The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-07
THE MESSAGE.
C0ntinuea - ~ - Rage.

ginning To understand tldL VAL
though sometimes yaunting its Import
snee and clamoring for the protection
and favor of the government, is dull
aud sluggish till, touched by the magi-
cal hand of labor, il springs into ac-
tiyity, furnishing an occasion for
Federal taxation and gaining the value
which enables il TO bear its bur
den. and the lIboring man Is thought
fully iDqulriBg whether in these cir
cumstances and considering the tribute
he constantly pays into the p1blic
treasury as he supplies his daily wants,
he receives his fair share OF edyan-
tages. There is also suspicion abroad
that the surplus of our revenue indi-
Gates abnormal and exceptional bus
mess profits which make the system
which produces such surplus increase
without corresponding benefit TO the
people al large; the vast accumulations
OF a few among our citizens whose
fortunes, rivaling the We Attn CT the
most favored I'm anti-demOcratic Ea-
tiOns, are not the natural growth OF
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 uailS
wants Of their households recur, they
AAE AgA%EA ~ Ee- 49, N@7-f@ $500
less taxation, while their products
struggle in foreign markets with the
competition of nations, which by al
lowing q freer exchange OF productions
than we permit, enable their people 10
sell for prices which distress the
American farmer. As every patriotic
citizen TejOices in the constantly in
cieasing pride of our people IN AmeIi-
can citizenship, and in the glory
of our national achievements and pro-
gress, g sentiment prevails that the
leading-striDgs useful TO q nation in its
infancy, may well, 10 & great extent, be
discarded il the present stage OF
American ingenuity, courage and fear
less self-Tellance, and for the privilege
OF ind ulgiug in this sentiment with
true American enthusiasm, our citizens
are quite willing 70 forego an idle sur
plus in the public treasury. All the
people know that the average rate OF
Federal taxation upon imports is to-
day, in time of peace, but little less,
while upon sOBe articles of necessary
consumption il is actually more than
was imposed by the grievous burden,
willingly borne, at time when the
Government needed millions 10 main
tain by war the safety and integrity OF
the United States. 1t has been the
policy OF the Government to collect the
principal part of its revenues by tax
upon imports and no change in this
policy is desirable, but the present
condition of affairs constrainS our
people TO demand that by revision of
OUR REVENUE LAWS,
the receipts of the Government shall be
reduced TO the necessary expense of its
economical administration, and this de-
mand should be recognized and Obcyed
by the peoples representatives in the
legislative branch of the government.
In readjusting the burdens of federal
taxation, a sound public policy re-
quires that such of our citizens as have
built up large Snd important industries
under present conditions, should not
be suddenly and TO their injury de-
priYed of advantages To which they
have adapted their business; but If the
public good requires it, they should be
content with such consideration as
shall deal fairly and cautiously with
their interests, while the Just demand
of the people for relief from needless
taxation is honestly answered. A
reasonable and timely submission to
snch q demand should certainly be
possible without disastrous shock to
any interest, and cheerful concession
some times arertS abrup: ana needless
action, often the outgrOwth OF impa-
thence and delayed justice. Due re-
gard should be also accorded in any
proposed raadjustment TO the interests
ofAmerican labor so far as they are in
vOlyed. We congratulate ourselves
that there is among US no laboring
class fixed within uDyicldlne bounds,
ard doomed under all conditions TO the
ineXors bic fate OF daily toll. We rec
ogniZe in labor chief factor in the
wealth of the republic, and
We treat those who have II
in their keeping as citizens entitled to
the most careful regard and thought
full attention. This regard and atten
tion should be awarded them not only
because labor is the capital OF our
working man justly entitled 10 its
share OF government favor, but for the
further and not less important reason,
that the laboring man surrounded by
his family in his humble home, as a
consumer, Is Yitally interested in all
that cheapens the cost of living and
enables him 10 bring within his domes-
tic circle additional comfort and ad-
vantages. This relation of the working
man TO the revenue laws of the country
and the manner in which 1t palpably
influences the question of wages
should not be forgotten in the justih-
able prominence given to a proper
maintenance of the supply and pTotec-
tion of well-paid labor, and these con-
siderations suggest such an arrange
ment of government revenues a shall
reduce the expense of living, while il
does not curtail the opportunity for
work, nor reduce the compensation of
American labor and injuriously affect
its condition and the dignified place il
holds in the estimation of our people.
But
OUR FARMERS
and agriculturalIsts, those who from the
soil produce the things consumed by ali
are perhaps more directly and palpably
concerned than any other of our citi-
zens in just and careful system of
federal taxation. Those actually en-
gagged in and. more directly connected
with this kind of work number nearly
one-half OF our population. None la
Dor harder or more continuously tn au
they; no enactments limit their Lours
Of toll, aud no interposition of the
government enhances 20 any great eX-
tent the value of their products; and
yet for many of the HeceSsaries and
comforts of life, with the most
scrup1lous ! economy, enables them