Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-09-11
HENDRICKS VOICE
Democratic Principles Elo-
quently Defined.
An Economical Administrator
and LOsoer Tdres Demand
ed-E3tGi3Ie mot a. Friend
of N0fUrGff<ed

Bl-kttUfNAS
of Fdturaft<ed
Citizens.
Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks, Demo-
cratic candidate for yice-P President, de-
livered the subjoined address before an
immense assemblage at indianapolis, Ind,
frequent outbursts of tremendous cheers
greeting his remarks. He spoke as fol-
lows:
FELLow-cITfzENs- appreciate the
privilege and the honor Of addressing
you, and l recognize the duty of speak
ing frankly and without concealment or
exaggeration Of any material fact or
opinion May first ask your attention
to the necessity and Importance of rev.
enue reform2 The power to levy and
collect taxes is among the highest and
most responsible of the attributes of
government. How far may government
go in the exercise of the power to tax
the people2 Freely and cheerfully we all
answer that there shall be no limitation
or restraint upon the absolute and entire
maintenance of public authority, with
all Of its faculties and functions unim-
paired. Whatever the government can
lawfully do, and of right should do, the
taxpayers will furnish it the means to
accomplish Beyond this is the province
Of private right, to invade which is
usurpation.
When the war came taxation was nee
essarily and rightfnlIy increased. But
with the war and the expenditure conse-
quent upon it, there passed awav the
necessity for war standard of taxation.
Why, then, has such a standard contin-
uedl The party that has held almost un-
broken power for nineteen years of peace
must respond to that inquiry In his
message of Dec. 4, 1882, President
Arthur admonished Congress that at the
prior session he had urged upon its at
tention ''the Importance Of relieving the
industries and enterprises of unnecessary
taxation" For the fiscal year ended June
80, 1881, the surplus revenue amounted
to 800, 600, 900; for the fiscal year ended
on the Both Of June last the surplus was
more than $145, 900, 900. What say YOU,
my countrymen2 Did that showing not
call for revenue reform2 During that
Congress the House was made positively
Republican, largely by partizan action.
Not much heed was given by it to the
startling statement made by the
President of the enormous excess
in the revenue. The modifca-
ton of the internal revenue system and
Of the tariff made in the March follow
ing left an excess of $85, 900, 900 Of
revenue In his last annual report I'D
December last, the secretary of the treas
ury estimates the surplus of the cur
rent year at $S5, 900, 600, and adds:
$50 the question still presses, what leg
islation is necessary to relieve the people
of unnecessary taxes?n Yes. it the ques-
ton of $50, 900, 900 unnecessary taxes in
one year. The accumulation is constant.
In a speech recently made at Richmond,
Mr.. Calkins, the candidate for COVER
nor, boasting Of the achievements Of
his party, made the statement which
adopt without examination, that the
ssRepublican party found an empty
treasury; now it has surplus of S400,-
600, 000 That great sum of money lies
idle in the treasury. III it had been left
with the people it would become the
willing and active servant of labor. In
the language Of the secretary Of the
treasury: 'The question still presses,
what legislation is necessary to relieve
the people Of unnecessary taxes2"
1t is the question of revenue reform.
Solve this question, my countrymen, BY
reducing the taxes, and thus leaving the
money not needed by the government
in the pockets of the people, and in the
channels Of trade and commerce. The
party in power win not give us this re-
form.
May I ask your attention to the plan
and principles of revenue reform to
which the Democracy are pledged by the
Chicago platform2 Federal taxation
'fshall not exceed the needs of the gov
ernment economically administered Do
you approve that2 If not, would you
have the government wastefully and
corruptly administered, TO make room
and pretext for higher Federal taxesl
'sFederal taxation shall be exclusively
for public purposes. Would you have
it otherwise2 If taxation can have for
its object other than public purposes,
then what purposesG May the object
and purpose be individual and private
gain2 / do not question that it may be
and often is an incident that one man
receives a greater benefit OF carries
greater burden than another because Of
a prescribed tax. Nor do l question
that in the adjustment of the details Of
tariff law the legislative mind and
Judgment may and viii be influenced not
only by considerations Of general policy
but also by the probable effect of the
measure upon the business interests Of
the country. 1t is in accordance with
the sentiment that the Democratic party
stands pledged in its platform ''to re-
wise the tariff in spirit of fairness to
all interests, y and that any change Of
law must be at every step regardfur of
the labor and capital employed in the
industries of the country, and that custom
house taxes shall bear heaviest on arti-
cles Of luxury and the lightest on articles
of necessity . and that 'the necessary
reduction in taxes can and must be ef-
fected without depriving American
labor of the ability to compete success
fully with foreign labor
These principles Of the platform are
plainly written and easily understood.
They present the conservative purpose of
the Democracy touching revenue reform
When expressed in the laws their benef-
cent influence will become active and
universal. Lower taxes will signify
lighter burdens upon the people; money
returned to the channels Of trade; enter
prise restored and stimulated; renewed
demand for the products of industry,
and the consequent increased demand
for labor and universal prosperity. If
the four hundred millions now locked mp
in the treasury were restored to the chan
nels Of trade and commerce, who can
doubt that labor would find employment
and the manufacturer a market for his
fabrics7
The obituary Of our merchant navy is
written in our tariff and shipping laws.
Its spirit Of enterprise and daring that