Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-12-02

I people aud their Government dangerous
departure from the rules which limit the
rights Of Federal taxation. Good govern.
ment of which every American citizen boasts,
has for one Of its objects the protection
" every person " III It's border, with
| tie greatest liberty consistent with
the good Of the country aud his per-
| feet security In the enjoyment OF his
earnings with the least possible dnnution
for public eds. VII N more Of the peoples
sustenance is eNacted throu III the form OF tax
| alton than Ia necessary 10 meet the first obli-
CATION Of the government and tbs expense ~
its eclnomc Al admin 'straton such action be,
comes ruthless eNtOrtion and violation of
the fundamental principles Of u free govern.
meut. The n discriminate manner In which
these eXacti0ns are mad has a tendency u
sOnceal their true character and their extent
but we have arrived at a stage Of superhuous
revenue which has aroused the people 10 a
realization of the fact tlat the amount raised
professCd for the support OF tho government
Is pad by them as absolutely AS II added To
the price OF the things which supply their dat
" wants, or as II II was paid at fixed periods
| into the hands Of the tax gathereTs.
Those who toll for days wages are beglnn-
ing to see that capital, though sometimes yaun-
ting Its Importance and clRmoriny for protec
tionRnd favor OF the government is dull aud
sluggish TIL touched by the magical hand OF
labor 1t springs into activity, furnishing an
occasion FOR federal taVation aud gaining the
value which enables IL 20 bear
Its burden and the laborlng man Is now fully
inQuiTing whether, In these circumstances Of
considering the tribute he constantly pays into
the public treasury, as he supplies his daily
wants, whether he re ures his fair share of the
lvautagcS.
There Is also suspicion abroad
that the surplus Of our revenues indicate ali
normal and exceptional husin 'ss profit, which
under the system whjch'produccs such surplus
Increase without a corresponding bCnolt TO
the people at large, The vast RCcumulatlons
IF n few among our citizens, whose fortunes
rival the wealth Oi the most fortunate In anti
Democratic nations, are not the natural
growth OF steady, plain aud Industrious Re
public.
Gu: farmers, too, aud those rngagol direct
" and Indirectly In supplying tie products of
agriculture, see that DAY BY day and as often
as the daily wants Of their household recur,
they are forced tu pay exc, ssivc and needless
taxation, while other nations which, by allow.
iny frecr exchange OF productions than we
permit enable their people to sell for prices
VIII ca distress the American farmer.
As every patriotic citizen rciOCns In the con.
stantly increasing pr de of our Cuple In Amer-
lean citizenship and IN the glory OF our ma
tIonal achievements and progress n sentiment
peVails that
THE LEADING STRINGS
useful to a nation In Its infancy may well 10
q great extent, be d sCarded In the present
self reliance; and iOI the privilege OF indul-
girg this sentiment with true American en-
thusiasm, our citiz rs are quite willing TO fore
20 an idle surplus in a public treasury, now
that the average rate of federal taxation up,
on imports Is to-day IN time of peace but lit,
tie less while upon some articles Of necessary
consumption II is actually more than was im-
posed by the grieyOus burden willingly born
at a time when the government needed mil.
lions 10 maintain by A war the safety and in
] ifv Of b., haa ha
policy Of the government 10 collect the prlnci
Dal part Of its revenue by tax upon imports
and no change in this policy Is desirable.
TARIFF FOR REVENUE ONLY.
But the present condition OF AHA rs con
strains our peo lie TO dcman that by revision
Of our revenue laws the receipts of the gov, IN %
meut shall be reduced TO the nee 'ss Try expense
Of It's economical administration, and this
demand should be recogni1 ii aud obryud b.
the peoples representatives in the legislalI -
branch of the government.
In readiusting tie burdens Of Federal tax.
alton a sound public policy requires that
such Of our citizens ms have built up large
and important industries under resent con
ditiOns should not be suddenly aud to their
injury deprived of the advantages 10 which
they have adapted their business, but II the
public good requires 1t they should be CON
tent with such consideration rs shall deal
fairly and cautiously with their interests,
lief from needless taxation is honestly an
swered. reasonable aud timely submission
Of such demand should ccrta My b, posi-
bic without disastrous shock TO any inter
ests, and a che 'rful concession sometimes
averts abrupt aud needless acton, often the
outgrowth OF impatencc and delayed jus
tiCe.
Due regard should be also accorded In any
proposed reimbursement to the adjustments OF
American labor SO far as they are Involved.
1t N.aNN
US no Iaboring class fixed in uny ielding bonds
and doomed under all conditions to the mex
rable fate Of daily toll. We Tlco ynize IN la,
Dor q chief factor in the wealth Of the
Republic, and we treat those who have II
in their keeping as c items entitled 10 the
most careful regard and thoughtful attent on,
This regard and attent on should be awarded
them, not only because labor Is the capital OF
our work n gmen, justly entitled to It's share
Of government favor, but for the further and
not less important reason that the laborlnR
man, surrounded BY his family in his humble
home, as a Consumer Is vita IL Interested In all
that cheapens the cost OF living and enables
him 10 br NJ with n his domestic circle add
tiOnal comforts an advantages. This rrla'
ton Of the manner IN which 1t palpably nnu.
ences the quest on If wages, should not b
forgotten in the Unsuitable prom hence given TO
the roper maintenance Of the supply and pro
lection of well paid labor. THESE consldera-
tiOns suggest such arrange mpnt OF government
revenues AS shall reduce the expense Ol wing
while IL does not curta the opportunity for
work, nor reduce the compensation OF Amer
can labor, and inlurlously affect its c0nd ton
an the uignhel place II holds in the estlma'
ton Of our peOll"
. BIT our farmers and agriculturists, hose who
from the soil produce the things consumed by all
are perhaps more directly and plainly con
ccrncd than any other OF our citizens, In d
just and careful system OF federal taxation,
those actually engaged n and more remotely
engaged in this kidd Of work., number nearly
one half of our population. None labor
harder or more continuously than they. No
enactments Of the government enhance u
any great extent the value Of their products,
and yet for many OF the necessaries and com
forts OF life, which the most scrupulOus econ
omy enables them - bring into their homes
they are obliged TO pay a price largely In.
creased by an unnatural profit, which by the
action Of the government Is given g the
more favored manufacturer. | recommend
that, keeping In view all these considerations,
the increasing and unnecessary surplus oil
national income annually accumuating, be
released 10 the people BY an amt iment 10 our
revenue law, which shall cheaper the price OF
the necessaries Of life and give free imports
such imported materials as by American
labor may be manufactured into marketable
commodities Nothing can lie &C
cOmplished, however, In the dlrec
ton of this much necdsd reform
unless the subject Is approached IN patriot
ic spirit of devotion to the interests OF the en-
tire country and with willingness TO yielC
1mething for the public good.