The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-09-06

canmerce. The party In power VIII
not give us this reform. AS years
have rolled by with them in power,
the machinery of law inexorable in its
action it has gone on collecting from
the Taxpayers in excess,-hoarding
and accumulating Their candidate
Governor boasts of this accumulation
in contrast with the low taxes and
short revenue and empty treasury of
former days. High rates and over
flowing treasury of these times be-
come, in appreciation of himself and
his political associates, achievements
of exalted craftsmanship. Learning
and argument are exhausted in politi-
cal papers OF these times in support of
high taxation, to the end and for the
purpose OF relieving favored classes
from the competition of q generous
and liberal trade. OF course revenue
reform must come from other quar-
ters. 1t cannot come from the repre-
sentations of favored classes who ask
inequality in legislation, that there
may be unjust inequality in the prof
its of the varied pursuits of the peo-
pie. May ask your attention to the
plan and principles of the revenue re-
form to which the Democrats are
pledged by the Chicago platform.
Federal taxation shall not exceed the
needs of the government economically
administered.
Do you approve that? II not, would
you have the government wastefully
or corruptly administered to make
room and pretext for higher Federal
taxes? Federal taxation shall be ex-
oiuseiveiy for public purposes. /"
Would you have it otherwise? Iftax-
alton can have for its object other
than public purposes, then what pur-
poses? May the object and purpose
be individual and private gain? l do
not question that it may and often is
an incident that one man receives a
greater benefit or carries a greater
burthen than another because of the
prescribed tax. If buy an imported
article with duty upon it, bear a bur
then of duty. If YOU manufacture q
like article and sell it at an advanceol
the price equal to the duty, then to
that extent you are benefited, but in.
dividual benefit or burthen is not the
object or the purpose of the law, it is
but necessary incident. Nor do
question that in the adjustment of the
details Of the tariff law the Legislative
mind and judgment may and will bt
influenced, not contributions of gen
eral policy, but also by the probable
, effect OF the measure upon the bust
ness interest OF the country. 1t is il
/ accordance with this sentiment tina
the Democratic party stands plcdge(
; in its platform. "T0 revise the tarif
3 in the spirit Of fairness to all interests
and that "any change Of the law mus
. be at every step rcgardful of the labo
c and capital employed in theindustrie
4 of the country and that Custom Hous
: taxes shall bear heaviest on articles G
/ luxury and lightest on articles of nt
o cesity," and that the necessary reduC
g ton in taxation can and must be e.
J. fected without depriving America
+ labor OF the ability to compete SUI
= cessfully with foreign labor" Thes
}. principles Of the platform are plainl
d written and easily understood. The
) present the conservative purpose {
e the Democracy, touching revenue +,
j. form. When expressed in laws the
1t benefcent influence will become ac
e i've and universal. Lower taxes wi
S signify lighter burthens upon the PEE
G. pie, money returning to the channe
r of trade, enterprise restored and stin
# ulated, a renewed demand for the pr
K ducts Of industry and the consequel
is increase demand for labor and ur
t) versal prosperity. If the four hu
j. dred millions now locked up in Il
ar Treasury were restored to the cha
le nels of trade and csmmer
a. who can doubt that the lab
lie would find employment and Il
manufacturer a market for his fabric
% He referred to the disgraceful cont
or ton OF our ocean commerce and sal
In "The obituary of our merchant ma
d, is written in our tariff and shippil
", laws. Its spirit OF enterprise al
lis daring that once brought wealth
| our shores and pride to our peol
he and that furnished congenial emplC
ty ment to thousands of our brave a
o. hardy sons is now buried i'll the tre
m ury vaults under those four hundr
alf millions of which Mr. Calki
~. yaunts." He then spoke of the
o. mentable condition of our war, ma
nd and coast defences, quoted from
in speech of Senator Harrison on
th subject and said the Democratic pa
i'll were not responsible for this amazi
it condition Of things and asserted Il
he the Democratic party looks W