Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-09-17
Randall Said to Have Csc.arsd in
Favor of the
ABOLITION OF INTERNAL REVENUE
And the Revision of Existing Tariff Laws
in the interests Of True
Protection,
A SOUTHERN MAGAZINES ARTICLE.

pEOleClOHleI beluOCIaIi Ho uOuOt ASA4 WV
viction and in the interest Of his Pennsyl
vania constituents, has written the fellow
ing article, which will appear in the col
umns of the Southern magazine entitled
Dixie, under the head Of Some Points on
the Tariff" -
Protective tariff is a subject at all times
and in every country full of difficulty and
embarrassment, and yet it is as old as gov
ernment itself and has exhausted, as we
know, the highest mental efforts Of the most
celebrated statesmen. Some few points
have been settled and accepted generally,
but they are not many. Hallam, the con
stitutional historian, in his Europe Daring
the Middle Ages" lays down this axiom,
which our experience as a people justides,
and which will not be disputed
1t is difficult to name limit beyond
which taxes will not be borne without i'm
patience when they appear TO be called for
by necessity and faithfully applied, nor is it
impracticsble for skilful minister 10 de.
celve the people in both these prospects,
But the sting of taxation is wastefulness.
What high spirited man could see without
indignation the earnings Of his labor, weld
ed ungrudgingly to the pubic defence, be-
come the spoil Of parasites and spectators?
1t is this that mortiGes the liberal hand OF
public spirit;sn those statesmen who deem
The security Of government to depend not
on laws and armies, but on the moral sym
pathies and prejudices Of the people, will
vigiIantly guard against even the suspicion
ofprodigaGty.
Excessive taxation, even when it is sue
cessful in securing excessive revenue, Is
ultimately destructive OF the resources OF
labor from which it is drawn, while at the
same time it engenders extravaganza, cor
ruption and decay. For when the govern
ment sets the example OF extravaganza ii is
soon followed in every walk OF life and one
does not need TO be prophet TO foretell the
general ruin which must inevitably result
Frugality and economy never destroyed any
government, while they have built up the
most powerful empires the world has ever
Witnessed The existing condition OF the
Treasury brings demand for the reduction
of the tariff and internal taxes. In such
condition of our finances reduction OF taxa
ton should ut once begin. Unnecessary
taxation is irjuIicus to the interests OF the
people in many directions. The government
has no Justification for the collection OF
b1rdensome taxes in excess OF the sum
requisite fer the support Of its proper ad
niuistTsticn.
Necessity for Revision.
favor total abolition OF our internal
revenue system and sm ready to join bands
with any and all in favor Of au equalza
rion Of ou7 duties on imports. No one who
understands the existing tariI laws will
DENY the Justice and necessity Ct thorough
revision High duties were for the mos
part levied during the war and for the par
pose Of raising large revenue 1t will
suffice in this connection 10 quot the In
dustrisl League as unsnswernbie IN this re
gsrd. as it is an admission on The part o!
those who favor the highest protective
duties. They consider such revision de
.iTsble for the interests both of the indus
tries affected ard those OF consumers, partly
on account of some original impeIfecuons
in the present tariff, and partly on account
of The notifications which are demanded by
the changes which have occurred in condi.
tions Of production and commerce.
do not favor tariff enacted upon the
ground Of protect, simply for the sake OF
protection becau'e doubt the eXisteuce OF
sny COZ s'itutionsl warrant for any such con.
struttion or the grant OF any sich power
II would msLifestly be in the nature OF c lsss
egislation, and 10 such legislation,
"a, orig Cse class az the ex.
pense OF any Other, have always been op
posed. In my judgment this question o.
tree trade will not arise practically in this
country during our lives, # ever, so long a.
We continue to raise revenue by duties on
i'm ports, and therefore the discussion ofthat
principle is On absolute wnste OF time.
After our pubic debt is paid 10 full our ex
aenditures can hardly BE- much below $780,.
100 coo and if this is levied n business
ike ard intelligent manner it will sfyrd ad
eQrate protection TO every industrial inter
Ebt N Inc I uIttN OlhLt1 ur nCoNl tAOA
the constitution permits the le7yiDg OF du.
ties in favor Of protection for the sake OF
proscuon' is egnslly uncalled for and un
necessary Both are alike dsiusory and
not Involved in any particular administra'
tive policy. If brought to the test ] be-
lieve neither would stand for day.
Protection sop ProteotioniS Sake.
Protection lor the sake Of protection is
prohibition pure and simple Of importation
and If there be ns Importation there will be
10 duties colecred, and consequently no
revenue, leaving ihe necessary expenses OF
the government TO be collected by direct
fs1es-tor internal taxes would interfere
With the protective principle aud when the
people we're gessrsliy asked - bear the bur.
den Of lave taxation 70 sustain class legis-
lAtiou 81 the expense OF the great bulk OF
or population, there woa!7 Dc very en
phaiic ard conclusive negative So, too,
With free trade, there is hardly man in
public life VINO sdTocssss Il pure and slm'
PIE Nobody wants direct taxation, al
though it would bring taxation 30 near and
50 constantly before the people that Goa
Rress would hesitate long before Il voted ths
SUES OF 2OubF Cspru NDrN IL HON EOA fAA-
proper, q; least Tor questionable purposes
What Direct Taxation Means.
We are to day dealing With issues vast IS
the hopes and teaIs Of Ehy-fts niHiors Of
people, vhose moral, social and phyEicl
condition is Tie sIluring example Of svery
government On the face Of the earth. Shall
We blast on bless Them with our kgis!atiOnl
l.
constant tinkeripg With the tarisr Shall no
law las. longer than tie meeting Of the next
Ger grsssf Shall nothing ever be settled,
:or time at least; bGt skall doubt and dis
rsss sEways hsun, the waking ard Steering
1ours Ct the peoplsl Fer one, AN en-
pha;i, ally opposed to sny such suicidal pol
/ icv II would be madness for any party to
pursue II. What does HrsetaA1stion mean
An answer Is fcand in al extract from q
speech delivered April II. 1882, By Hon