Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-01-28
THE ABUSE OF THE TAXING POWLR.
TFoI the SPECTATOR. /

| u,
adm II stratioh OF the government, it viii
be we'll to consider the important issu.
Eow pending IF direct or Indirect taxati IL
i-between internal taxation and free trad.
on the one side, and the tariff on the othe,
The peace and prosperity of the country
require thai these problems should be
speedily solved.
| The Government Of necessity Possesses
the taxing power, but 1t should be exer-
csed under two salutary restrictions. The
one, tn the burdens be equally distributed
among all classes, sections, and citizens ac-
cording to their ability to pay. and the Sc
curity afforded them by the Government
and the other, that it be exercised to raise
the revenue actually necessary to defray
the current expenses of the Government;
beyond this it is a usurpation of authority.
| Now, the internal taxation violates both
restrictions. It is partial. Why confine it
to tobacco and grain, and leave the manu-.
factories of wool, cotton, breadsutfs, iron
ami all otssrr-.. Norta and South, untaxed?
| 1t is sectional. The bulk Of the articles
taxed are the products of comparatively a
small section of country, while many large
sections are wholly exempt from the bur-
den.
1t is exol bitant. By imposing q tax great
er than the ma, ket price of tho article
taxed.
And it greatly embarrasses and depresses
| the agricultural interests of the country,
| and should be condemned as uuwise, un-
just, and Oppressive.
The large surplus revenue i'll the Treas
ury proves the abuse of the taxing power.
| while it has given rise to prohIgacy and
extravaganza, fraud, and corruption, which
threaten the best interests of the country.
| Great danger should be apprehendcd from
the enlarged and constantly increasing
patronage of the Government, and the
manner of bestowing it as party bribes
together with the large contributions in
money by partisans used to buy votes and
stuff ballot-boxes The franchise must be
kept free. Corrupt the ballot-box and you
kill the Republic. If those great and
growing evils are not arrested, the tricky
and corrupt politicians, and the unscrupu-
lous Office seekers, will greatly weaken, if
not overthrow, the Government.
The authority for the tariff springs from
the taxing power. At an early period,
| Congress, i'll the exercise of this power
adopted tariff for revenue, which has
long since become the settled policy of the
Government. 1t has many advantages over
direct taxation. 1t saved to the people the
heavy expense of collection, and protects
them from the corrupting influence of the
enlarged patronage in the hands of the
Executive of the Government In the one
case, the taxpayer is coerced by party ma
chlnery; in the other, he pays or not, as he
may or may not choose to purchase the arti-
Gle upon which the duty is assessed Again
the p'acIical application of the tariff is to
transfer portion of the profits of the
I i e
foreign manuiac urer TO defray the current
EXPENSES ot eur government
| But new lI-h's have sprung up, advo-
c'tllAS tie establishment OF a iree-trade
policy III the place of the tariff
but is 1t not '6-und to be talking OF free
trade when foreign nations with whom VIC
:ie"i aie --t."s ,,'...-a---> revenues bv tax
ing our articles OF exp 'rt Are these new
lights IN political ecohomy content t. turn
over Inc vial interests ~ our people to the
tender meieles OF foreign nations?
| Much has been said OF late about pro-
tecei"y the iaoorin. classes lt DehooVes
the advocates OF this doctrine to SHOW:
First, what provision OF the Constitution
delegates this power to Congress. Now,
capital and lab'r are the two grand e'e-
ments upholding all other interests IN So
clety. They ara mutually dependent the
one upon the other, and derive their value
each IRON the other. without capital, Ia
Dor would De unaValllng; and Without labor,
capital would pe OF little value. why then
protect the one ana not the other! why
protect lne one aG the cot OF the other!
1t would De 1nst as reasohaOle 10 under
take TO alter tne natural laws Oh supply and
demand.
lhese TWO great elements OF wealth must
oe leit TO regulate eacn oIher, ana When
harmonlzed as they Will become' toey VIII
afford sure !oundation upon whlch all
the industrial interests OF the country must
thrive.
| This doctrine OF protection Is not only
without authority, out IL Is grossly lncon-
slstent. You protect the wool-groWer and
the sugar planter py increasing the duty on
the forelgn article, thus IS, enhancing the
price to the consumer; Ihose articles are
largely consumer ny me l"horers engaged
ih thelr p!oducIl"n. leu thuS take from
tnese the increased Guty ana give II 10 WOOL
growers ana sugar piah,ers'
| nhls Is protec'lon VIII n 'engeance.
| iho oecre1aiy vi tn1 treasury, WINE
adVoca'in proteo''oii 10 Id aooi, reco,inlenus
tnat the duty upon raw nlaterlais ce taAeA
OH III oraer C.a' tne n1nle inanulacIu,er
mi may coihpe'e Li 'Ie nia' Ao'e vi .ne "1liu WI
| ~ "
the question. II Ley Us iook aI the otner slue
ue. no" WI. IL "ico. tne no'ho iaoole, ea
IN the prooucIioh y, tne I'd" materiais
on take from nin tne uuty on tne ia"
material anu oesCow IL on INC hoiiie i,ianu-
iacturer' iou uiSoi,ihiiiate poe"eeh ciasSes
OF laDor' iaVorinS INC one, anu oppIeSsing,
II not cruSnilg' 1ne o,ner. IL congress
mad the power con enoed 1of, tne gross H.
Justlce OF sucn measure niuSG condemn
IL. But TINS power mas oeeh Wiseiy Wlth-
held. What Wouid DC the CONFUSION ana
embarrassment OF congress IL every class
and section ana citlzens had the rignt 20
petltion lor lhol'iuuai pro'ectlon: Inc
general Weliare Wou'o De sacrinced TO
ciashing prlVa1e liiterestS-tne revenue
laws never would DC settled, ana perpet-
ual excitement kep5 up throughout the
country, greatly retarding us progress.
How Tar the sectional and partial legis-
latlon OF Congress may nave contributed to
bring on the numerous strikes and general
arrangement OF labor throughout The cosu-
try Is well worthy "f considerations. These
troubles were not prevalent un1ll Congress