The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-12-14

! Gold ....................... % 90, 6J6. OF
Silver ........ ........- $3.50, 626 Oh
In my last annual message 10 con
gress attention was directed to the fact that
the revenues of the government exceeded
its actual needs, and it was suggested
that legislative action should be taken to
relieve the people from the unnecessary
burden of taxation thus made apparent
In view of the pressing importance OF
the subject, | deem il my duty to again
urge its consideration. The income of the
government by it. revised volume and
through economies in It's collection is now
more than ever In excess of public ne
cessities The application of the surplus to
the payment of such portion of the public
debt as is now at our option. subject 10
extinguishment If continued al tie
rate which has lately pre-
vailed would relieve that class
of indebtedness witkin less than one year
of this date Thus a continuation of our
present revenue system would soon result
in the receipt of an annual income
GREATER THAN NECESSARY
| to meet government expenses with no IN
detedness, upon which it could be applied
We should then be confronted with a vast
quantity of money the circulatory medium
of the people boarded In the treasury
when ii should be i'm heir hands, or we
! should be drawn into wasteful public
extrzvaganc.s with all the CORFU pting
national generalization which follows in
| its train, but it is not the simple existence
of this surplus and its threatened attend
ant evils which furnish the strongest argu.
ment against our present scale of federal
taxation. Its worst phase is the exaction
of such a surplus through a peiversioE OF
the relations between the people and their
government, and dangerous departure
| from the rules which limit the right OF
federal taxation. Good government, and
especially the government of which every
American citizen boasts, has for Its objects
the protection of every person within IFS
care in the greatest liberty consistent with
the good order of society and
his perfect security in!the enjoyment of his
earnings with the least possible diminution
of public needs. When more of the peoples
sustenance is exacted through the form of
taxation than is necessary TO meet the just
obligations of the government and the ex-
pense of its economical administration such
exaction becomes ruthless extortion and a
violation OF the
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF A FREE
GOVERNMENT.
The indirect manner in which these exac-
tons are made, have q tendency to conceal
their true character and extent, but We
have arrived at a stage OF supertiuous
revenue which has aroused the people to a
realization of the fact that the amount
raised professedly for the support of the
government is paid by them is as absolutely
added to the price of the things which
supply their daily wants, as if it was paid
at fixed periods into the hand of the tax
gatherer. Those who toll for daily wages
are beginning to understand that capital,
though sometimes Wanting its Importance
and clamoring for the protection and favor
of the government, is dull and sluggish, till
touched by the magical hand of labor, it
springs into activity, furnishing an occasion
for federal taxation and gaining the
value which enables ii to bear
its burden, land the laboring man is thought
fully, inquiring whether, in these circum-
stances and considering the tribute he con-
stantly pays into the public treasury as he
supplies his daily wants, he receives his
FAIR SHARE OF ADVANTAGES.
There is also suspicion abroad, that
the surplus of our revenues indicate alb
normal and exceptional business profits,
which under the system produces
such surplus increase without correspond
ing benefit TO the people at large. The
vast Accommodations of few among our
citizens of whose fortunes are revealing,
the wealth of the most favored
not the material growth of a
steady, plain and industrious republic.
Our farmers, too, and those engaged d.
rectly and Indirectly in supplying the
products of agriculture, SO that day by
day and as the daily wants of their house
hold recur, they are forced to pay excessive
and needless taxation while their products
struggle in foreign markets with a compe-
titiOn of nations, which by allowing a freer
exchange of productions than We permit,
enable their people to sell for prices
which
DISTRESS THE AMERICAN FARMER.
As every patriotic citizen reioices in the
increasing pride of our people
in American citizenship and in the glory
of our nat ional achievements and progress, /!
q sentiment prevails that the leading
strings useful to nstien in its infancy,
may wei, to great extent, be discarded
in the present stage of American ingenuity,
courage and fearless self-reliance, and
for the privilege of underlying this senti- |
ment with true American enthusiasm, our |
citizens are quite willing to forego an idle
surplus in the public treasury, and all the |
people know that the average rate of fed
sral taxation upon imports is to-day in |
lime of place, but little less, while on
,ome articles of necessity, consump-
ion is actually more than
was imposed by the grievous burden, will
ingly born, at time when the govern
nent needed millions to maintain by war
he safety and integrity of the United
States. 1t has been the policy of the gov
eminent to collect the principal part of its
revenues by tax upon imports and no
lhange in this policy is desirable. But