Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-09-20

every patriotic action and effort. In th'
consciousness that much has been don,
in the direction of good government by
the present administration, and submit
ting its record to the fair inspection O.
my countrymen, l indorse the platform
thus presented, with the determination
that, if l am again called to the CHIEF
magistracy, there shall be continuance
of devoted endeavor to advance the in.
terests of the entire country.
THE QUESTION OF TAXATION.
Our scale of federal taxation and its
consequences largely engross at this time
the attention of our citizens, and the peo-
pie 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 a free, intelligent and
virtuous people. 1t is only useful when
within their control, and only serves them
well when regulated and guided by their
constant touch. 1t is free government
because it guarantees to every American
citizen the unrestricted 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 pub
lie expense. Therefore it is not only the
right, but the duty of a free people, in
the enforcement of this guaranty, to insist
that such expense should be strictly lin
tied to the actual public needs. 1t seems
perfectly clear that when the government,
this instrumentality created and main
tained by the people to do their bidding,
turns upon them, and through an utter
peryersion of its powers extorts 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.
ABURDEN ON EVERYBODY.
The cost of the government must continue
to be met by tariff duties collected at our Gus
tom-houses upon imported goods, and by in
ternal revenue taxes assessed upon spirituous
and malt liquors, tobacco and oleomargarine
I suppose it is needless to explain that all
these duties and assessments are added to the
price Of the articles upon which they are
levied and thus become ia upon all those
who buy these articles foruJ Z and consump-
ton. | suppose, too, it is well understood
that the effect of this tariff taxation is not
limited to the consumers of imported arti-
cles, 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 produc-
tions and entering every American home,
constitutes form of taxation as certain and
as inevitable as though the amount was an
nually paid into the hand ofthe tax-gatherer.
THE RESULTS OF THE PLAN.
These results 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 imported articles and
paid into the public treasury represents many
millions more which, though never reaching
the national treasury, are paid by our cih-
zens as the increased cost of domestic pro-
ductions resulting from our taIiff laws
UNNECESSARY AND UNJUST.
In these circumstances, and in view of this
necessary effect of the operation Of our plan
for raising revenue, the absolute duty of linz
iting the rate of tariff charges to the necessi-
ties Of a frugal and economical administra-
ton 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 a sum largely in excess Of pub
lie needs is surely something which, under a
government based upon justice, and which
finds its strength and usefulness in the faith
and trust of the people, ought not to be toll
Grated.
While the heaviest burdens incident to the
necessities of the government are uncom-
plainingly borne, light burdens become
grievous andintolerablew hennot justifedby
such necessities,
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
THAT ENORMOUS SURPLUS.
And yet this is our condition. We are an
nually collecting at our custom-houses and
by means of our internal revenue taxation
many millions in excess of all legitimate
public needs. As a consequence there now
remains in the national treasury surplus
of more than one hundred and thirty mil
lions of dollars.
No better evidence could be furnished
that the people are exorbitantly taxed.
The extent of the surperhuous burden indi-
Gated by this surplus will be better apprecia-
ted when it is suggested that such surplus
alone represents taxation aggregating more
than one hundred and eight million dollars