Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-12-08
istence Of this surplus and its threatened at

tendant wills which furnish the strongest argu-
tion. Its worst phrase Is the exactua Of such a |
surplus through peryersion OF the relations be- !
tween the people and their governnhnt.a danger |
ous departure from the rules which limit the |
right of federal taxations. The good govern |
ment of which every American citizen boasts has |
within IT, borders With the greatest bsry com
sistent with the good of the country, and hs per-
feet security in the enjoyment of his earnings |
with the Least possible dininution for public |
MORE OF TIE PEOPLES susTENANcE Is tx !
AcrED
through the form of taxation than il necessary |
to me the jast obligations of the government |
and the expense OF its economical adnlinietra- |
ton, such action becomes ruthless extortion |
aud u violation of the fundamental principles of
a free government. The indirect manner in
which these exactions are made has tendency
to conceal their true character and their extent
but we have arrived ut a stage OF suportluous
revenue which has aroused the people to a real
i2atian Of the fact that the amount received pro-
fessediy for the support of the government is
paid by them absolutely IL added TO the price
Of thinps which supply their daily wants IS If it
tax gathcref. Those who toll for 1rdify whgss 4
are begining to understand that capital though
sometimes Wanting its Importance and clemor-
ing for protection aud favor of the government,
is dali and sluggish till touched By the magical
hand of labor. 1t springs into activity. furnish
ing occasion for federal tax and saians the
the laboring man is thoughfaly ioquiring
whether these circumstances. and considering
treasury as he supplies his daily wants, he re-
ceiyes his fair share OF the advantages. There
is also suspicion abroad that
THE SURPLUS OF OUR REVENUE
indicates abnormal and exceptional business
profits, which under the system which produces
srch surplus increases without corresponding
ben fit to the people at large the vast 1ccumnla-
tons of u few among oar citizens whose for
tupes. rivaling the wealth of the most favored in
snti-democratic nations, are Mt the natural
growth Of steady, plain and iadusttiuns repub-
lie. Oar farmers. too. and those engaged di-
rectiy ard indirectly in supplying the products
of aercuture. sea that day by day and as often
as the d,ly wants of their households rscur, that
they are farred 10 pny excessive and needless
taxation, while their pr"lucts struggle 10 foreign
markets Hita the com Dehtian OF nations which.
by allowing a treer exchange of productions
than permit, crable their people to sell For
every patri tic citizen rejoces in the constantly
Increasing pride of our pasple in American citi-
zenship and in the glory of our national achieve
ments and progress, a sentiment prevaia that
the leading things usefui to a nation in its in
fancy may well to great extent he discarded in
the present stage of American ingenuity, CONF
age and fearless selfrellance, and for the privi-
lege of INDUCING this sentiment with true
American enthusiasm our citizens are quite will
ing to
roRR6o AN IDLE SURPLUS IN THE PUBLIC
TREASURY;
and all the people know that the average rate of
federal taxation upon imports is to-day in time
Of peace but iittls less. while upon some articles
of necessary consumption il is actually more,
than was imposed by the grievous burden will
lngly borne at a time when the govern
needed millions to maintain by war the safety
and integrity of the United States. 1t has been
the policy of the government to collect the
ports. and no change in this policy is desirable,
but the present condition nf affairs constrains
our people to demand that by "a
REVISION OF OUR REVENUE LAWS
the receipts of the government shall be reduced
To the necessary expense of its economical i'd
ministrhtion, and this demand should BIO recog-
niZed ami changed by the peoples representa-
tives II, the legislative branch of the, govern
ment. In readjusiug the question of federal tax
alton sound public policy requires that such of
our citizens a. have built up large and important
not ba suddenly and to their injury deprived of
these advantages to which they have adapted
tleir business; but If the pnblc good requires it
they should be content with sucii consideration
as shall deal fairly and cautiously with their in
terests while the just demand OF the people for
relief from needless taxation is honestly an
euch demand should certainly be possible
without disastrous shock TO any interest, and a
needless action, often the outgrowth of impa-
thence aud delayed Justice. Due regard shonld
ha also accorded in any proposed readjustment
to the interests III American labor SO far as they
are involved. We congratulate ourselves that
there is among Us no lahoring class fixed within
unyielding bounds and doomed under all oondi-
recognize in labor
CHIEF FACTOR IN The WEALTH OF THE RE-
PUBLIC,
and We treat those who have il in their keeping
as citizens entitled TO the most careful regard
and thoughtfnl attention, This regard ard at
tenticA should be awarded them. not only b.
ca1se labor is the capital of our workingnen,
justly entitled To its share of government favor.
but for the further and not less Important res-
son that the laboring man, surrounded by HIS
family in his humble home. as a consumer is
vitality interested in all that cheapens the cost of
living an enables him to bring within his do
mestlc circle additional comforts and advantages.
Ihis relation of tho workman to the revenue
laws for the country, and the manner in which
It paipaoiy Influences the question of wages
should not be forgotten in the iustifiable prom
inence given to the proper maintenance 81 the
supply snd protection OF well paid labor and
these cons derations suggest such an arrange
ment OF the government revenues shall
duce the expense of living. while it does not eui-
tail the opportunity for work. reduce the
ously affect its condition and tho digniGed place
1t holds in the estimation OF oar people. Bnt
OUR FARMERS AND AGRrcULTuRIsrs,
those who from the soil produce the things con-
enmed by all, are perhaps more directly and
in just and careful system of federal tax alton.
Those actually engaged in and more remotely
connected with this kind of work number nearly
one-half OF oar population. None labor harder
or more continuously than they. No enactments
limit their hunrs of toll. and no interpretation OF
the government enhances to any great extent the
vane of their products and yet for many of the
necessaries and comforts Of life which the most
scrnpulous economy enables them to bring into
their homes and for their implements Of
husbandry, they Obliged to pay
a price largely Increased by an unn ,turaI profit
which by the action of the government is given
to the more favored manufacturer recommend
that, keeping in view all these considerations
the increasing and unnecessary surplus of ma
to the people by an amendment TO our revenue
laws which shall cheaper the price of the necessa-
ries of life and give freer entrance to such i'm
ported materials by American labor may be
manufactured into ma rketahle commodities.
Nothing can he accomplished, however in the
direction of this much needed reform unless tho
subject is az preached in patriotic spirit OF de-
votion to the interests of the entire country and
with willingness to Yield something for the
public good.