.
vive respect for law, and to reduce
taxation to the lowest limit consist
ent with due regard to the preser-
walton of the faith of the nation to
creditors and pensioners. Knowing
tull well, however, that legislation
affecting the occupations of the
people should be cautious and con-
servative In methods, not in advance
of public opinion, but responsive to
demands, the Democratic party is
pledged to revise the tariff in a spirit
OF fairness to all interests. But in
making reduction in taxes it is not
proposed to injure any domestic in
tries, but rather to promote their
healthy growth. From the founda-
ton of the Government taxes collect
ed at the custom.houSe have been
the chef source of Federal revenue.
Such they must continue. Moreover,
many industries have come 10 rely
upon legislation for successful con
FINANCE, so that any change of law
must be every step Iegardful of the
labor and capital thus involved. The
process of reform must be subject in
the execution to the plain dictates of
justice.
"Ail taxation shall be limited to
the requirements of an economical
Government. The necessary reduc-
ton in taxation eau and must be
effected without depriying American
labor OF the ability to compete sue
cessfully with foreign labor and
without imposing lower rates of duty
than will be ample to cover the ill.,
creased cost of producing which may
exist in consequence of the high rate
of wages prevailing in this country.
Sufficient revenue to pay all the
expenses Of the Federal Government
economically administered, including
pensions and the interest and princi-
/
pal of the public debt, can be got
under our present system Of taxation
from the custom-house taxes on few
Ell imported articles, bearing heavi-
est on articles of luxury, and bearing
lightest on articles of necessity
GIVE therefore denounco the
abuses of the existing tariff and sub
iect to the preceding limitations. We
demand that Federal taxation shall
be exclusively for public purposes,
and shall not exceed the needs of the
Government, economically admins
tered. The system of direct taxa
ton, known as the Internal Reve
nue., is a war tax, and so long as the
law continues the money derived
therefrom should be sacredly devoted
to the relief of the people from the
remaining burdens Of the war, and
be made Il fund to defray the ex-
penses and care and comfort of
worthy soldiers disabled in the line
of duty in the wars of the republic,
and for the payment of such pen
siona as Congress may, from time to
time, grant to such soldiers; like
fund for the sailors having been
already provided, and any surplus
should be paid into the treasury.
A revision of the tariff in accord
ance with these resolutions will be
entirely satisfactory to the most
earnest revenue refoimers q revis-
ion on any other plan is not desira-
ole nor practicable.
Excited Thousands.
All over the rand are going into