Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-31
HENDRICKS BROADSIDES.
MORE HOT SHOT POURED INTO
THE REPUBLICAN RANKS.


Millions Kept in the Treasury Which
Should Be in the Pockets of Wage
WOrkers-Other Incidents of the Cam
paign.
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 3O.-The cam
paign in this State was formally opened
by both parties to-day, and hundred
speeches were delivered in cities and
towns in various parts of Indiana. In
this city the Republicans did not hold a
meeting. The Democrats had a large
street demonstration, many uniformed
clubs, carrying torches and Transparent
cies, participating. Speeches were made
from a stand in the circle, where ex-Gov.
Hendricks addressed an audience num-
bering several thousand persons. Gov.
Hendricks said:
FeLI0ao Citizens: appreciate the privilege
and honor of addressing you. and recognize
cealment or eXaggeratiOn OF any material fact
or opinion. May first ask your attention to
the necessity and Importance of revenue re-
form. The power to levy and collect taxes is
among the highest and most responsible attri-
butes Of the government. 1t ranks with the
right and faculty of taking private property
for public use. and with the right and power
Of transferring citizen from the pursuits of
private life to the duties and hazards Of war.
1t takes from man that which is his and APP
prOpriates it to public use. 1t seizes upon the
earnings of labor as well as upon the accumu-
latlons OF capital. To every man the inquiry
is of personal concern, and the answer rs of
public consequence. How far may the gov
ernment go in the exercise OF the power to
tax people? Freely and cheerfully we all an
swer that there shall be no limitation or re-
straint upon the absolute and entire maInten-
ance of the public authority with all of its
faculties and functions unimpaired. What
f.uHNn 4 1af
right should do, the tax payers win furnish it
the means to accomplish.
THIS THE LIMIT.
Beyond this is the province of private right,
to invade which is usurpation. The govern
ment, economically administered, shall be
shops and stores willing that any other rule
should be adopted? May they take your
money for uses not authorized by the cOnsti-
tuition or not for the public welfare, or that it
NAV be piled up in vaults to tempt the greed
Of the INSCRIPTIONS? When war came taxa
tion was necessarily and rightfully increased.
Large revenues were needed to supply and
maintain great armies, but with the end Of
the war and the expenditures consequent up
on it, there passed away the necessity for the
war standard of taxation. Why then has
such standard continued? The party that
has held almost unbrOken power for nineteen
years in peace must answer that question. In
his message for Dec. 4. 1882, President Arthur
admOnished Congress that at a prior session
he had urged upon its attention 1.-The import
ance of relieving Industries and enterprises
from unnecessary taxation"
MORE OF ARTHUR's VIEWS.
In the same message he said that the people
have been in substantial accord in the doc
trine ''that only such taxes should be levied
as are necessary for wise nd economical
administration OF the COVER nment." The
President continued: ''Of late the public
revenues have far exceeded that limit, ,sand
unless checked by appropriate legislation
such excess Will continue to increase from
year to year" For the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1881, the surplus revenue amounted
to 100000 600. For the fiscal year ended June
30. last year, the surplus was more than s145,-
O. 60. What's ay you,my ycOUntrymen-d.dthl 1t
showing not cali for revenue reform? During
that Congress the House was made positively
Republican, largely by partisan action. Not
much heed was given by 1t to the startling
statement made by the President of the enOr-
nous excess in the revenue. The mOdihca-
tiOn of the internal system and of the tariff
made on the March following left an excess
Of SS5, 100000 of revenue. In his last annual
report Dec. 8 last the Secretary Of the Treas
ury estimated the surplus Of the current year
at SS5, ,O00, 600, and adds: $50 the question still
presses, what legislation is necessary to re-
HeYe people of unnecessary taXes?"
A QUESTION OF $S5,0O0,OOO.
Yes, it is a question of $50. .000, 900 unneees-
sary taxes in one year. The accumulation is
constant. In q speech recently made at
Richmond Mr.. Calkins, candidate for Cover
nor, bOasting of the achievements of his party,
made a statement which l adopt without
examination, that the Republican party
found an empty treasury, now il has a sur
plus of $400, 100000. That is an enormous
sum OF money. More, believe, than
half the paper currency of the country.
