The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-12-09
The Presidents message.


lengthy document, occupying nine news
y,,,,ay .ol,,rnns and % a phola is tpdiops
papei ooio'nto' oDN' 80 " ~
and rather commonplace.
The President opens VIII tne usuaI survey OF
foreign relations. Referring TO the Cutting
case he argues that Me xicos pl etentions are in
vasive OF tn re jurisdiction OF this Government,
and the principle therein set forth, il allowed,
would be dangerous to our citizens in foreign
lands.
He dwells strongly on the necessity of the
Government Keeping Watcn1ul ana protecting
care over Its citizens even though they are In
foreign ldnuS. me ffesluenb trusts tnal IL me
interests OF gooa % tLe statute re-
ferred to will be so Ipod fed as to eliminate the
present posslpiiltles OF dahgef 10 tae peace OF
the Two countries. lie recommends placing tie
consular service on oeltef lootlpg, and nrgt $
The necessity OF some ihode OF inspection ana
report OF the manner IN winch the consalates
are conducted he trusts International copy
right will receive The attention IL deserves by
Congress. he IaVofs central bureau Tor the
registration OF naturalized citizens.
,,,,, ,,.s,,,,
~
Reaching domestic anaiis, the first subject
d discussed is the tarlH ana TO this the President
devoteS q great deal OF space, arguing that the
necessity for a Reduction OF the tariff is more
urgent than ever. The income OF the Govern
ment, he says, by its increased volume and
through econom1esinlt us collection. ls now more
application OF me surplus 70 the payment OF
sucasporton OF the puDlic deDt as is now at our
opt ion, subject to exfinguishment, If continued
a. tne rate Wnlcn mas lateiy prevailed, would
retire That class OF Indebtedness Within less
than one gear from THIS date Thus a continu-
alton of our present revenue system would
soon result int receipt OF an animal income
much greater than IS necessary TO meet Gov
eminent expenses, with no Jude btedness upon
wh1ch1t could pc applied. We should then be
cohironted WIN a VAST quantity OF money, the
clrcuiatlhs neulun on me people, hoarded IN !
the treasury when u should pe IN their hands,
or we snouiu De dfaWi into wasteIut puDilc ex-
travagance win an Inc cofropllns national
demorailIatlon Wiiicn IoiioWs III lts Train. But
II Is noG .ne sii PIE eAlste1ce oi ms surplus
ana us unreal ed alte naantevlls winch furnish
me sotf9ilsess atsunent asainsc our present
scale OF Feueial taxation. US worst Phase is the
exactlon oi such a surplus thfough q perverslon
81 Inc reiallons between the people and thelr
GoVerbi lient an y dangerous departure from
the rules which limit the right OF Federal tax
| alton. GOOD government and essentially the
government OF which every American citizen
boasts, has for Its objects the protection of
every person WITHIN It's care IN the greatest lib
erty consistent with the good order of society,
and his perfect security III the enjoyment of his
earnings, with the least possible d1munition for
public needs. when more OF the peoples sub
stance is eXacted through the form OF taxation
than Is necessary TO meet the just obligations
i OF the government and the expense of its eco
noInlcal ADM nlstratl0n, sueh eAactlon becomes
ruthless extcrIic ion and a violation OF the funda-
mental principles OF q lfee government. The
made has deucy to conceal theiI true char
acter and their extent. But we have arrived at
stage of superfious revenue which has aroas-
et the pc ople 10 a realization OF the tact that
| the amount raised professedly foe the support
the Government is paid by them as absolutely.
/ If added to the price of the things which sup
ply their daily wants. as Ii it was paid at fixed
| period into the Land of ne ak galherer. Those
who toll for I,a II daily wages are beg inning to
understand that capital. though sometimes
Wanting its i'm poftaiice and elalnoring for the
| protection and favor OF the Government, is dull
and sluggish I'LL touched by the magical hand
of labor, when il springs into activity, furnish-
ing an occasion for Feder | taxation and GAIN
| ing the value which enables it to bear its bur.
| dens. And The laboring man is thoughtfully
inquirng whether in these circumstances, and
| considering The tribute he constantly pays into
the public Treasury us he su plies kis daily
wants, he receives lis fair saafs of advantages.
