Morning journal and courier., 1886-12-07
THE SURPLUS REVENUES.

The indirect manner in which these exac-
 tions are made has & tendency to conceal
 their true character and their extent. But
 we have arrived at 8 stage of superHuous
 revenue which has aroused the people to
 realization of the fact that the amount raised
 professedly for the support of the govern
 ment is paid by them absolutely. ii add
 ed to the price of the things which supply
 their daily wants, if it was paid at fixed
 periods into the hands of the tax gatherer.
 Those who toll for daily wages are begin
 ming to understand that capital, though some- times yaunting it's importance and clamorlng for the protec ion and favor of the govern ment, is dull and sluggish till, touched by the magical hand of labor, it springs into activity, furnishing an occasion of federal taxation and gaining the value which enables it to bear it's burden. And the laboring nau is thoughtfully inquiring whether in these circumstances, and considering the tribute he constanstv pays into the public treasury as he supplies his daily wants, he receives his fair share of advantages
 There is also 8 suspicion abroad that the surplus of our revenues indicates abnormal and exceptional business profits, which, m der the system which produces such surplus, increase without corresponding oenene to the people at large, the vast accumulatlons or | few among our citizens whose fortunes, rival ing the wealth of the most favored in anti democratic nations, are not the natural
 gr with of steady, plain and industrious re- public.
 Our farmers, too, and those engaged di-
 rectly and indirectly in supplying the pro duets of agriculture see that day by day and as often as the daily wants of their house. | holds recur they are forced to progressive and needless taxation, while their products struggle in foreign markets with the compe- tition of nations which, by allowing freer exchange of productions than we permit, en- able their people to sell for prices which distress the American farmer.
 As every patriotic citizen reJo1ces III tne constantly increasing pride of our people In | American citizenship and in the glory of our | national achievements and progress sentl- | meut prevails that the leading-strlngs useful | to a nation in it's infancy may well be to | rreat extent discarded in the present stage l of American ingenuity, courage and fearless 1 self-reliance And for the privilege of dl- | ynIoino this sentiment with true American | enthusiasm our citizens are quite willing to forego an idle surplus ill the public treasury 1 And all the people know that the average
 rate of federal taxation upon imports is to- day. in time of peace, but little less while mon some articles of necessary consumption | it is actually more, than was imposed by the prieyous burden willingly borne at the time | when the government needed millions to maint ain by war the safety and integrity of | the Union.
 It has been the policy of the government
 to collect the principal part of it's revenues | by tax upon imports; and no change in the policy is desired. But the present condition | of 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 it's economical administration; and this demand should be recognized and obeyed by the peoples 1ep- resentatives in the legislative branch of the
 government
 In readjusting the burdens of federal tax l ation, g sound public policy requires that