The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-12-10

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give effect to such engagements nor any
which provides needed central bureau for
the registration Of naturalized ctttsena
TIE TARIvF.
Reaching domestic affairs, the first sub
] ct discussed Ia the tariff, and to this the
president devo'es great deal OF space,
arguing that the necessity for reduction
,,e tariff is mors urgt-'t than ever.
The i.lcome Of the government" he says,
its incrt asad volume and thorough
economies in its collection Is now more than
ever in excess OF public necessities. The
application of the surplus 70 the paym.n of
such POI ton of tn public debt as Is now at
our opvlon subject to extinguishment, II
CO. tiuued ut tbs rat. which has lately pre-
vailed, would retire that class OF indebtedness
within less than ona year from this date.
thus continuation OF our present revenue
sy 81, N would soon result in tho receipt OF
an annual income much greater than nee
essary {, me t government expenses, with
no ind bt dness upon which 1t could be ap-
plid. We should then be confronted with
vast quantity of money, the circulating
m dunn of tn people, boarded in She treas
ury, when it should be in their hands, or We
should be drawn into wasteful public ex
travagance. with all the corrupting national
liberalization which follows in its train.
But it is not the simple exist nee OF the
surplus and its threat ned att -ndant evils
viii il furnish the strongest argumenG
against our present scale OF federal taxation.
Its worst phase is tn exaction OF such sur
plus through perversion of the relations
between the people and their government
and dangerous departure from the rules
which limit the right Of federal taxation
"Good government, and especially the
government of which every Am rlcan citi-
zen pt asts, has for its object protection OF
eve.y rson within its care in the greatest
liberty consistent with the good order OF
society, and his perfect security in tn en-
joynlent of his earnings, with the least pos
slble ui.ninution for public needs. Wh II
more of the peoples substance is exactel
through the form of taxation than is neces'
sary to meet the just obligations of the gov
eminent and the expense of its economical
administration, such exaction becomes ruth
less extortion and violation of fundamen-
tai principles Of free government.
1.-The indirect manner in which these
exactments are made have tendency to
conc al their truth and their extent, but
we have arrived at stage of superfuous
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
if added to the price of the things which
supply their daily wants, as If it was paid
at fixed periods into the hands of the tax
gatherer.
"Those who toll for daily wages are be-
-, ,S,rs Tor thnt pQnitpl fhnuOh
sometimes Wanting its Importance and
clamoring for tn. 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-
casion for federal taxation and gaining the
value which enables it to bear its burden.
And the la ing man is thoushtfully in
curing wheth.r in these circumstances, and
considering the tribut. he constantly pays
into the public IT, asury as he supplies his
daily wants. he receives his fair share OF
advantages
"rhere is also suspicion abroad that the
surplus of our revenue indicates abnormal
ana exceptional business profits which un-
der the system which provides such surplus,
increase without corresponding benefit to
the people at large. The vast accumu-
lations of "a few among our c'tiz ms
whose forttAies reveal the wealth of tn,
most favored in anti-democratic nations,
are not the natural growth of a steady,
plain and Industrious republic.
Our farmers and those engaged directly
and indirectly in supplying the products OF
agriculture see that, day by day as oft n as
the daily wants of their households recur,
they are forced to pay excessive and need
less taxation, while their products struggl,
in foreign markets with the competition OF
nations which by allowing freer exchange
OF productions than we permit, enabls theil
people to sell for prices which distress tn,
American farmer.
"And every patriotic citizen reioces in til,
constantly increasing pride of our peopla il
American citizenship and in the glory OF
our national achievements and progress, /;
sentiment prevails that leading strings use
full to nation in its infancy may well be
to a great extent discarded in the presen,
state Oh American ingenuity, courage ant.
fearless self-reliance. And for the privileg
OF in iuiging this sentiment with tru>,
American enthusiasm, our citizens ar quit,
willing to forego an idle surplus in the pub
lie IL, asury.
"And all he o)e know that tn, aver.
age ratz of federal taxation upon imports
Is to-uay, Ill Clme OF peace, but little less
while upon some articles of necessary con
sumption it is actually more, than was i'm
posed by the grievous burden willingly
borne at time when the government need
ed millions Of dollars to maintain by wal
the safety of the Union
sit has been the policy of the govern.
ment to collect the principal part OF its rev.
enue by tax upon imports and no change
in this policy is desirable if the present con
dition of affairs constrains our people 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 de-
mand should be recognized and obeyed by
the peoples representatives in the legisla-
tive branch Of the government.
''1n readjusting the burdens of federal |
sound public policy requires
that such of our citizens as have built up |
large and important industries under pres
ent conditions should not be suddenly, and
to their injury, deprived of advantages to
which they have adapted their business; but
If the public good requires it, they should
be content with such consideration as shall
deal fairly and cautiously with these inter
ests, while the just demand of the people
for relief from needless taxation is hon estly