The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-12-14

ty consistent with the good order Of
society and his perfect security in /
the enjoyment of his earnings with
the least possible diminution for
public needs. When more of the peo-
pies substance is exacted through
the form of taxation than is'necess-,
ary to meet the. just obligations of
the Government and the expense of
its economical administration, such |
exactlOn becomes ruthless extortion
and a violation of the fundamental
principles of a free government. The
indirect manner in which these ex-
actions are made has tendency to
conceal their true character and
their extent, but we have arrived ut
a stage of superfluous revenuewhich
has aroused the people to resliza-
tion of the fact that the amount
raised professedly for the support Of
the Government is paid by them as
absolutely, if added to the price of
the things which supply their daily
wants, as if it was paid at fixed pc
riods, iEto the hand of the tax gath
erer. Those who toll for daily wa
ges are beginning to understand that
capital, though some times vaunt-
ing its importance and clamoring for
the protection and favor OF the Gov
ernment, is dull and sluggish, till,
touched by the magical hand of la
Dor, it springs into activity, furnish
ing an occasion for Federal taxation
and gaining the value which enables
it to hear it's burden. And the la
boring man is thoughtfully :nquir-
ing whether, in these circumstances,
and considering the tribute he con-
stantly pays into the public Treas
ury as he supplies his daily wants.
he receives his fair share of advant-
ages. There is also suspicion
abroad, that the surplus of ouI rev
enues indicates abnormal and ex-
ceptional business profits which,
under the system which produces
such surplus, increase without cor
responding benefit to people at large
and are the vast accumulatiOns of a
few among our citizens whose for:
tunes, riyaling the wealth of the
most favored in anti-Democratic no.
tions are not the natural growth Of
steady, plain and industrious repub-
lie. Our farmers, too, and those en-
gagged directly and indirectly in sup
plying the products of agriculture,
see that day by day, and as often as
the daily wants of their households
recur, they are forced to pay exces-
sive and needless taxation, while
their products struggle in foreign
markets with the competition of ma
tions, which, by allowing freer ex-
change of productions than we per-
nit, enable their people to sell for
prices which distress the American
farmer.
As every patriotic citizen rejoices
in the constantly increasing pride
of our people in American citizen
ship and in the glory of our nation
al achievements and progress, a SEN
timent prevails that the leading
strings useful to nation in its in
fancy, may well be to a great extent
discarded in the present stage of
American ingenuity, courage and
fearless selt-rcliance; and, for the
privilege of indulging in this senti-
ment with true American enthusi-
asm, our citizens are quite willing
to forego an idle surplus in the pub
lie treasury. All the people know
the average rate of federal taxation
upon imports is to-day, in time OF
peace, but little less, while upon
some articles af necessary consump-
tion it is actually more than was I'M
posed by the gricvous burden, will
ingly borne, at a time when the Gov
ernment needed millions to maintain
by war the safety and integrity of
the Union.
REVISION OF REVENUE LAWS.
1t has been the policy of the Gov
ernment to collect the principal part
of its revenues by tax upon i'm
ports, and no change in this policy
is desirable. But the present con-
dition of affairs constrains our peo-
pie to demand that, by revision of
our revenue laws, the receipts of the
Government shall be reduced to the
necessary expense of its economical
administration, and this demand
should be recognized and obeycd by
the peoples representatives in the
legislative branch of the Govern
ment.
In readjusting the burdens of fed
eral taxation, sound public policy
requires that such of our citizens as
have built up large and important
industries under present conditions,
should not he suddenly. and to their
injury, deprived of advantages to
which they have adapted their bust
ness; but if the public good requires
it, they should be content with such
onsideration as shall deal fairly and
cautiously with their interests, while
the just demand of the people for re-
lief from needless taxation is honest
" answered. A. reasonable and
timely submission to such a demand
should certainly be possible without
disastrous shock to any interest;
and careful concession sometimes
faverts abrupt and needless action,
often the outgrowth of impatience
and delayed justice.
Due regard should be also accord
ed in any proposed readjustment to
the interests of American labor so
far as they are involved. We con-
gratulate ourselves that there is
among us no laboring class fixed in
unyielding bounds and doomed un-
der all conditions in the inexorable
fate of daily toll. We realize in la
Dor chief factor in the wealth of
the Republic, and we treat those
who have it in their keeping as citi-
zens entitled to the most careful re-
gard and thoughtful attention. This
regard and attention should be
awarded them, not only because la