The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-09-13
and effort. In the consciousness that
much has been done IN the

spection Of my countrymen, l indorse
the platform thus presented, with the
determination that, if am again cali
ed to the chief magistracy, there shall
be continuance of devoted endeavor
to advance the interests of the entire
country.
Our scale OF Federal taxation and its
consequences largely engross at this
time the attention OF our citizens, and
the people are soberly considering the
necessity of measures of relief.
Our government is the creation of
the people, established to carry out
their designs and accomplish their
good. 1t was founded on justice and
was made for free, intelligent and vir-
tuous people. 1t is only useful when
within their control, and only serves
them well when regulated and guided
by their constant touch.
1T is A FREE GOVERNMENT
because it guarantees to every Ameri-
can citizen the unrestric ted personal
use and enjoyment OF all the reward of
his toll and of all his income, except
what may be his fair contribution to
necessary public expense, Therefore,
it is not only the right but the duty of
free people, in the enforcement of
this guaranty to insist that such ex-
pense should be strictly limited to the
actual public needs. 1t seems perfect
ly 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 extorts from their labor and
capital tribute largely in excess of pub
lie necessities, the creature has rebel
led against the creator and the mas
ters are robbed by their servants.
The cost of the Government must
continue 10 be met by tariff duties
collected at our custom-houses upon
imported goods, and by internal reve-
nue. taxes assessed upon spirituous and
malt liquors, tobacco and oleomarga-
rine. suppose it is needless to ex-
plain that all these duties and assess
ments are added to the price Of the ar
ticles upon which they are levied, and
thus become tax upon all those who
buy these articles for use and consump-
ton. l suppose, too, it is well under
stood that the effect of this tariff taxa.
ton is not limited to the consumers Of
imported articles. but that the duties
imposed upon such articles permit a
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 pro-
ductions and entering every American
home, constitutes
FORM OF TAXATION i.
as certain, as inevitable, as though the
amount was annually paid into the
hand of the tax-gatherer These re-
suits are inseparable from the plan we
have adopted for the collection of 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 import
ed articles and paid into the public
treasury, represent many millions
more which, though never reaching
the National treasury, are paid by our
citizens as the Increased cost OF domes.
tic productions resulting from our tar
iff laws.
In these circumstances, and in view
OF this necessary effect OF the opera
ton of our plan for raising revenue
the absolute duty Of limiting the rate
of tariff charges to the necessities Of q
frugal and
ECONOMICAL ADMINISTRATIONS
OF the Government, seems to be per
, fectly plain. The continuance, upor
: pretext OF meeting public expendi
} lures, OF such scale of trriff taxation
as draws from the substance of th'
people sum largely in excess Of pub
: lie needs, is surely something which
under government based upon jus
tice, and which finds its strength anc
usefulness in the faith and trust of th
' people, ought not to be tolerated.
While the heaviest burdens inciden
to the necessities of the Government
are uncomplainingly borne, light bur
dens become grievous and intolerabl
when not justified by such necessities
: Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxa
ton. And yet this is our condition
We are annually collecting at our Gus
t0m-houses and by means Of our ir
. ternal revenue taxation,
n MANY MILLIONS IN EXCESS
e of all legitimate, of all public means
g As consequence there now remain
: in the national treasury a surplus {