The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-11-29


receive their just and proper construction,
construction that shall bring blessings upon
tne common people, upon labor as well as
upon capital, q construction that will be In
accordance with the true intent and mean.
Ing OF the legislators; that there shall be adj
illustrative reform, so that there shall be
across the country without loss to the pub
lie Treasury lcheersl, so that there shall be
eminent
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Do you ask me II am in favor of civil
service reformg of course am In favor of
continuance of so many things that we
have seen in some years that are
past The people are tired Of il
wish to know from me what civil service
have confidence in? am very free to say to
you to night that am not particularly con-
ndent OF success after schoolmasteT's ex-
animation. But will tell you what have
confidence In. As it was in the days OF An
drew jackson, let true man come to be the
President of the United States, and let true
men be called around him to aid him in the
public service, and let these men resolve that
the only test of qualification for office under
them snail be honesty and fitness for the
[Cheers.
This great contest has established it in this
country that there must be revenue reform.
In his message of December, 1882, President
Arthur informed Congress and the
country that the revenue ade o of the coun.
of the administration economically
administered. A slight reform was made the
next March thereafter, but after that the Sec
rotary of the Treasury, your defunct Judge
Folger-honored be his name-he is dead
now-ln his last report to Congress, while he
lived, declared that the present revenue ex-
ceeded the wants of the Government by SS5,-
100000 a year, and that Is the last record on
the subject.
Eighty five million dollars in excess Of the
needs OF an economically administered gov
eminent Now, my countrymen, to you men
of Brooklyn, to you merchants, to you bus
mess men, to you laboring men, to you
skilled mechanics, 1 ask you, what Is the
| standard by which the Government shall be
regulated in the taxation of the people?
President Arthur expressed 1t as well as am
able to express it. He said that the only
standard should be the needs of the Govern
ment economically administered. But Sec
rotary Folger, in his last report to Con-
gress, said the question now presses on us,
"What legislation will relieve the people of
the burdens OF unnecessary taxation" Aye,
1t is a burden, and it presses hard when II is
$50, 100000 year. How much would that
So, 100000 do for the country II taxation were
reduced wisely and judciousy so as to leave
in the pockets of. the people and in the chan.
nels of trade the $S5 100000 every year? How
much would it contribute to the enterprise
the industry the prosperity of the country
How much would 1t bless labor and stimulate
capital!
Here a murmuring arose in the direction of
the entrance door and grew so loud that Mr..
Hendricks paused and asked for somebody
interference in the interest of silence. The
remark produced instant silence.
DEMOCRATIC THEORY OF TAXATION.
Continuing his address, he said
The question is, what Is the position of the
Democratic party upon the subject of taxa
tion? know no standard of taxation eX-
cept that taxes shall not exceed the needs
of the Government economically admins
tered. If you know of any better and safer
standard of taxation what is it? At the Con-
yentlon in Chicago the will of the Democracy
of this great nation was expressed in a few
sentences. a resolution on taxation was
adopted. OF course, that resolution related
mainly to the tariff law. And now, if you
please to give me your attention, l will state
what the Democratic party at THAT Conven-
ton declared. 1t Is expressed in four propo-
sitons.
l. Taxation shall not exceed the needs of
the Government economically administered.
That is borrowed from Mr.. Arthur.
2. Taxation shall only be for public pur-
ton.
3. In the adjustment of the taxes care shall
be taken not to hurt labor, not to harm cap
ital.
4. Taxation shall be heaviest upon articles
of luxury and lightest upon articles of ne
cessity.
express the entire Democratic doctrine on
the subject of taxation; and when that great
convention at Chicago adopted that plat
form it wrote it in letters of silver brightness
on its banner, and that banner it handed to
Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks,
and they said: "This Is the banner; carry it
the banner" [Cheersl. That banner has
been carried before the indomitable Democ-
racy of Indiana. In triumph 1t waves to day.
In triumph it asserts to the American people
everywhere that taxation shall only be for
public purposes and only to the extent OF the
needs of Government. 1t shall be organized
so as not to hurt labor nor harm capital; II
shall be heaviest on articles of luxury and
lightest on articles of necessity.
THE TARIFF.
They say the tariff is very difficult thing
to understand think 1t Is difficult for those
who wish to make it difficult and to impose
somewhat upon the country. To me 1t is very
plain, for IL y written in those four sentences,
It shall only be for the needs of the Govern
ment, 1t shall be adjusted so AS not to hurt
capital, not harm labor, and it shall be heav-
lest upon articles ofluxury and lightest upon
articles of necessity. LCheersl. And now,
my countrymen, If there be a Republican
here that says nay to that sentiment of De-
mocracy let him rise up and say it. Now is
the time to say 1t, or, as they say at church,
"forever thereafter hold your peace" Let me
repeat it, and then you make your objection If
you choose each sentence by itself (pronounc-
ing again the four sentences relative to taxa
ton and pausing for reply at the end of each
sentence). Is 1t possible that a Convention of
the people, consisting of SO many delegates,
has been able to pass upon that difficult ques
ton of the tariff, and so AS to express itself
so that every man, woman and child In so
large and intelligent an audience as this Is
compelled to say, That's right?". 1t is an
uncommon Endorsement of Convention,
| and after this you won't blame me much for
| being whole souled Democrat, will you?
|. If party Is so clearly right upon the subject
| of taxation-one OF the highest powers of gov
! ernment-it can not be much wrong upon any
| thing else. Taxation comes to a mans homo
and takes that for public use. That which
| was his is his no longer. 1t Is like the law of
| eminent domain that takes private property
| for public use like the law of the Govern
| bosom of the family, War has come, and
| you must serve in the army This
| power of taxation is one of the most tre-
! mendous that Government compasses
! or exercises, and now, whenI have submitted
! sentence by sentence, and in detail, to this
! great audience, the sentiment Is that for
once, anyhow, the Democracy may be