Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-07

supuriu0us revenue which has aroused
/ the people to q realization
OF the fact that the amount
raised professedly for the support Of the
government is paid by them, and is as ab.
soutely added TO the price Of the things
which supply their daily wants as If L
was paid at Fixed periods into th- bands
OF the tsx.gatherer. Those who toll for
living are beginning 70 understand that
capital, though sometimes Wanting IT,
importance and clamorlog for the protec-
tlon and favor OF the government, Is dull
and sluggish, till, touched by the magical
hand OF labor, it springs into &C
tiyity, furnishing an occasion FOL
federal taxation, and gaining the
value which enables II TO bear
its burden, and the laboring man i.
thoughtfully inquiring whether in
these circumstances aud consider
ing the tribute ne constantly
pays into the public treasury
as he supplies his daily wants, he re-
ceives bis fair share Of advantages
There Is also suspicion abroad that the
surplus Of our revenues indicates alb.
normal and exceptional business profits
which under the system which produces
such surplus Increase, without CORE
spondlag benefit to the people at large
The vast accumulations Of few among
our citizens whose fortunes are reaching
the most favored in anti-democratic ma
lions, are not the natural grow tn
of steady, plain and industrious repub-
lie. Our farmers, too, and those engaged
directly aud indirectly In supplying the
products of agriculture, see that day by
day and as often as the daily wants OF
their household recur they are forced TO
pay excessive and needless taxation while
their products struggle in foreign ma
kets with the competition of nations
which, by allowing freer exchange of
productions than we permit, enable their
people To sell for prices which distress
the American farmer. As every patriotic
citizen rejoices In the constantly increa.-
ing pride Of our people in Ameri-
can citizenship and in the glory
OF our national achievements and pro.
gress, sentiment prevails that the lead
ing strings useful TO q nation Ia its infan-
cy may we'll, to a great extent, be dis.
carded In the present stage Of American
ingenuity. For age and fearless selfreli.
ance, and for the privilege OF INDUCING
this sentiment with true American enthu-
siasm our citlz rs are quite willing to
torego our idle surplus in the public
treasury. All the people know that the
average rate of federal taxation upon
Imports as to-day, in time Of peace, but
little less, while upon some
articles OF necessary con
sumption 1t Is actually more, than
was imposed by the grievous burden will
ingly borne at time when the govern.
ment needed millions to maintain by war
the safety and integrity of the United
States. 1t has been the policy OF the gov.
eminent TO collect the principal part OF
its revenues by tax upon imports, and
no change in this policy is desirable, but
the present condition of affairs constrains
our people demand that by revision
OF oui revenue laws the receipts of tho
government shall be reduced to the nee
essary expense Of it's economical admin
istration and this demand shoul
be recognized and ooeyed by
the peoples representatives in the legis-
lGtive branch of the government. IN re.
adjusting the burdens of federal taxation
sound public policy requires that such
OF our citizens az have built up large and
important Industries under present con-
dii1ons should not be suddenly, and to
their injury, deprived of advantages %
which they have adapted their business,
but If the public good requires it they
should be content with such considera-
ton as shall deal fairly and cautiously
with their interests, while the Just de-
mand Of the people for relief from need
less taxation is honestly answered. A
reasonable and timely submission to such
a demand should certainly be possible
without disastrous shock to any interest,
M nh til 4,
avoids abrupt and needless action, often
the ou'growth Of impatienct and delayed
justice. Due regard sh uld be also ac-
corded IN any proposed readjustment TO
the interests of the Anne rican laborers so
far as they are involved. We congratu-
late ourselves that there is among us
no laboring class fixed within unyielding
bounds and doomed under all conditions
to the inexoIa5le fate of daily toll. We
recognize in labor chief factor in the
wealth OF the republic, and we
treat those who have 1t
IN their keeping as citizens entitled to the
most careful regard and thoughtful atten-
ton This regard and attention should
be awarded them, not only because labor
is the capital of our workingmen Justly
entitled To its share Of government favor.
out for the further and not less important
reason that the lsborlng man, surrounded
by his family in his humble home as a
consumer, is vi'ally Interested in all that
cheapens the cost of living and enables
him to bring within his domestic circle
additional comfort and advantages.
This relation of the workipgman
to the revenue laws OF the country
aud the manner in which it palpsbly in
nueDces the question OF wages should not
be forgotten In the justiflable prominence
gwen TO the proper maintenance of the
supply and protection of well-paid labor
ana their consideration sugg SITS such ar
arrangement OF government revenues as
snail reduce the expense Of living, while
II does not curtail the opportunity for
WORK nor reduce the compensation of
American labor and iniuriously affect its
condition and the digniled place IL holds
in the estimation OF our people. But our
farmers and agr,cuiurists, those who
from the soils produce the things con.
suuheu oy all, are more directly and
plainly concerned than any other OF our
citizens IN Just and careful system OF
federal taxation. Those actually engaged
Ia aud more remotely connected with this
KIND OF work number nearly one.haIf, of
our population. None labor harder or
more continuously than they, no enact.
ments limit their hours of toll, and mo- In.
teTposition of their government enhances
10 any great extent the value of their
product and yet for many of the
heeessarles and comforts of life
when the most scrupulousl economy
enables them to bring into ,ha;r