There is also a s on abroad ia. the surplus
| of our revenues indicates abnormal and eScep.
/ tional business profits, which, under the system
which produces such surplus, increases with
| large, the vast accommodations of a few among
| our citizens whose fortunes, rivaling the wealth
/ of the most favored in anti Dem ocratic 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
1 day by day aud as often as the daily wants of
their households recur they are forced to nav
| excessive and needless taxation while their
| products struggle in foreign markets with the
competition Of nations, which, by allowing a
| freer exchange of productions than we hermit
enable their people to sell for prices which dis
| tress the American farmer. AS every patriotic
| citizen rejoices in the constantly increasing
| pride of our people in American citizenship
| and in the glory of our national achievements
| leading Strings useful to a nation in infancy
| may well be to great extent discarded in the
| present stage of American ingenuity, courage
and fearless self relian ce and for the privilege
| of indulging this sentiment with true American
| enthusiasm our citizens are quite willing to
| foregO an idle surplus in the public Treasury
j And all the people know that the average rate
fof 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 imposed by The griey@
GUS burden willingly borne at a time when the
| Government needed millions to maintain by
| war the safely and integrity of the Union it
has been the policy of the Government to col
| lect the principal part of its revenue by tax
upon imports; and no change in This policy Is
desirable. But the present condition of affairs
vision of our revenue laws the receipts of the
| Government shall be reduced to the necessary
expenses of its economical administrator and
the demand should be recognized and obeyed
| by the peoples representatives in the legisla-
tive branch of the Government. In readjusting
the burdens OF Federal taxation sound public
pollcy requires That such OF our citizens as have
built up large and important industries under
present conditions should not be suddenly and
to their injury deprived of advantages to which
they nave adapted thelf business: put. II the
pui9ile good REQUIRES IT, they should pc content
with such consideration as shall deal fairly and
cautiously with their interests, while the just
demand OF the eople ttor relief from needless
| taxatlon is honestly answered. "A reasonable
ana tmely submission 10 such demand
should certainty ce possiole Wlthout dlsas-
cession sometimes averts ABRUPT and needless ie
| actlon, often the outgroWth or lmpat1ence and
delayed justice. Due regard should be also &C
cofdea IN any PROPOSED reaoJ ustmenI TO the
interests OF American labor SO lar as they are
nyoiVeo. we c0ngratulaIe ourselves tnat tnere
| Is among US no laboripg class fixed within ur-
yielding bounds and doomed under all condi-
lions to the inexorable fate of daily toll. We
recognize In labor a chief factor in the wealth
OF The Republic, and we treat those who have 1t
IN the II Keeping as citizens entitled to the most
careful regard and thoughtful attention. This
regard and attention should be awarded them,
| not only because labor is the capital of our
| Workingmen. justly entitled to its share of
government favor, but for the further and not
| less Important reason that the laborlng man
| surrounded by his family i'll his humble home,
| as consumer, is vitality interested in all that
cheapens the cost of living, and enables him to
| bring within his domestic circle additional
comforts and advantages. This relation of the
| Work1ngman to the revenue laws OF the coun-
ences the question OF wages, should not be for
gotten in the justifiable prominence given to
the proper maintenance of the supply and pro-
| lection OF well paid labor. And these consider
| atoms suggest such an arrangement of Govern
menu revenues as shall reduce the expense of
for wori. nor TeSnca tha "
American labor. and injuriously effect its con-
dlt1on and the dlgn flied place 1t should have in
| the estimation of our people. But our farmers
and agf1culturists - those who from the soil
| produce the things consumed by all = are per-
haps more directly and plainly concerned than
any other of our citizens in p just and careful
| system of Federal taxation. Those actually
engaged in and more remotely connected with
| this Kind of work, number nearly one half of
our POPULATION. No enactments limit their
| hours OF toll, and no interposition of the Gov
4 eminent enhances to any great extent the value
OF their products. And yet for many OF the
necessafies and comforts of life which the most
scrupuous economy enables them to bring into
he how frp fC <Nf1