The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-12-09

Ouf imports during the last flS<:dl year, as
compared vita the previous year. were as
follows:
Merchandise .S635. 43, 1856 s519,5so.O
s Silver Ia.ss55as 1855 iS,sso So
In my last annual message to the congress
attention directed TO the fact that the
revenues of the government exceeded its
actual needs; and it was suggested that legls-
lative action should be taken to relieve the
people from the unnecessary burden of taxa
ton thus made apparent. In view of the
pressing Importance OF the subject deem it
my duty to again urge its co,lslde alton.
IA TARIFF For REVENUE ONLY
The income of the government by its IN
creased volume and through economies in its
collection is now more than ever III excess of
public necessities. The application of the
surplus to the payment of such portion OF the
public debt as Is now at our option sub jet to
extlnguishment, il continued at the rate
which has lately prevailed, would retire that
class of indebtedness within less than one
year from this date. Thus continuation of
our present revenue system would soon result
III the receipt of an annual income much
greater than necessary to meet government
expenses, with no Indebtedness upon which it
could be applied. We should then be con-
fronted with vast quantity OF money-the
circulating medium of the peopie-hoarded
in tine treasury when it should be III their
hands, or we should be drawn into wasteful
public extravaganza with all the corrupting
national Generalization which follows III its
train. But it is not the simple existence of
this surplus and its threatened ,;ttendant evils
which furnish the strongest arg lnlent against
present scale of federal taxation. Its
worst phase is the exaction of such q surplus
through perveTson of the relations be-
tween the people and their government, and
dangerous departure from the rules which
limit the right CT tcux ral taxation. Good
government, and especially the government
of which every American citizen boasts has
for its objects, the protection OF every person
within its care in the greatest liberty
sistent with the good order of society, and
his perfect security in the enjoyment of his
earnings, with the least possible diminution
for public needs. When more of the peoples
substance is exacted through the form of
taxation than is necessary to meet the just
obligations of the government and the ex-
pense of its economical administration, such
eXaction becomes RUTHLESS, eXtortion and
violation of the fundamental principles of a
free government. The indirect manner in
which these exactiOns are made has ten
dency to conceal their true character and
their extent. But we have arrived at stage
of superfuouS revenue which has aroused the
people to a realization of the fact that the
amount raised professedly for the support of
the government is paid by them absolutely,
if added to the price of the things which supply
their daily wants, as if it was paid at fixed
periods into the hand of the taxgatherer.
Those who toll for daily wages are beginning
to understand that capital, thong b sometimes
vaunting its Importance and clanIoring for
the protection and favor of the government,
is dull and sluggish, till, touched by the
magical hand of labor, it springs into &C
tivity. furnishing an occasion for federal
taxation and gaining the value which enables
it to bear its burden. And the labOring man
is thoughtfully inquiring whether, in these
circumstances and considering the tribute
he constantly pays into the public treasury
as he supplies his daily wants, he receives his
fair share of advantages. There is also a
suspicion abroad that the surplus of our
revenues indicates abnormal and exceptional
business profits, which, under the system
which produces such..surplus, increase, with
out corresponding benefit to the people at
large, the vast Accommodations of a few
among our citizens whose fortunes, rivaling
the wealth of the most favored in anti-demo-
| cratic nations, are not the natural growth of
a steady, plain and industrious republic.
| Our farmers, too, and these engaged directly
and indirectly in supplying the products
and as often as the daily wants of
! their households recur, they are forced to
| pay excessive and needless taxation, while
| their products struggle i'll foreign markets
| with the com. 'etition of nations, which, by
| allowing a freer exchange of productions than
we permit enable their people to sell for prices
| which distress the American farmer. As every
| patriotic citizen rejoices i'll the constantly in
creasing pride of our people in American
| citizenship and in the glory of our national
achievements and progress, sentiment pre-
walls that the leading strings useful to ma
ton in its infancy may well be a great ex-
tent discarded in the present stage of Ameri-
can ingenuity, courage and fearless self-re-
| lance And for the privilege of indulging
this sentiment with true American enthusiasm
our citizens are quite willing to forego an idle
| surplus in the public treasury. And all the
people know that the average rate of fedora
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 imposed by the grievous burden
willingly borne at a time when the govern
ment needed millions to maintain by war thu
| I,nta Of fha 7r,rnr = ha
been the policy Of the government t,
collect the principal part of its reven
ues by tax upon imports, and NJ
change in this policy is desirable. But tn
our people to demand that by a revision 0
our revenue laws the receipts of the govern
ment shall be reduced to the necessary ex
pense of its economical administration; ant
this demand should be recognized and obeye.
by the peoples representatives in the legisla
tive branch of the government. In readjust
ing the burdens of federal taxation a SCUM
public policy requires that such of our citi
lens as have built up large and important in
dustries under present conditions should nc
be suddenly, and to their injury, deprived c
advantages to which they have adapted thei
business: but il the public good requires
they should be content with such considers
ton as shall deal fairly and cautiously wit
their interests. while the just demand of tn
people for lie. from needless taxation
honestly answered. a reasonable and timel
subms sion to such demand should certainl
be possible without disastrous shock to an
interest; and cheerful concession sometime
averts abrupt and needless action, often tt
outgrowth Of Impotence and delayed justice
Due regard should be also accorded
any proposed readjustment to the inters
of American labor SO far as they are involve.
We congratulate ourselves that there
among us no laboring class fixed within III
yielding bounds and doomed under all col
ditions to the memorable fate of daily toi
We recognize in labor a chief factor in ii
wealth Of the republic, and we treat tho
who have it in their keeping as citizens el
5 full attention This regard and attentio
should be awarded them, not only becau
labor is the capital of our workingmen, just
entitled to its share Of government favor, b,
for the further and not less important re-
son that the laboring man surrounded by b
6 family in his humble home, as = consume
is vitality interested in all that cheapens Il
i, cost of living and enables him to briI