The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-15

FeiinQulsned. i ayaiisd myself Of the dis
cretiou conferred by law, and issued, on the
2Ith OF October, my proclamation declaring
reciprocal suspension in the United States.
1t is most gratifying to bear testimony to
the earnest spirit in which the government
of the queen regent has met cur efforts 70
avert the initiation OF commercial discrim-
nations and reprisals, which are ever disas-
trouS to the material interests and the politi-
cal good will of the countries they may af
feet. The profitable Development Of the
large commercial exchanges between United
States and the Spanish Antilles is naturally
an object Of solIeituds. Lying closs 81 our
doors and finiing here their main markets OF
supply and demand, the welfare Of Cuba and
Porto Rio and their production and trade
are scarcely less important to Us than TO
Spsin.
Their commercial and financial movements
are so naturally a part of our system that no
obstacle to fuller and freer intercourse
should be permitted TO exist. The standing
instructions of our representatives at Madrid
and Havana have for years been TO leave no
effort unessayed to further these ends. and
at no time has the equal good desire of Spain
been more hopefully manifested than now.
The government OF Spain, by removing the
consular tonnages, fees on cargoes shipped TO
the Antilles, and by reducing transport fees,
has shown its recognition Of the needs CT less
trammeled intercourse.
The president recommends placing the
consular service on a better footing and re-
iterates the necessity of some mode OF inspec-
ton and report of the manner in which the
consulates are conducted.
He trusts international copyright viii re-
ceive the attention it deserves by congress.
He recommends that provision be made
for the immediate discharge from custody Of
persons committed for extradition where the
president is Of opinion that surrender should
not be made and renews his recommendation
OF last year th.t existing legislation concern
ing citizenship aud naturalization be revised
We have, he says, treaties with many states
providing for the remuneration of citizenship
by naturalized aliens, but no statute is found
to give effect to such engagements, nor any
which provides a needed central bureau for
the registration of naturalize1 citizens
Reaching domestic affairs, the first subject
discussed is the tariff, and to this the presi-
dent devotes a great deal of space, arguing
that the necessity for a reduction of the
tariff is more urgent than ever The income
of the government. he says, by its in
creased volume and through economies in its
collection, is now more than ever in excess
of public necessities The application of the
surplus TO the payment of such portion OF
the public debt as is now at our 9tion sub
ject to extinguishment il continued at the
rate which has lately prevailed, would retire
that class Of Indebtedness within less than
one year from this date.
Thus a continuation Of our present revenue
system would soon result in the receipt of ar
annual income much greater than necessary
to meet government expenses, with no in
dehtedness upon which it could be applied
We should then be confronted with a vast
quantity of money. the circulating medium
of the people, boarded in the treasury wher
it should be in their hands, or we should bt
driven into wasteful public extravaganza
with all the corrupting National demoraliza
tiOn which follow in its train But it is not
the simple existence of this surplus and it,
threatened attendant evils which furnish tht
strongest argument against our present scale
of Federal taxation. Its worst phase is the
exac5ion of such surplus through a perver
sion of the relations between its people and
their government, and dangerous departur,
from the rules which limit the right of Fed
eral taxation
Good government, and especially the gov
ernment of which every American citizen
boasts, has for its objects the protection OF
?
liberty consistent with the good order of so
ciety and his perfect securement in the enjoy
ment of his earnings with the least possible
diminution for public needs. When more oI
( the peoples substance is exacted through tbs
/ form of taxation than is necessary to NEE
the just obligations OF the government anC
/ the expense of its economical administration
/ such exaction becomes ruthless extortion and
| a violation of the fundamental principles oi
free government.
| The indirect manner in which these ex
/ actions are made, has a tendency to concs
their true character and their extent, but we
/ have arrived at a stage of superfiuouS rev
enue which has aroused the people to a real
/ ization of the fact, that the amount varied
/ profeSsedly for the support of the govern
ment, is paid by them as absolutely, il
added to the price of the things which sup
/ ply their daily wants, as il it was paid at
/ fixed periods into the hand of the tax-gath
I erer.
Those who toll for daily wages are begin
ming to understand that capital, though some
times vaunting in ignorance and clamorinj
for the protection and favor of the govern
ment, is duh and sluggish, till, touched by tn
magical hand of labor, it springs into activity
furnishing an occasion for federal taxation
and gaining the value which enables it T.
| bear its burden. And the laboring man
thoughtfully inquiring whether in these cir
cumStances and considering the tribute b
continually pays into the public treasury a
he supplies his daily wants he receives hi
fair share of advantages
/ There is also suspicion abroad that tn
/ surplus of our revenues indicates abnorma
and exceptional busin, $ profits, which unde
the system which pro iuces such surplus, in
creaseS without CORES, ,1nding benefit to tn
| people, the vast accumulation of a feV
among our citizens whose fortunes, rivalin
the wealth of the most favored in anti-demo
cratic nations, are not the natural growth o
steady, plain and industrious republic.
Our farmers, too, and those engaged di
rectly and indirectly in supplying the pre-
| ducts of agriculture see that day by day and
and as often as the daily wants of thei
households recur. they are forced to pay ex
cessive and needless taxation, while thel
products struggle in foreign markets witt
the competition Of nations, which by allow
ing a freer exchange of productions than W
permit, enable their people to sell for price
which distress the Americ an farmer.
As every patriotic citizen rejoices in tn
constantly increasing pride of our people i
American citizenship and in the glory of on
natural achievements and progress, a senti
ment prevails that the leading strings usefu
to a nation in its infancy, may be well to
great extent discarded in present stages 0
American ingenuity, courages and fearles
self-relances and for tn the privilege OF in
dulging the sentiment WI b true American en-
thusiasm, and citizens are quite, willing {
forego an idle surplus il the public treasury
and all the people know nat the average rat
of Federal taxation upon imports is to-day
1 - r 81
some articles of necessary consumption it
actually more than was imported by th
grievous burden willingly borne, at a tin
when the government reached millions I
maintain by war the safety and integrity
the union.
1t has been the policy of the government
collecs the principal part of its revenues b
tax upon imports; and no change in tn
po icy is desirable. But the present cond
ton Of affairs constrains our people to d
mand, that by a revision of our revenI
laws, the receipts of ne government sha
be reduced TO the necessary expense Of j
economical administration; and this deman
should be recognized and obeye1 by the pc,
pies representations in the legislative branc
of the government
In readjusting the burdens of Federal IA.
alton, sound pu bile policy requires tn
such Of cur citizens as have built up larg
and important industries under present COZ
ditions, should not be suddenly and to the
, injury deprived of advantages TO which the
have adapted their business; but if the pul
lie good requires it, they should be confer
with such consideration as shall deal fair
! and cautiously with their interests, while Il
Just demand of the people for relief fro
needless taxation is honestly answered.
reasonable and timely submission to such
demand should certainly be possible witho'
q disastrous shock to any interest; and
cheerful concession sometimes averts abru]
and Needless action. often the cutgrowth
L l.