Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-31
HEAR HENDRICKS.
VIEWS ON NATIONAL FINANCES.
Enormous Idle Surplus In the Treasury-Ne-
ecssity for n Reduction OF Taxation-Hoi.
Iownsss OF Blatne's Foreign Peiicr.

BY telegraph 10 The Dispatch.I
INDIANAPOLIS, Angus, 20. The campaign
In this State was formally opened by both
parties to-day, and hundreds Of speeches
were delivered in cities aud towns IN Vari-
Gus parts OF Indiana. In this city the re
publicans did not hold n meeting. Inc
Democrats had large street demonslra-
ton, many uniformed clubs, carrying
torches and transpareDcies, participating.
The speaking took place from stand IN
circle, where Ex-Governor Hendricks al.
dressed an audience numbering several
thousand persons. Governor Hendricks |
said:
Fellow Cltizens,-I appreciate the privi-
lege and honor OF addressing you. and |
recognize the duty Of speaking frankly and |
without concealment or exaggcration oil |
any material factor Of opinion. May first
ask your attention TO the necessity and ir-
portance OF revenue rcformy Power TO |
levy and collect taxes Is among the highest
and most responsible Of the attributes OF |
government. II ranks with the right aud |
faculty of taking private property for
public use, and with the right and power Of
transferring q citizen from the pursuits OF
private life to the duties and hazards OF war.
II takes from 4 man that which Is his and
sppropriates il 10 public use. II seizcs
upon the earnings Of labor as well as upon
the accommodations OF capital. To every
man the inquiry l. OF personal concern,
ard the answer is of pHblic consequence.
How far may the Government 90 In the
exercise of power to tax the people
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 unimpaired. Whatever Gov
crnmcnt can lawfully do. aud OF right
should do. the taxpayers will fur
msh IL the means TO accomplish.
Beyond this is the province OF pri-
waite right, to invade which is usurpation.
TIE Government economically admins
tered shall he supported. Are you, men
from FARMS, shops. and stores, willing that
any other rule should be adopted? May
they take your money for uses not author
lied bv the Constitution or not for the pub
liz welfare, or that it may be piled up in
vaults TO tempt the greed Of the unscrupu-
lous? When war came taxation was neces-
sally and rightfully increased. Large rev.
cnucs we've needed to supply and maintain
great armies. But with war and cXpcndi-
lures consequent upon il, there passed
away the necessity for the war-stindard OF
taxation. Why. then. has such 4 standard
continued The party that has held al.
most unbrOkcn power for nineteen years OF
peace must respond 20 that inquiry. In his
message Of December /, 1852, President
Arthur admOniShed Congress that at the
prior session he had urged upon Ms atien-
lion the importance Of relieving the in
dusfries and enterprises OF unnecessary
taxation" In the same message he SAID
that he people have been in substantial ac-
cord with the doctrine "that only >dch
take. ought to be levied aS are necessary for
the wise and economical administration oi
the Government"
The President continued: OF late public
revenues have far exceeded that Emit. and
unless checked ay appropriate legislation
such excess will continue 10 increase from
wear 10 wear. For the fiscal year ended
June. 50. 1881. the surplus revenue
amounted to 500. 100000. For The fiscal
year ended on the 3Olh Of June last year
The surplus was more than 3i45,0)),0O).
What say YOU, my countrymen, did tl1t
showing not call for revenue reform;
During that Congress the House was made
positively Republican largely 10y plriisln
action. Not much heed WAS given 10y i 10
the startling statement made by the Pre>i-
dent OF the enormous excess IN the rcNe-
nue.. Modification Of the i"tcrna-reN enue
system and OF the tanll made on the March
following left M cXceS, Of 3SJ,OJO,uOO OF
revenue. In his lat annual report OBJ OF
December last, the secretary OF the Treas
urv estimates the surplus Of the current
year at SSj. 100000, and adds: go the
question still presses. What legislation !,
necessary to relieve the people OF
unnecessary taXcs?" Yes, IT Is a
question of &Sj,0O0,000 OF unnece--
sary taxes in one year. Accumula-
ton is constant. In Il speech recently
made at Richmond, Mr. Calkins. the candi'
date for Governor, Boosting OF the achieve
ments OF his party, made the statement,
which ] adopt without examination, that
the "HepublcIn party found an empty
Treasury; now it has surplus OF $780,
ok. GEO." That is an enormous sum OF
mopey-more, | believe, than hall OF the
paper currency OF the country. E'ti-
mating chr population at j0,000,000, il Is
- for each man. woman. and child. That
great sum OF money lies idle in the Irel-
sHrY,
Ii it had been left with the people it
would hsye become the willing and aciiye
servant Of labor. Ii would stmu1te and
strengthen the old and develope new en-
terpriseS. 1t would restore 10 the mer-
prices again. In the language Of the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury, "Thc question still
presses, What legislation is necessary
TO relieve the people OF unnecessary
taxes ?" 1t il a question Of revenue re-
form. Solve tins question, my countrymen,
Nv reducing taxes, and thus leaving the
money not needed by the Government IN
the pockets Of the people and the chan
nc.S Of trade and commerce. The
party in power win not give us this
reform. As years have rolled by.
with them in power, the machinery
Of law is incXecrable in its ACTION, has gone
on collecting from the taxpayers in
excess. boarding and lccumulating. The
candidate for Governor boasts OF accu-
mutation. In contrast with low taxes and
short revenue and the empty treasury OF
former DAYS, the high rates and the over
flowing treasury Of these times become in
appreciation OF himself and his political
associates achievements OF exalted states
manship. Learning and argument are cN-
haustcd in the political papers OF these
times in support OF high taXation, To the
end and for the purpose OF relieving the
favored clasSe, from the competition
OF generous and liberal trade. or
course. revenue reform must come IRON
Otncf quarters. III CANNOT coiht rum thr
representatives Of the favored classes, who
ask inequality in legislation that there may
he unjust inequality in the profits OF the
various pursuits OF the people. Nay ask
your attention to the plan and principles Of
revenue reform TO which the Democracy
are pledged by the Chicago platform. Fede-
raj taxation shall not exceed the needs OF
the Government economically admins
tered" DO you approve that! II not
would YOU have the Government waste
fully or cOrruptly administered to
make room and preteYt for higher
Federal taxes. Federal taxation shall be
exclusively for public purposes" Would
YOU have it otherwise, Ii taxation can have
FOR It's object other than public purposes,
then what purposes! May Obiectand pnr-
pose be individual and private gain ! do
not question that it may be. and often Is,
an incident. that one man receives greater
benefit or carries greater burthen than an
other because Of the prescribed TAX. III
buy an imported article with duty upon H.
bear the burthen Of duty. II You manure
ture hike article and sell il az an advance OF
price equal to the duty, then to that extent
YOU are benefited. But individual bencht
or burtbcn is not the object or the purpose
81 The law; il is but a necessary incident.
Nor do question that in TIE adj ustmeht OF
the details OF the tariff law, legislative NINA
and may ar1 u.iil lp Influenced