Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-12-11

W. 1uIulSLlIllS oil OCCesooAOA AOA OOOA %
taxation and gaining the value which
enables it to bear it's burden, and the
laboring man is thoughtfully inquiring
whether, in these circumstances and
considering the tribute he constantly
pays into the public treasury as he sup
plies his daily wants, he receives his
fair share of advantages.
There is also suspicion abroad that
The surplus of our revenue indicates
abnormal and exceptional business
profits, which under the system which
produces such suplus increases without
corresponding benefit to the people at
large the vast accumulations of few
among our citizens, whose fortunes,
rivaling the wealth of the most favored
in anti-Democratic nations, are not the
natural growth of steady, plain and
industrious republic.
Our farmers too, and those engaged
directly and indirectly insupplying the
productions of agriculture, see that day
by day, and as often as the daily wants
of their households recur, they are
forced to pay excessive and needless
taxation, while their prOuducts strug-
gle in foreign markets with the compe-
tition of nations, which by allowing |
freer exchange of productions than
we permit, enable their people to sell
for prices which distress the American |
farmer.
In readjusting the burdens of Federal
taxation q sound public policy requires
that such of our citizens that have
built up large and important indus
tries under present conditions should
not be suddenly and to their injury
deprived of the advantages to which
they have adapted their business but
if the public good requires it they
should be content with such considera-
tion as shall deal fairly and cautiously
with their interests, while the just
demand of the people for relief from
needless taxation is honestly answered.
Due regard should be also accorded
in any proposed readjustment to the
interests of American labor. This
regard and attention should be awarded
them not only because labor is the
capital of our workingmen, justly en>
; titled to its share of government favors,
but for the further and not less i'm
portant reason that the laboring man,
surrounded by his family in his humble
home, as consumer is vitally inter-
, ested in all that cheapens the cost of
living and enables him to bring within
. his domestic circle additional comforts
: and advantages.
The relation of the wOrkingman to
the revenue laws of the country, and
/ the MANNER in which it palpably in
e f1uences the question of wages, should
: not be forgotten in the justifiable
| prominence given to the proper main
: tenance of the supply and protection
of well-paid labor, and these consid-
f erations suggest such an arrangement
: of government revenues as shall re-
t duce the expense of living, while it
f does not curtail the opportunity for
: work, nor reduce the compensation OF
/ American labor and injuriously affect
! its condition and the dgnified place it
| holds in the estimation of our people.
: But our farmers and agriculturists-
those who from the soil produce the
things consumed by aIl-are perhaps
more directly and plainly concerned
5 than are any other of our citizens in a
just and careful system os Fedora
: taxation.
l recommend that, keeping in view
{ all of these considerations, the increas-
e ing and unnecessary surplus of national
j income annually accumulating be re-
$ leased to the people by an amendment
/ to our revenue laws, which shall
cheaper the price of the necessaries of
E life and give freer entrance to such
: imported materials as by American
5 labor may be manufactured in merket-
: able commodities.
The sum paid upon the public debt
: during the fiscal year ended June 80,
} 1886, was $44, ,551 ,O43.36. During the
twelve months ended October 81. 1886,
3 ! 3 per cent. bonds were called for re-
$ demption amounting to S127, ,2S3, 100 of
+ which $8O,643, 200 was so called to
: answer the requirements of the law
relating to the sinking fund, and $46,-
639, 300 for the purpose of reducing the
: public debt by application of a part of
the surplus in the Treasury to that
2 object. OF the bonds thus called $102,-
269, $40 became subject under such calls
} to redemption prior to November /,
1856, the remainder, amounting to
: $25, ,O13,6 $50, matured under the calls
/ after this date.
Il In addition to the amount subject to