Huntsville gazette., 1886-12-11
HUNTSVILLE ALA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER II, 1886.


the peoples substance is exacted through the
forms of taxation than is necessary to
meet the just obligations of the Government
and the expense Of its economical administra-
ton such exaction becomes ruthless extortion
and violation of the fundamental principles Of
free Government
The indirect manner in which these exactions
are made has tendency to conceal their true
character and extent, but we have arrived at q
stage of supefiuous 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 absolutely, if added to the price Of
things which supply their daily wants, US if it
was paid at fixed periods into the hand OF the
taygatherer.
Those who toll for daily wages are beginning
TO understand that capital, though sometimes
vaunting its importance and clanloring for the
protection and favor of the Government, is dull
and sluggish.til, 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 inquiring
whether, under these circumstances. and con-
sidering the tributes he pays in the treasury as
he supplies his daily wants: be receives his fair
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 accumulations of few among
our citizens whose fortunes, rivailng the wealth.
of the most favored in anti-democratlc ma
tiOnS are not d natufal growth IN STEADY,
plain and industrious republic.
Our farmers, too, and those engaged directly
and indirectly in supplying the products OF
agriculture see that day by DAY, and as often
as the daily wants of theic household recur
they are forced TO pay excessive and needless
taxation. while their products struggle in for
eign markets with the competition Of nations
which by allowing freer exchange OF
which distress the American farmer As
increasing greatness of our people in American
cltlZensnip and in the glory OF our National
achievements and progress, the sentiment pre-
walls that the leading strings useful to nation
in its infancy may be we'll toa great extent dis
carded i'll the present stage OF American
ingenuity, courage and fearless self-reliance,
and for the privilege OF indulgins this
sentiment with true American enthusiasm, our
citizens are quite willing to foTego 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 grievous burden willingly borne ut
a time when the Government needed millions
to maintain by war the safety and integrity UE
the Union.
1t has been the policy of the Government to
collect the principal part OF its revenues by
tax upon imports and change in this policy
IS desirable. But the present condition OF az
FAIRS constralns our people to demand that by
re7islon 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 leSls-
lative branch of the government.
In feadj1sting the burdens OF Federal taxa
ton. sound public policy requires that such
OF our citizens az have bullt UP large and Inn
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 if the public good re-
Quires, it they should be content with such CON
sideration shall deal fairly ana cautiously
with their interests. while the just deindnd
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 q cheerful concession sometimes
aVerte abrupt ana Needless action often the
outgrowth OF impatience and delayed justice
Due regard should be also accorded In any
proposed Teadjustment OF the tariff to the in
tereStS OF American labor, so far as they are IN
Yolved
We congratulate ourselves that there is
among Us no laborng class liked within I'M
yielding bounds. and doomed under conditions
to the inexorablc fate of daily toll We recog-
hiZe i'll labor chief factor in the wealth OF The
Republic; ana we treat those vino have 1t IN
their keeping as citiZens entitled TO care care,
ful regard and thoughtful attention. This
regard and attention should be award
ed them, not only because labor Is
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 laborng man, surrounded 5y his
family in his humble nome, as consumer IS
vitally interested in all that cheapens the cost
Of living aHd enables him to bring within his
domestic circle additional comforts and al
vantages. This relation of the Worltingman 10
the revenue laws OF the country and the manner
in which it palpably influences the question OF
wages, should not be forgotten in the Justlhaple
prominence given to the proper maintenance OF
the supply and protection of well-paid labor
And these considerations suggest such an ar
rangement of government revenues as Shail re-
duce the-expense of living while il does not
curtail the opportunity for work nor reduce lne
compensation OF American labor, or lnJuriouSIy
affect its condition and the dignifed place 1t
holds i'll the estimation OF our people:
But our farmers ana agriculturists-those
who from the soil produce the things consumed
by all-are perhaps more directly and plainly
concerned than any other OF our citlzens IN "a
just and careful system of Federal taxation
Those acutually engaged and more remotely
connected with this kind Of work number
nearly one half Of our population. None labor
harder and Iaore continuously than they NO
pnaGtments limit their hours or toll ana no ln-
terposition OF the Government enhances to any
great extent the value OF their products Ana
yet for many Of the necessaries and comforts OF
life which the most scrupulous economy en-
able them to bring into their homes, and for
their implements Of husbandry, they are
oh'-ed to pay price largely increased by an
t5.-aIural profit shich. by the action OF inc
government. is given to the more Favored man
ufacturer
recommend that keeping iii view all these
considerations, the increasing and unnecessary
lating be released to the people by an amend
ment to our revenue laws which shall cheapen
the price of the necessarics OF life ana give
freer entrance TO such imported materials as
by American labor may be manufactured INTO
marketable commodities. Nothing can be ac-
complshed, however IN the direction OF this
much-needed reform unless the subject IS ap-
preached in patriotic spirit of devotion 10 Inc
interests of the entire country and with VIII
ingness 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 Seere-
tary OF the Treasury touching the simphhca-
ton and amendment OF laws relating 10 the col
lection OF the revenues.
Less space IS devoted to the silver question
this year than last. but his opposl ltion 70 eoRut
sorry coinage is no less pronounced ipC eiIiSi
ence in the bullion price OF the stahdaru ooiiar
-9ilk cents-WheH first coined. ana lis bullion
vaIue-7S eents-on the 30h OF last November,
certainly does not indicate, the Presi-
dent says that compulsory coinage by
the Government enhances the price OF that
commodity or secures uniformity in lis value
He has seen 10 reason 10 change the views eX-
pressed q year ago on the subject OF compulsory
coinage and aguin urges It's suspension on all
the grounds contained in his former recornenda-
ton reinforced by the significant increase OF
our gold expectations during the last year, ana
for the further reasons that the more
this currency is distributed among
the people. the greater becomes our duty to
protect il from disaster; that we now have an
abundance for all our needs. and that there