The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-18
fIiillsville Virginian.J
Some Talk About Tariff.

The revenues OF the United States Gov.
eminent for the present fiscal year, actual
and estimated, will amount to S343.000.000.
The total expenditures will amount TO
S25S, 100000. OF the revenue about $780,
600. 900 is derived from custom-duties and
S120. 0O0, 900 from the internal revenue.
The principal portion of the receipts from
the latter comes from the tax on tobacco,
spirits, and fermented liquors. OF the
surplus of SS5,000,000 in the revenues for
the present year about Si5,000,000 goes to
the sinking fund.
4 slight glance at these figures would
seem to clearly show that in case the inter-
nal-revenUe system should be abolished,
that to pay the necessary expenses OF Gov
eminent there must either be an amount
realized from custOm-duties that will Incl
dentally protect our home industries, or
direct taxation must he resorted to by the
Government. Direct taxation was in effect
resorted TO for short time during the war
and it proved to be unpopular. and no
party would be willing to venture upon
direct taxation during time Of peace.
Such beng the case, il the question OF
tariff is to be forced into the next presiden-
tial canvass; ii all questions as to central
lied government, an honest and economical
administration OF our affairs, States rights,
the corruption and robbery OF the Repub-
lican party, are to be buried and forgotten,
and there is to be the one issue Of tariff
with protection or tariff for revenue only
without protection, the question is7at once
presented whether it would be better to
have very low tariff, with the internal.
revenue system, or have tariff that would
incidentally protect proper industries, and
have that great curse, the internal.revenue
system, forever blotted from our statute
books.
Ii tariff that is protective in its features
should even be admitted to be an evil, is
not the internal-revenue system :. far
greater evil! When it is said that protec.
ton favOrs one section of the country more
than another, cannot 1t be said with much
more truth that these internal-revenue laws
impose q heavy burden upon the peculiar
products OF some sections of the country
without imposing any burden whatever
| upon the peculiar products OF other sec :
tons: The millions OF dollars yearly
wrung from the people of Virginia by the
tax on tobacco sufficiently demonstrates the
fact.
III products peculiar TO some sections can
| be made a source of revenue, such source
Of revenue should be for the State. not for
the General Government. Self.interest
will generally bring about Il practical uni
formty in the late OF taxation by different
States. As TO the taunt about cheap Wills
key, every one ought to know that legisla-
/ ton by the States will realize larger reve-
nue. from the sale OF ardent spirits than is
! now received by the Unite d States. and that,
too, without any OF the frauds being COM
mitted that have made the internal-reyenuc
system Il reproach.
! But the chief objection 10 the internal
revenue is not in the amount OF the tax but
| In the system Itself. Like the old English
hearth-taX," it is an odious tax. 1t is q
system that causes an espionage that out
RACES the feelings and violates the most
sacred rights OF a free citizen. II has been
truly termed the nursery OF spies
anu iniormers. Ii is corrupt system
| corruptly administered. in most instances
by corrupt men. 1t will corrupt any party
that upholds and supports it. While this
relic OF the war, this badge of slavery, this
| blight upon free institutions, remains, It IL
difficult to have becoming amount OF
patience with those Democrats who, In
| their zeal for low tariff, directly or indi-
rectiy advocate the perpetuity OF this
system.
II Is to be trusted that the discussion
| which has been going on in regard to the
tariff In the leading Journals OF the corn.
try may have the effect OF preventing any
fatal plumbers being committed in the Dem.
ocratic platform, and that the Democratic
party, so grand in its principles, numerous
In It's plumbers. and sometimes, alas impo-
tent in It's leadership. may come through
Tue next contest crowned with the wreath
OF the greatest Of its victories.