The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-12-07
THE MESSAGE.
AN ABLE AND STAfESMANLIKE D0CU-
EENT.
The Tariff Question Discussed at
Some Length by the
President.

WARRINGTON, December 6.-The Presi-
dent opens with the usual survey OF for
sign relations. Referring to the Cutting
case ks argues that hexico's pretentons
are invasive of the jurisdiction Of this
Government and the principle therein
set forth, II allowed, would be dangerous
10 oar citizens in foreign lands.
He dwslls strongly or the necessity Of
the Government keeping = watchful and
protecting care over its citizens even
though they are a foreign lands The
President trusts that in the interests Of
goos neighborhood the statute referred
to will be 30 modified as to eliminate the
present possibilities of danger to the
peace OF the two countries. He recon-
mends placing the consular service on a
better footing, and urges the necessity Of
some mode Of inspection and report OF
the manner in which the cOnsulates are
conducted. Hetrusts international copy
/ right will receive the attention 1t deserves
/ by Congress. He fayors central bureau
( for the registration of natiOnslized citi
Zens.
Reaching domestic affairs, the first sub
! iect discussed is tia tariff, and to this the
/ President dsvotss 4 great deal of space,
arguing that the necessity for areduction
| Of the tariff 10 more urgent than ever. The
| income Of the Government, be says, by
/ its increased volume and through econ
omies in its collection is now more than
ever in excess Of public necessities. The
application Of the surplus to the pay
ment of such portion otthe public debt
I as is now at our option, subject to eY-
! tinguishment, if continued at the rate
which has lately prevailed, would retire
Z that class Of Indebtedness within less
( than one year from this date. Thui
continuation Of our present revenue sys-
TEN would soon result In the receipt of
an annual income much greater than is
necessary 10 meet Government expenses,
with no Indebtedness upon which it could
be applied We should then be con-
fGonted 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 extrayagance with
all the corrupting national demoraliza-
tion which follows in its train. But it is
not the simple existence Of this surplus
and its threatened attendant evils which
furnish the strongest argument against
our present scale Of Federal taxa
tion Its worst phase is the exac-
ton Of such surplus through
A perversion Of the relations between the
people and their government and dan
gerous departure from the rules which
limit the right Of Federal taxation Good
government, and essentially the govern
Of which every American citizen boasts,
has for its objects the perfection Of every
person within its care in the greatest lib
erty consistent with the good order OF
society, and his perfect security in the
en- joyment of his earnings, with the least
possible diminutiOn Tor public needs.
When mors Of the peoples substance is
exacted through the form of taxation
than is necessary to meet the just abliga-
tions OF the gOYerument and the expense
of its economical administration, such
exaction becomes ruthless eItortion and
a 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 theirextent. But
we have arrived at a stage of supertiuous
revenue which has aroused the people to
a realization Of tue fact that the amount
raised professedly for the support of the
Government is paid by them as absolute
". il added to the price Of the things
which supply their daily wants, as if it
was paid at fixed period into the hand
OF the tax gstherer. Those who toll for
their daily wages are beginning to un-
derstand that capital, though sometimes
vaunting its importance and clamoring
for the protection and favor of the Gov
ernment, is dull and sluggish till touched
by the magical hand of labor, when it
springs into activity, furnishing an occa-
sion for Federal taxation a1d gaining the
value which enables it to bear its burdens
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 a
suspicion abroad that the surplus Of our
revenues indicates abnormal and excep-
tional business profits, which, under the
system WHICH piOuuOOo S"Oh o"l Pi"9,
increases without a corresponding bene-
fit to the people at large, the vast
accumulations OF a 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 industri-
Gus republic. Our farmers, TOO, and
those engaged directly and indirectly in
supplying the products of agriculture,