Estimating our population at $4,000, 900, it is IS
for every man, woman and child. That great
sum Of money les idle in the Treasury. If it
had been left with the people it would be-
come a willing and active servant of labor
1t would stimulate and strengthen old and
develop new enterprises. 1t would restore
to the merchant his market and give the far
mer good prices again. In the language of
the Secretary of the Treasury, "the question
still presses, what legislation is necessary
to relieve people of unnecessary taxes?"
REVENUE REFORM THE REMEDY.
1t is a question Of revenue reform. Solve
this question, my cOuntrymen, by reducing
taxes and thus leaving the money not needed
by the government in the pockets of the peO-
pie and the channels of trade and commerce.
The party in power viii not give lis this re-
form. As years have rolled bv with them in
power the machinery of the law, inexorable
In its action, has gone on collecting from the
taxpayers in excess, boarding and accumulat-
ing. The candidate for Governor boasts of
the aCcumulatlOns. In contrast with the low
taxes and short revenue and empty Treasury
of former days, the high rates and
overlooking Treasury of these times
became in the appreciation of himself and his
political associates achievements of exalted
craftsmanship, Learning and argument are
exhausted in the political papers of these
times in support of high taxation to the end,
and for the purpose of relieving the favored
classes from the competition of generous and
liberal trade. OF course revenue reform must
come from other quarters. 1t cannot come
from the representatives of the favored
classes who ask inequality in legislation that
there may be unjust inequality in the profits
of the varied pursuits of the people.
TO WHAT DEMOCRACY IS PLEDGED.
May l ask your attention to the plan and
principles of revenue reform to which the
Democrats are pledged by the Chicago plat
form. Federal taxation ''shall not exceed the
needs of the government economically ad-
ministered." Do you approve that? If not,
would you have the government wastefully
and cOrruptly administered to make room
and preteXt for higher Federal taxes. "Fede-
raj taxation shall be exclusively for public
Would you have it otherwise?
If taxation can have for its OBJ
ject other than public purposes,
then what purposes ray the object and pur7
pose be-individual and private gain? do not
question that it may be, and often is an Incl
dent that one man receives greater benefit or
carries a greater burthen than another, be-
cause of the prescribed tax. If | buy an i'm
ported article with a duty on il l bear the
burthen of the duty. II you manufacture a
like article and sell it at an advance OF price
equal to the duty then to that extent you are
benefited. but individual benefit or burthen
is not the object or purpose of the laws. 1t is
but necessary incident
NO RASH STEPS TO BE TAKEN.
Nor do 1 question that in the adjustment of
the details OF the tariff law, the legislative
mind and Judgment may and will be in
fluenced not only by considerations OF gen.
eral policy but also by the probable effect of
the measure upon the business interests of
the country. 1t is in accordance with this
sentiment that the Democratic party stands
pledged in its platform ''to revise the tariff
in a spirit of fairness to all interests" and
that any changes of law must be at every step
regardful of the labor and capital employed
in the industries of the Country" and that
custom house taxes shall bear "heaViest on
articles of luxury and lightest on articles of
necessity" and that 1.-THE necessary reduction
in taxation can and must be effected without
depriving American labor of ability to COM
pete successfully with foreign labor" These
principles of the platform are plainly written
purpose of the Democrats
touching revenue reform. When expressed in
laws their beneficent influence will become
active and universal.
BLESSINGS OF LOWER TAXES.
Lower taxes will signify lighter burthens
upon the peOple-mOney returning to the
channels of trade; enterprise restored and
a renewed demand for the
creased demand for labor, and universal
If the four hundred millions now
locked up in the Treasury were restored to
the channels Of trade and commerce, who can
doubt that labor would find employment and
the manufacturer market for his fabrics.
OUR MERCHANT MARINE.
The condition Of our ocean commerce is dis
graceful. We are nation of producers and
I'll.