Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-17
THE TARIFF,

TON.
In my last annual message to congress atten-
ton was directed to the fact that the revenues
of the government exceed its uctuel needs, and
it was suggested that legislative action should be
taken to relieve the people from the unnecessary
burden of taxation thus made apparent In
view of the pressing importance of the subject
deem it my duty to again urge it's consideration
The income of the government with increased
economies in its collection is more than ever in
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 suject to
the extinguishment, if 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
annual income much
GREATER THAN NECESSARY TO MEET THE
GOVERNMENT EXPENSES
with no Indebtedness on which it could be ap-
Piled. We should then be confronted with vast
quantity of money, the circulating medium of
the people, boarded in the treasury when it
should be IN their hands, or we should be drawn
into wasteful public extravaganza with all the
corrupting national decentralization which fol-
lows in it's trein. But it is not the simple ex-
lstence of this surplus and its threatened at
tendant evils which furnish the strongest argu-
ment against our present scale of federal taxa
ton, Its worst phrase is the exaction of such a
surplus through perversion of the relations be-
tween the people and their governments danger
GUS departure from the rulea which limit the
right Of federal ta1atione. The good govern
ment OF which every American citizen boasts has
Tor its objects the protection of every person
within it's borders with the greatest liberty con-
s s with the good Of the country and his per-
fect security in the enjoyment of his earnings
with the least possible diminution for public
needs. When
MORE OF THE PEOPLES sUsTENANcE IS EN-.
ACTED
through the form of taxation than is necessary
to meet e.. the Just obligations of the government
and the expense of it's economical administra-
ton. such action becomes ruthless extortion
and violation of the fundamental principles of
which these exactions are made has a tendency
to conceal their true character and their extent,
out we have arrived at stage Of superhuous
ization Of the fact that the amount received pro-
fessedly for the support of the government is
paid BY them as absolutely if added to the price
was paid at fixed periods into the hands Of the
tax gatherer. Those who toll for daily wages
are beginning to understand that capital. though
ing for protection and favor of the government,
is dull and sluggish till touched by the magical
hand Of labor. 1t springs into activity. furnish
value which enables it ITO bear it's burden. and
the laboring man is thoughfully inquiring
whether these circumstances. and considering
treasury. as he supplies his daily wants, he re-
ceiyes his fair share of the advantages. There
10 also suspicion abroad that
THE SURPLUS OF OUR REVENUE
indicates abnormal and exceptional business
prohts, which under the system which produces
such surplus increases without corresponding
benefit to the people at large the vast accumuia-
tions of a few among our citizens whose for
tunes; rivaling the wealth of the most favored in
antl-oemocratlc nations. are not the natural
lie. Our farmers. too, and those engaged d.
rectly and indirectly in supplying the PRODUCTS
OF agriculture, see that day by day. and as often
they are forced to pay excessive and needless
taxation, while their products struggle in foreign
markets. with the competition of nations which.
than we permit. enable their people to sell for
prices which distress the American farmer As
every patriotic citizen reioices in the constantly
zenship and in the glory of our national achieves
ments and proRress.,a sentiment prevails that
the leading things useful to a nation in it's in
the present stage of American ingenuity cour-
age and fearless self-relance, aud for the priyi-
lege OF lndnlging this sentiment with true
American enthusiasm our citizens arc quite will
ing to
FoRfGo AN IDLE SURPLUS IN THE PUBLIC
TREASURY;
and all the people know that the average rate of
federal taxatinn upon imports is to-day in time
of peace but little less while upon some articles
of necessary consqmption it is actually more,
ingly borne at time when the government
needed millions to maintain by war the safety
and integrity Of tho United States. 1t has been
principal part Of its revenue by tax upon inn i'm.
porte. and no change in this policy is desirable,
but the present condition Of affairs constrains
our people to demand that by q
REVISION OF OUR REVENUE LAWS
the receipts of the government shall be reduced
to the necessary expense Of its economical ad-