St. Landry democrat., 1886-12-18

and the expense of its economical administra-
ton, such cxaction becomes ruthless extortion
and violation OF the fundamental principles OF
q free GoVernmc mcnt.
The indirect manner in which these exactions
are made has tendency to conceal their true
character and extent, but we have arrived at a
stage of supehuous 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
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, though sometimes
yaunting its importance and clamoring for the
protection and favor Of the Government is dull
and sluggish till, touched by the magical hand OF
labor, it springs into activity, furnishing an oc-
casion for Federal taxation and gaining the
value which enables it to bear its burden, and
the laboring man is thoughtfully lnqulrlnS
whether, under these circumstances, and con-
sidering the tributes he pays in the treasury as
he supplies his daily wants, he receives his falr
share Of advantages.
There is also a suspicion abroad that the sur
plus Of our revenues indicates abnormal and
exceptional business profits which, under the
system which produces such surplus, increase,
without corresponding benefit to the people at
large, the vast accumulatlons OF 1eW among
our citizens whose fortunes, riValing the wealth
Of the most favored in autidcmocratlc ma
tions, are not a natural growth ia steady,
plain and industrious republic.
and 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 Tor
eign markets with the competition of nations
which, by allowing a freer exchange OF
productions than we permit nj. enaoae dTcee
which distress the American farmer. AS
every patriotic citizen rejoices in the constantly
increasing greatness of our people in American
citizenship, and in the glory of our National
achievements and progress, the sentiment pre-
walls that the leading g-strings useful to nation
in its infancy may be well to great extent dis
carded in the present stage OF American
ingenuity, courage and fearless self-reliance
and for the privilege Of indulging this
sentiment with true American enthusiasm, our
citizens are quite willing to forego an idle sur
plus in the public treasury. And all the people
know that the average Federal 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 I'M
posed by the grleyOuS burden willingly borne at
time when the Government needed millions
to maintain by war the safety and integrity OF
the Union.
1t has been the policy of the Government 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 af-
fairs constrains our people to demand that by
revision of our revenue laws the receipts of the
Government shall be reduced to the necessary
expense of its economical administration, and
this demand should be recognized and obeyed
by the peoples representatives in the legls-
lative branch Of the government.
In readjusting the burdens Of Federal taxa
tion, a sound public policy requires that such
of our citizens have built up large and i'm
portant industries under the present conditions
should not be suddenly, and to their injury, de-
prived of advantages to which they have adapt
ed their business; but il the public good re-
sideration as shall deal fairly and cautiously
with their interests, while the just demand
of the people for relief from needless taxation
is honestly answered. A reasonable and timely
submission to such demand should certainly
be possible without disastrous shock to any in
terest; and a cheerful concession sometimes
averts abrupt and needless action, often the
of impatience and delayed justice
Due regard should be also accorded in any
readjustment of the tariff to the in
terests of American labor, so far as they are in
volved.
We congratulate ourselves that there is
among us no labor1ng class fixed within un-
yielding bounds. and doomed under conditions
to the inexorable fate Of daily toll. We recog-
nize in labor chief factor in the wealth Of the
Republic; and we treat those who have it in
their keeping as citizens entitled to care
full regard and thoughtful attention. This
regard and attention should be award
the capital Of our workingmen, just
ly entitled to its share of Government favor,
but for the further and not less important rea-
son that the laboring man, surrounded by his
family in his humble home, as a consumer, 10
vltally interested in all that cheapens the cost
Of living and enables him to bring within his
domestic circle additional comforts and ad-
vantages. This relation of the WOrkngman to
the revenue laws OF the country. and the manner
in which it palpably Influences the question Of
wages, should not be forgotten in the justifable
prominence given to the proper maintenance OF
The supply and protection of Well-pald labor.
And these considerations suggest such an ar
rangement of government revenues as shall re-
1uce the expense Of living while it does not
curtail the opportunity for work nor reduce the
Of American labor, or injuriously
affect its condition and the dignified place it
holds in the estimation OF our people.
But our farmers and agriculturists-those
BY alI-are perhaps more directly and plainly
than any other OF our citizens in
lust and careful system of Federal taxation.
Those acutually engaged and more remotely
with this kind OF work number
nearly one half of our population None labor
harder and more continuously than they. No
limit their hours OF toll and no in
exposition of the Government enhances to any
great extent the value of their products. And
ret, for many OF the necesSaries and comforts OF
ife which the most scrupulous economy en-
,ble them to bring into their homes, and for
heir implements OF huSbandry, they are
obliged to pay price largely increased by an
profit which, by the action Of the
government is given to the more favored man
ifacturer.
1 recommend that, keeping in view all these
considerations, the increasing and unnecessary
surplus of National income annually accumu-
ating be released to the people by an amend
nent to our revenue laws which shall cheaper
he price Of the necessaries Of life and give
reer entrance to such imported materials as
~ American labor may be manufactured into
commodities. Nothing can be ac-
omplished, however, in the direction OF this
nuch-needed reform unless the subject Is ap-
,roached in patriotic spirit of devotion to the
interests OF the entire country and with will
ngness to yield something for the public good.
While on the subject Of tariff and revenue the
President especially directs the attention of
congress to the recommendations of the Secre-
ary OF the Treasury touching the simplifica-
ion and amendment of laws relating to the col
ection OF the revenues
Less space is devoted to the silver question
his year than last. but his opposition to compul-
ory coinage is no less pronounced. The dlner-
,nce in the bullion price OF the standard dollar
-94A cents-when first coined, and its bullion
ralue-1S cents-on the 30Lh Of last November,