The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-12-09

has lately prevailed would iet - that class |
of indebtedness within less than one year
from this date. Thus continuation of our
present revenue system would soon result
in the receipt of au annual income much
greater than necessary to meet the govern
ment expenses, with no Indebtedness upon
which it could be applied. We should then
be confronted with vast quantity of
money, the circulating medium of the peO-
pie, boarded in the Treasury, when it should
be in their hands, or We should be drawn
into
WastefuI Public Extravagance,
with all the corrupting national demoraliza-
tion which follows in its train. But il is not
the simple existence of this surplus and its
threatened attendant evils, which furnish
the strongest argument against our present
scale of federal taxation. It's worst phase
is the exaction of such surplus
through a peryersion of the relations
between the people and their government,
Il dangerous departure from the rules which
limit the right of federal taxation. Good
government, of which every American eiti-
zen boasts, has for its objects the protection
of every person within its care in the great
est liberty consistent with the good order of
society, and his perfect security in the en-
iOyment of his earnings, with the least pos
s5le diminution for public needs. When
more of the peoples sus:enance is exacted
through the form OF taxation than is neces-
sary to meet tue just obligations of the gov
ernment and the expenses of its economical
administration, such exaction becomes ruth
less exto.tion and violation of the funda-
mental principles of a free government. The
indirect manner in which these exactions are
made has IA tendency TO conceal their true
character and their extent But we have
| arrived at a stage of supcrfluous revenue
which has aroused the people 10 a realization
| of the fact that the amount raised profeSsedly
fNp. fh.aS pnPkC If npfI NaTH
by them as absolutely, if added to the price
of the things which supply their daily wants,
as if it paid at fixed periods
into the hand of the tax gatherer. Those
who toll for daily wages are beginning to un-
derstand that capital, though sometimes
vaunting its Importance and clamoring for
the protection and favor of the government,
is dull and sluggish, till, touched b. the
| magical hand OF labor, il springs into activi-
| ty, furnishing an occasion for federal taxa
tion and gaining the value which enables il
to bear its burden, and the laboring man is
| thoughtfuily inquiring whether in these cir
| cumstances, aud considering the tribute he
constantly pays into the public treasury as
he supplies his daily wants, he receives his
| fair share of advantages. There is also a
| suspicion abroad that
The Surplus of Our Revenues
indicate abnormal and exceptional business
| profits, which, under the system which pro.
|
responding benefit to the people at large, the
vast accumuiations of a few among our citi
zens, whose fortunes, rivaling the wealth OF
| the most favored in anti democratic nations
are not the natural growth of a 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 ss otter
rs the daily wants of their households
recur, they are forced to pay eXcessiv,
and needless taxation, while their product
struggle in foreign markets with the compe
tition of nations, which, by allowing free
exchange of productions than we permit
enable their people to sell for prices whicl
distress the American farmer, AS ever.
patriotic citizen rejolces in the constantly in
creasing pride of our people in American
citizenship and in the glory Of our nationa
achievements and progress, sentiment pre-
walls that the leading strings useful to a ma
ton in its infancy, may well, to
great extent, be discarded in tn
) present stage of American ingenuity
courage, and fearless self-reliance. Aud 70
the privilege of indulging this sentiment
with true American enthusiasm our citizen
: are quite willing to forego an idle surplus i
, the public Treasury. And all the peopl
know that the average rate of federal taxs
tion upon imports is to-day, in time of peace
, but little less, while upon some articles {
necessary consumption it is actually MOI
than was imposed by the grieyous burden viii
= ingly borne at time when the governmer
needed millions to maintain by war tn
safety and integrity of the United States.
has been the policy of the government to co
I | lect the principal part of its revenues by
: tax upon imports, and no change in tn
. policy is desirable. But the present cond
ton of affairs constrains our people to dc
: mand that bya
. Revision of Our Revenue Laws
= the receipts of the government shall be n
: duced to the necessary expense of its ec'
. nomical administration, aud this deman
) should be recognized and obeyed by tn
c peoples representatives in the legislatN
/ branch of the government.
q in readiusting the burdens of federal tax
$ ton, q sound public policy req uircs that sue
It of our citizens as have built up lars
: and important industries under the preseI
: conditions, should not be suddenly and
: their injury deprived of advantages to whiC
It they have adapted their business; but if Il
!, public good requires it, they should be CO.
= tent with such consideration US shall de
, fairly and cautiously with their interest
& while the just demand of the people for r.
If lief from needless taxation is honestly o.
1t swered. a reasonable and timely submi
l. sion to such demand should certainly
le possible without disastrous shock
Ie any interest; and cheerful concessiC
d sometimes avoids abrupt and needle
action, often the outgrowth of impatien
and delayed justice. Due regard should
II also accorded in any proposed readjustme
O0 to the interests OF American labor, so far
00 they are involved. We congratulate OU
~ selves that there is among us no labOril
class fixed within unyielding bounds, al
doomed under all conditions to the inexor
BILE fate of daily toll. We recognize in lab
Il a chief factor in the wealth of the Tepubli
and we treat those who have
in their keeping as citizens entitl
to the most careful regard and thoughtf
60 attention. This regard and attention shou
A. be awarded them not only because labor
The Capital of Our workingman,
70 Justly entitled to its share of governme
favor, but for the further and not less i
portant reason, that the laboring man 81
rounded by his family in his humble hon
as consumer is vitallv interested in
., that cheapens the cost of living, and enab
. him to bring within his domestic circle a
q, ditionaI comforts and advantag
l, This relation of the workir
e. man to the revenue laws of t
~. country, and the manner in which it p
u pably influences the question of wag
", should not be forgotten in the justifal
ar prominence given to the maintenance of I
* supply aud protection of we'll paid lab,
5n And these considerations suggest such an
M rangement of government revenues as sh
OIL reduce the expense of living while it d.
not curtail the opportunity for work nor
duce the compensation of American lal
o. and injuriously affect its condition and I
90 digniiled place ii holds in the estlmat
~ of our people. But our farmers q
W agriculturists, those who from the soil p
duce the things consumed by al, are perhi
90 more directly and plainly concerned tt
", any other of our citizens, in a just and ca