Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-10

free, intelligent and virtuous people. IL
is only useful, when within their control,
and only serves them when regulated and
guided by their constant touch. It is q
free Government because it guarantees to
every American citizen the unrestricted
personal use and enjoyment of all the re-
wsrd of bis toll, and of all his income, ex-
cept what may be his fair contribution to
the necessary public expense. Therefore
it is not only the right, but the duty of q
free people, in the enforcement Of
this guaranty, to insist that such expense
should be strictly limited to the actual
public needs.
| SERVANT Oh MASTER, WHICH?
II seems perfectly clear that when the
Government, this instrumentality created
and maintained by the people to do their
bidding, turns upon them and through an
utter perversion of its powers EFFORTS from
their labor and capital tribute largely in
excess of public necessities, the creature
has rebelled against the creator and the
masters are robbed by their servants.
The cost of the Government must con-
tinue to be met by tariff duties, collected
at our custom houses, upon imported
/
sessed upon spirituous and malt liquors,
tobacco and oleomargarine.
TAX ON THE PEOPLE.
suppose it Is needless To explain tha
aI these duties and assessments are added
to the price of the articles upon which
they are levied, and this become tax up.
on all those who buy the articles for use
and consumption. suppose, too, it is
we'll understood, that the effect of the
tariff taxation is not limited to the con-
sumers of imported articles, but that the
duties imposed upon such articles permit
corresponding increase in price to be
laid upon domestic productions of the
same kind, which increase, paid by all our
people as consumers of home productions |
and entering every American home, con- |
stitutes form of taxation as certain and |
as inevitable as though the amount was |
annually paid into hand OF the tax gath
erer.
INTO MOSOPOLIsTIC POCKETS.
These results are inseparable from the
plan we have adopted for the collection oil
our revenue by tariff duties. They are
not mentioned to discredit the system, but
by way of preface to the statement that
every million of dollars collected at our
custom houses for duties upon imported
articles, and paid into the public treasury,
represents many millions more, which,
though never reaching the National Treas
ury, are paid by our citizens as the In
creased cost of domestic productions, re-
sultipg from our tariff laws.
In these circumstances, and in view OF
the necessary effect of the operation OF our
plan for raising revenue, the absolute duty
of limiting the rate of tariff charges to the
necessities of frugal and economical ad-
ministration of the Government seems to
be perfectly plain.
The continuance, upon pretext OF
meeting public expenditures, OF such
scale OF tariff taxation, as draws from the
substance of the people sum largely IN
excess of public needs, is surely some
thing which under Government based
upon Justice, aud which finds its strength
and usefulness in the faith and trust of
the people, ought not to be tolerated.
While the heaviest burdens incident to
the necessities Of the government are un-
complainingly borne, light burdens be-
come grievous and intolersble when not
justified by such necessities.
UNNECESsDRY TAXATION Is UNJUST |
TAXATION.
And vet this is our condition. We are an
nually collecting at our custom houses,
and by means of our internal revenue tax
alton, many millions in excess of all lsgit-
innate public needs. As a consequence
thoro nvw rsusAiaG in thA National Treas |
Ina of than
dred and thirty millions of dollars.
No better evidence can be |
furnished that the people are
exorbitantly taxed. The extent OF the
superfuous burden indicated by this SUE
plus will be better appreciated when it is
suggested that such surplus alone repre-
ssnts taxation aggregating more than one
hundred and eight million dollars in a
country containing 30, 900, 600 inhabitants. |
Taxation has always been the feature of |
organized Government; the hardest to
reconcite with the peoples ideas of free
dom and happiness. When presented in a |
direct form nothing will arouse popular |
discomfort more quickly and profoundly |
than unjust and unnecessary taxation |
Oar farmers, mechanics, laborerers, and
all our citizens, closely scan the slightest
increase in the taxes assessed upon their |
lands and other property, and yet they
seem to be expected, in some quarters, to
regard the unnecessary volume of insidu-
Gus aud indirect taxation, visited upon
them by our present rate of tariff duties,
with indifference if not with favor.
THE SURPLUS DANGER.
The surplus revenue now remaining in
the treasury, not only furnishes conclusive
proof of uni ust taxation, but its existence
constitutes separate and independent
menance TO the prosperity Of the people.
This vast accumulation Of idle funds rep
resents that much money draw from the
circulating medium of the country which
ia needed in the channels of trade and
business.
II is a great mistake to suppose that the
consequences which follow the continual
withdrawal and hoardSg by the govern
meut Of currency of the people are not OF
immediate importance TO the mass OF our
citizens, and only concerns those engaged
in large financial transactions.
In the restless enterprise and activity
which free and ready money among the
people produces is found that opportunity
for labor and employment, and that I'M
petus to labor and employment, which
bring in their train prosperity TO our citi-
zsps in every station aud vocation.
A BURDEN ON INDUSTRY.
New ventures, new investments in busi-
ness and manufacture, the construction OF
new and important works aud the enlarge
ment of enterprises already established,
depend largely upon obtaining money upon
easy terms with fair security; and all these
things are stimulated by an abundant vol
ume of circulating medium. Even the
harvested grain of the farmer remains with
out market unless money is forthcoming
for its movement and transportation to the
seaboard.
The first result of a scarcity Of money
among the people is the exaction Of severe
terms for its use.
Increasing distrust and timidity is fol-
lowed by refusal to loan or advance on
sny terms. Investors refuse all risks and
decline all securities, and in general
| fright the money still in the hands of the
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