Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-12-25
Tax.caihers and Tax.Psyers.


millions in excess OF the needs OF the
Government, while IFS expenditures are
on most liberal scale.
Our standing army is an army OF PEN
toners liberally provided for.
The public debt represents the war
expenses Of the pfst; it represents prop
erty. destroyed; it rs loss which can
not be redeemed II is a debt which
must be paid. 1t is sign Of weakness,
not Of strength. II is a curse, not
blessing.
When We pay public debt created
for war purposes, we simply distribute
the loss over long time and among
great number OF people, just as an in
surance company does after a fire. But
the property destroyed is not in this
way recovered,
An organized government is an econ
omical contrivance; it exists TO do what
the individual can not do for himsell.
1t is, in one sense, an expense, but
properly controlled 1t protects the indi-
vidual and increase his use. his value,
his productive capacity in the commu-
nity.
The expenses of government are met
by a levy On each citizen. Each citizen
is compelled to set apart. ont Of his
earnings, certain sum for the use Of
| the government.
| This levy is called n tax. 1t is an ex-
action; a tribute from the citizen TO the
Government. 1t takes from, it does
not add to. his wealth. 1t is a loss.
In enlightened communities where
the rulers are honest and inteligenb
every effort is made to reduce this levy
to the lowest possible point. The
smaller the sum the ,iovernment takes.
the more does each citizen have to add
to bis capital or to his comforts.
When it is possible in any nation
safely To lessen this tribute, there should
be general rejoicing. Such a reduction
increases the resources of the private
citizen; lessons his burdens; removes
obstacles from his path; enarges his
freedom.
The levy by the Government should
always be limited to the necessities of
the Government economically admins
tered. Wastefullness is crime the
evil OF which is illimitabIe. A system
Of laws which takes from the people
sum in excess OF an econo nical admin
istration, is an evil not to be submitted
to tamely, for it is denial to the
private citizen OF the free use OF his
own property. A tax imposed for any
other use than that OF Government, is
contiscation. When devoted to the SER
vice OF class, or Of an individual, it is
communism.
When the revenues OF Government
exceed the necessities, the part OF wis
dom is to reduce the taxes, and to
abolish those which directly or Indirect
ly cost the individual the most labor or
self-denial.
Such an opportunity is seized by wise
statesmen and used to free the tram
melled energies of the people.
In America different idea prevails.
Our halls are packed by the represen-
tatives of the -gatherers, and not OF
the taxpayers.
The theory which the gatherers urge
is that taxation creates wealth; that ex-
,ravagance is virtue; that the common
people grow richer because of their ex-
actions. Every attempt to reduce taxes
is resisted, these representatives OF the
tax-gatherers try to retain those taxes
that burden the people most heavily;
those which are most destructive OF
their wealth; those which draw most
heavily on their energies.
Instead OF relieving them OF the
taxes on clothing, on nshoes, on tools and
. machinery; instead Of trying to cheaper
for them the processes of production
and transportation and the cost OF their
homes, the tax-gatherers demand free
whisky, free tobacco, free sugar. They
do this BECAUSE nearly all the taxes col
lected on whisky, tobacco and sugar go
to the Government while the other
taxes are divided, the smaller part
going to the Government and the great
er part to the capitalists.
They insist that this is Tor the benefit
Of the laborer They assume that the
more a man works and the less he gets
the happier is he. What was formerly
( considered a serious obstruction to in
, dividual happiness and national pros
peritv is now declared to be marvel
! GUS fountain OF wealth. A man is told
, that The more he surrenders the more
he has. He IS asked to accept this form
. of taxation as miraculous conception;
widows cruise which is never to fail.
The absurdity OF the idea is never for
moment admitted. Mr.. Blaine and
. Mr.. Morrill, and Mr.. Sherman and DIR.
Dawes, all declare the more man sur
renders the more he has. They insist
} that he is warmer in one suit Of clothes
) than he is in two. They declare that
cotton sheets are warmer than woolen
blankets. They insist that it is more
profitable to sell a bale OF cotton for "a
tons OF pig iron that for 5 tons. They
declare that it costs less to build rail-
road with steel rails at $37 than when
steel rails are at $40. They are serious
in all this and they impose on few
people, but moments consideration
J OF the daily transactions OF life, in which
we sell our labor and get in return food
shelter and clothing, will show lis that
these distinguished statesmen are no
more honest than when they sought
to steal the vote Of Louisiana for
: Hayes -Courier-J Journal.
! r.. II. LU-Z