Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-12-10
compared With Il. previous year. were !. fol

ton. The income Of the government, with
Its increased volume and thorough economies
in Its collection. IL now more than ever IN ex-
cess of public necessities. The application Of
the public debt a. is now ct orr option, sub
ject to extinguishment. II continued ut the
rate which has lately prevailed. would retire
that class of Indebtedness within less than
one year from this date. Thus q contiaua-
ton of our present revenue would eoen
result in the receipt of an annual income
much greater than necessary to meet govern
ment expenses. with no Indebtedness upon
which it could be applied We should then
the circulating medium of the people. boarded
In the treasury when 1t shonld be In their
hands or we should be drawn into wastefnl
public extravaganza with all the corrupting
national decentralization which follows In its
train. But 1t is not the simple existence
Of the surplus and it's threatened. attendant
evils, which furnish the strongest argument
against our present scale of
FEDERAL TAXATION.
Its worst phase is the exaction Of such
surplus through perversion Of the relations
between the people aud their governments
dangerous departure from the rules which
limit the right Of federal taxation. Gosd
government. Of which every American citizen
boasts. has for IT'S objects the protection Of
oVShy Pelsou WAtulA us OolueES Win thp
greatest liberty consistent with the good Of
the country, and his perfect security
in the enjoyment Of his earn
ings, with the least possible
diminutlon for the public needs. When more
of the peoples sustenance is exacted through
the form Of taxation than is necessary to meet
the just demands Of the government. and the
expense of It's economical administration, such
action becomes ruthless extortion. and viola
NJ n6srno NJ ofo feao
government. The indirect manner in which
these exactions are made has q tendency to
conceal their true character and their extent.
But we have arrived at stage Of superhuous
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 beginning tc under
stand that capital, though sometimes vaupt-
ing It's importance and clamoring for the pro-
lection and favor of the government, 10 duh
and sluggish till, toned by
THE MAGICAL WAND OF LABOR,
1t springs into activity, and furnishing an &C.
caeion for federal taxation and gaining the
value which enables it to bear it's
burden, and the laboring man
is thoughtfully inquiring whether
in these circumstances, and considering the
tribute he constantly pays into the pubic
treasury as he supplies his daily wants. be re-
ceiyes his fair share of advantages. There IL
also suspicion abroad that the surplus Of
our revenues indicate abnormal and excep-
tional business profits, which, under the sys-
tenn which produces snch surplus, increases,
without corresponding benefit to the people at
large, the vast accumulations OF a few among
our citizens whose fortunes, rivalling the
wealth OF the most favored in antidemocratia
nations, are not the natural growth of steady,
plain and industrious republic. Oar farm
ers, too, and those engaged directly and
indirectly in supplying the products OF a.ri-
culture see that day by day, and as often as
the daily wants of their households recur,
| they are forced to pay excessive and needless
taxation, while their products struggle ia for
ejgn markets with the competition OF nations
which, by allowing freer exchange of pro-
auctions than We permit. enable their people
to sell for prices which distress
THE AMERICAN FARMER.
As every patriotic citizen rcjoices in the con-
stantly Increasing pride OF our people in
American citizenship ard in the glory OF our
national achievements and progress, senti-
ment prevails that the leading strings useful to
a nation in its infancy may well, to great
extent, be discarded in the present stage Of
American ingenuity, courage, end fearless
selfreliance: and for the privilege OF -indug-
ing this sentiment with true American en,hus.
iasm ouSpeopie are quite willing to foreso an
idle SURF us in the public treasury; and all
the people know that the average rate OF fed
eral taxation upon. imports is today, in time
of peace, aut little less, while upon some at
ticles Of necessary consnm ption 1t is actually
more, than was imposed by the gricy-
GUS burden willingly borne dt a
uimc when the government decided
millions to maiutain by war the safety and in
tegrity OF tho o-..,~ States. 1t has been the
policy OF the government to collect the p,inci-
pa part OF its revenues by tax upon imports
and no Change i'll th: policy is desirable. bnt
the present condition Of affairs ccnst, aims our
people to demand that by a revision Of our
revenue laws the receipts Of the goyernm emit
shall be reduced to the necessary expense Of
is economical administration, and this dem and
shpuld be recognized and Obeyed by the peo-
pic repre- seutatiyes In the legisstive branch
Of the government In readjusting
! the burdens Of federal taxation a sound
pnblic policy requires that such OF
our citizens as have built mp large and i'm
por5ant industries under present conditions
should not be suddenly, and TO their injury,
deprived Of advantages to which they have
adapted their business. But ii the public
good requires it, they should be content with
such consideration as shall deal fairly and eau
mands of the people for relief from needless
taxation is honestly answered, a reasonable
and timely submission to such demand
should certainly be possible 49,.
WITHOUT DISASTROUS SHOCK
! to any interest: and cheerful concession
sometimes avcrts abrupt and needless action,
often the ontgrowth OF impotence and delayed
| Justice. Due regard should be also accorded
in any proposed readjustment to the interests
Of American labor so Tar as they are involved.
We congratulate ourselves that there Is among
| us;no laboring class fixed within unyielding
bounds, and doomed under all conditions to
| the inexorable fate of daily toll. We recog.
ntze in labor chief factor in the wealth Of
| the republic, and We treat those who have It
in sheir keeping - citizens, en-.
| titled to the most careful regard and
thonghtful attention. This regard aud atten-
! ton should be awarded them, not only because
labor is the capital Of our workiogmen, Justly
entitled to its share Of government favor, but
! for the further aud not less impor tant reason,
that the laboring man., surrounded by his
family in his humble home, as consumer, IL
vltally interested In all that cheapens the cost
| Of living and enables him to bri1 g within hil
| domicile additional comforts and advantages
This relation Of the workrgman to the rev:
enue laws Of the county; and the manner In
which it paIpably Influences the question Of
wages should not be forgotten in the justif.
| able prominence given to the proper main.
tensnce Of the supply and protection OF well
paid labor. And these considerations suggest
suen an arrangement of government revenue.
| as shall
I REDUCE THE EXPENSE OF LIVING,
while it does not curtafi the opportunity fo1
work, nor reduce the compensation OF Amcri.
can labor and irjursously affect its condition
and the digniaed place il holds in the essima
/ tiou OF oar people, But onr farmers and agri-