The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-12-11

a free Government.
The indirect manner in which these exactons
ore made has tendency to conceal their true
character and extent, but we have arrived at a
stage of supehuous revenue which has aroused
the people TO realization of the fact
that the amount raised professedly
for the support of the Government is paid by
them as absolutely il added to the price of
things which supply their daily wants, as II it
was paid at fixed periods into the hand Of the
taxgatherer
Those who toll for daily wages are beginning
TO understand that capital, though sometimes
Wanting its importance and clamoring for the
protection and favor OF the Government. is dull
and sluggish till touched by the magical hand Of
labor it springs into activity, furnishing an oc-
cason for Federal taxation and gaining the
value which enables it to bear its burden and
the laboring man is thoughtfully inqIirng
whether under these circumstances, and con-
sidering the tributes he pays in the treasury as
he supplies his daily wants, he receives his fair
share Of advantages.
There is also q suspicion abroad that the sur
plus OF our revenues indicates abnormal and
exceptional business profits which, under the
system which produces such surplus, increase,
without corresponding benefit to the people at
large, the vast accumulations Of a few among
our citizens whose fortunes, rivaling the wealth
of the most favored in anti-democratic ma
tions, are not n natural growth in a steady,
plain and industrious republic.
Our farmers too, and those engaged directly
and indirectly in supplying the products OF
agriculture, see that day by day. and as often
as the daily wants of their household recur,
they are forced TO pay excessive and needless
taxation, while their products struggle in for
eign markets with the competition of nations
which, by allowing freer exchange Of
productions than we permit enable
thelr people TO sell for prices
which distress the American farmer As
every patriotic citizen rejoices in the constantly
increasing greatness of our people in American
citizenship, and in the glory OF our National
achievements and progress, the sentiment pre-
walls that the leading-strings useful to a nation
IN us infancy may be well to great extent dis
Carueu IN the present stage Of American
ingenuity, courage and fearless self-reliance,
ana for the privilege OF indulging this
sentiment with true American enthusiasm, our
citizens are quite willing to forego an idle sur
plus in the public treasury And all the people
know that the average Federal taxation upon
imports is to-day in time Of peace, but little
less, while upon some articles of necessary
consumption it is actually more, than was i'm
posed by the grievOus burden willingly borne at
a time when the Government needed millions
to maintain by war the safety and integrity Of
the Union.
It has been the policy of the Government to
collect the principal part OF its revenues by a
tax upon imports and no change in this policy
is desirable. But the present condition Of af-
fairs constrains our people to demand that by a
revision of our revenue laws the receipts OF the
Government shall be reduced to the necessary
NApNllSt VI It's ECONOMICAL ADMINISTRATION, anu
this demand should be recognized and obeyed
by the peoples representatives in the legis-
latlYe branch of the government
In readlusting the burdens Of Federal taxa
ton, sound public policy requires that such
or our citizens as have built up large and i'm
portant industries under the present conditions
should not be suddenly, and TO their injury, de-
prived of advantages to which they have adapt
ed their business; but If the public good re-
qures il they should be content with such con-
SiQergtiOn shall deal fairly and caution SlV
with their interests, while the just demand
Of the people for relief from needless taxation
is honestly answered. A reasonable and timely
submission to such q demand should certainly
be possible without disastrous shock to any in
terest and a cheerful concession sometimes
avertS abrupt and needless action, often the
outgrowth of Impotence and delayed justice.
Due regard should be also accorded in any
proposed readlustment of the tariff to the in
terests OF American labor, so far as they are in
voved
We congratulate ourselves that there is
among us no labopng class, fixed within UNI
yielding bounds and doomed under conditions
to the memorable fate of daily toll. We recOg-
nize in labor chief factor in the wealth of the
Republic; and we treat those who have it in
| their keeping as citizens entitled to care.
full regard and thoughtful attention. This
| regard and attention should be award
| ed them, not only because labor is
the capital of our woTllingmen, just
| ly entitled to its share Of Government favor
| but for the further and not less important rea
| son that the labOring man. surrounded by his
family in his humble home, as consumer, il
vitality interested in all that cheapens the cost
| OF living and enables him to bring within hil
| domestic circle additional comforts and ad
vantages. This relation of the worEingman {
! the revenue laws OF the country,and the manner
| in which il palpably Influences the question o
wages, should not be forgotten in the Unsuitable
| prominence given TO the proper maintenance o
| the supply and protection Of well-pald labor
ArNgN hoe f1nV ffsNraE
| rangement of government revenues as shall re
! duCe the expense OF living while il does no
curtail the opportunity for work nor reduce tn,
! compensation of American labor, or iniurousl,
| affect its condition and the dignihed place /
| holds in the estimation of our people.
| But our farmers and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
! who from the soil produce the things consumed
by all-are perhaps more directly and plainl
! concerned than any other OF our citizens in
| Just and careful system OF Federal taxation
| Those ACTUALLY engaged and more remotel
connected with this kind OF work numbe
| nearly one half Of our population. None labo
| harder and more continuously than they. n
| enactments limit their hours OF toll and no in
| tCrpOsition of the Government enhances to an
great extent the value OF their products. An
yet for many of the necessaries and comforts G
| life which the most scrupulOuS economy er
able them to bring into their homes, and 70
their implements OF husb0ndry they ar
obliged to pay price largely increased by a
unnatural profit which, by the action of tn
Government, is given to the more favored mar
| utaCturer.
recommend that keeping in view all thes
considerations, the increasing and unneccSsar
surplus Of National income annually account
latng be released to the people by an amend
ment to our revenue laws which shall cheape
the price OF the neCCssaries OF life and civ
freer entrance to such imported materials a
by American labor may be manufactured int
marketable commodities. Nothing can be az
complished, however, in the direction OF TIL
much-needed reform unless the subject is az
preached in patriotic spirit Of devotion 10 III
interests OF the entire country and with vii
ingncsS to yield something for the public goo
While on the subject OF tariff and revenue I'll
President especially directs the attention
Congress to the recommendations of the Seer
tary Of the Treasury touching the simplihc
tion and amendment OF laws relating to the CO
lection OF the revenues.
hess space is devoted 20 the silver QuestiC
this year than last but his opposition to cOmpu
| sorry coinage Is no less pruuuuuCrN The uluc
encC in the bullion price OF the standard doll
-qiia cCnts-whcu first coined. and rs hulliC
valuc-7S cents-on the 3Ih OF last Noycmbe
certainly does not indicate, the Pres
dent says, that compulsory coinage
the Government enhances the price OF III
commodity or secures uniformity in its valu
He has seen no reason TO change the views g
pressed a year ago on the subject OF compulso
coinage, and again urges its suspension on 9
the grounds contained in his former rccomend
ton, reinforced by the significant increase
our gold expectations during the last year, a.
for the further reasons, that the mo