Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-12-15


should DO drawn into waSteIul public oStray
agance with all tbs corruptng national dc.
'morali2ation which follows In its train
Bat it is not the simple existence Of this
surplus, aud its hrcatcne attendant evils
which furnish thestrongeSt argument against
our present scale of Federal tayation It's
worst phls, l. tho oyaction Of such surplus
through apewersion of the relations between
the people and their government, and dan
ge"1ui departure from the rules which limit
tn, right Of Fe lcral taxation.
Good government, AMI especially the gov
ernmcnt of which every American citizen
boasts, has for its oh o u.s. tho protection of
every person within its care in tho greatest
liberty consistent with the good order OF So
ciety, ard his perfect security in the enjoy
ment of his earnings with the least possible
diminuton for public needs. When more Of
the peoples substance is eNacted through the
form of taxation than is Ee'cssary to meet
III, Just obligations of the Government and
tho expense of its economical administra-
ton, such eya 'tion becomes ruthless extor.
ton and violation of tho fundamental prin-
cpos Of free. government
The indirect manner in which these eXac-
tons are mado has tendency to conceal
their true character and their extent But
we have arrived at n stage of supcriluous
revenue which has arollsel the people to n
realiAati N OF the fact that the amount raised
protes,cdly for the support of tho govern
ment, is paid by them as 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 tax gathcrer,
Those who toll for daily wages are begin.
ming to understand that capital, though
sometimes vauntlng its Importance and
clamorinG for the protection and favor Of the
government is dull AMI sluggi,h till, touched
h,' thn plnfripol hand nf lnbpr c,,rinrrS
into activity, furnishing an occasion for Fed
eral taxation, and gaining the value which
enables it to bear its burden, and the labor
ing man is thoughttuly 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
urplus Of our revenues indicates abnormal
and exceptional business profits, which, un.
der the system which produces such surplus,
increase without corresponding benefit to the
eople at large, the vast Gccumu'ations Of a
few among our citizens whose fortunes ri
valing the wealth of the most favored in
antl-democratic nations, are not the natural
growth of steady, plain and industrious re-
public.
Our farmers, too and those engaged dt.
roctly and indirectly in supplying the pro-
ducts Of agriculture, zee that day by day,
and as often as the daily wants Of their house.
holds recur, they are forced to pay excessive
aud needless taxation, while their products
struggle in foreign markets with the COMPETE
ton of nations, which, by allowing a ireer
exchange of productions than we permit,
enable their people to sell for prices which
distress the American farmer
As every r.ot, citizen rc5oi e5 in tn,
constantly increasing pride of our people in
American citizenship and in the glary of our
national achievements ard progress Senti.
ment prevails that the leading strings useful
to nation in its infancy, may vel be to
great extent discarded in the present stage of
American ingenuity, courage and fearless
selfreIiauce. Aud for the privilege OF in
1ulging this sentiment with true American
enthusiasm our citi1eaS ale quite wiling to
torego an idle surplus in the public Treasury.
And all the people know that the average
rate of Federal taxation upon imports Is to-
day, III time of pea but little less, while
upon some articles of necessary consumption
It is actually more than was imposed by the
gricvou5 burden will ngly borne, at a time
when the government needed millions to
maintain by war the safety and integrity of
The Union.
1t has cen the policy of the government to
,ollect the principal part Of its revenues by
tax upon imports, and no change in this
policy is desirable. But the present condition
If affairs cOnstrainS our people to demand
.shat by a revision of our revenue laws the
re eipts of the government shall be reduced
90 the necessary expense of its economical
administration, and this demand should he
recognized and obeyed by the peoples rep
reScntatives in the legislative branch Of the
government
In read iusting the burdens Of Federal tax
alton, sound public policy requires that such
Of our citizens as have built up large and i'm
portant industries under present conditions,
should not be suddenly and to their injury
deprived of advantages to which they have
adapted their business butif the public good
requires it, they should Ee content with such
consideration as shall dc,l fairly and eau
tiouSy with their interests, while the just
demand of the people for relief from need
less taxation is honestly answered,
A reasonable and timely submission to
such demand should certainly be possible
without disastrous shock to any interest and
a careful concession sometimes averts abrupt
and heellcss action, often the outgrowth of
mpatiencc and delayed justice.
THE INTERESTS oFAMERICAN LABOR
Due regard should be also accorded in any
proposed readjustment to the interests of
American labor 50 far as they arr involved.
We congratulate ourselves that there is
among Us no laboring class, fiXel with un
yielding boun.s and doomed under all condi-
tions to the memorable fate of daily toll.
We recognize III labor chief factor in the
wealth of the republic. and we treat
those who have 1t IN their
zeeplng aS cltiIcns enutleu 10 inc
most careful regard ana thoughttul atten-
ton. This regard and attention should be
awarded them, not only Lesanse labor Is the
capital of our worklngmen, justly entitled to
It's share OF government FAVOR, but Tor mo
further and not less Important reason that
the labOrin5 man surrounded by his family
In his humble home a consumer is vitality
interested in all that cheapens the cost OF
living and enables hin to bring within his
iomestic circle additional comforts and I'D
vantages.
This rotation OF the WofKlnginan 10 the
revenue laws OF tne country, anu Tue manner
in which it palpably influences the question
Of wages should not be forgotten IN the JUS
tiable prominence given t. the proper
maintenance of the supply and the protection
Of Weif-iald labor. And these CONSIDERATIONS
suggest such an arrangement ot government
revenues as shall reduce the expense of llv-
ing, while it does not cultail the opportunity
for work nor reduce the compensation OF
American labor, AMI injuriou'ly affect its
condition and the diSniiied la it holds i'll
the estimation OF our People.
But our farmers and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
who from the soil pro luce the things con.
sumed by all-are pc'hlpS more directly and
plainly concernei IMAM any oIher OF our cltl
.onS ~ J";TT No. s,'a ,t"i,,' on,,,rod in and
utaus'on lioSv oo o' ,,it M Ina nf
ilo.o teI.ioou'y LIE ~ o,,r na,,lo
WorN h1nuei Ien' vi ,,.Ir. y, U"' npontin",
1.on. N . M tb "'sHe' "" t,,a,t0 Init
o .y C,,ai NY ~ oT No irto,nnS;tion of