The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-09-13

1t is q free government, because 1t guar
antees to every American citizen the un-
restricted personal enjoyment of all the
rewards of his toll, and of all his income,
except what may be his fair contribution
to the necessary public expense. There
fore, 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 limited
to the actual public needs. 1t seems
perfectly clear that when the govern
iustrumentality created and
maintained by the people to do their
bidding-turns upon them, and, through
an utter petversion of its powers,
EFFORTS from their labor aud capital a
tribute largely in excess of the lublic
necessity, the creature has rebelled
against its creator and the masters are
robbed by their servants.
THE COST OF GOVERNMENT
must continue to be met by
tariff duties collected in our
custom houses upon imported goods,
and by internal revenue taxes assessed
upon spurious liquors and malt liquors,
tobacco and oleomargarine. 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 tax upon all those who
buy these articles for use and consum ption.
| suppose, too, it is well understood that
the effect of this taxation is not limited
TO the consumers of imported articles, but
that duties Imposed upon such
articles permit corresponding
increase in the price to be paid
upon the domestic productions of the
same kind, which is paid by our own peo-
pie as the consumers of home prOduo-
tions, which enters every American home
in the form of taxation as certain and
inevitable as though the amount was an
nually put in the hands of the tax
gatherer. 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 pre-
face to the statement that every
million of dollars collected at our custom
houses for duties upon imported articles
and paid into the public treasury repre-
sents many millions more, which, though
never reaching the national treasury, are
paid by our citizens as the increased
cost of domestic productions resulting
from our
TARIFF LAWS.
Under these circumstances, and in view
of this necessary effect of the operation
of our plan for raising the revenue, the
absolute duty of limiting the rate of
tariff charges to the necessities of
a frugal and economical admins
tratiOu of the government seems to
be perfectly plain. A 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 something which, under gov
eminent based upon justice and
which finds its strength and usefulness in
the faith and trust of the people, ought
burdens incident to the necessities of
government are uncompIainirsly borne
light burdens become grievOus and intol-
cradle when not justified by such necessity.
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation,
and yet this is our condition. We are an
uualy 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
$130,000,000. No better evidence could
be furnished that the people are exorbi-
family taxed. The extent of the super
huoua burden indicated by this surplus
will be better appreciated when it is sug-
gested that such sur plus alone repre-
sents taxation aggregating more than
$1O800O in couAtry containing $4,000
inhabitants. Taxation has always been a
feature of organized government to rec
oncile with the peoples ideas of freedom
and happiness. When presented in a
direct form nothing will arouse popular
discomfort more quickly and profoundly
than unjust and unnecessary taxation.
Our farmers, mechanics, laborers and
all our citizens closely scan
the slightest increase in taxes assessed
upon their lands and other property and
demand good reasons for such increase,
and yet they seem to be expected in some
quarters to regard an unnecessary volume
of insidious and indirect taxation visited
upon them by our present system of tariff
dues with Indifference, if not with favor
The surplus revenue now remaining in the
treasury not only furnishes conclusive
proof of unjust taxation, but its existence
constitutes separate and independent
menace to the prosperity of the people
This vast accumulation of idle funds rep
resents that much money drawn from th'
circulating medium of the coun-
try, which is needed in the channels
of trade and business. 1t is great mis-
take to suppose that the consequences
which follow the continual Withdrawal
and boarding by the government of tn
currency of the people are not of imme
diate importance to the mass o
our citizens and only concern thos
engaged in large financial transactions
In the restless enterprise and actlvlt
which free and ready money among tn
people produ ces is found that oppor
tunity for labor aud employment an
that impetus to business and productio
which bring in their train prosperity Il
our citizens in every static
and vocation. New ventures, me-
iuvestme nts in business and m manufacture
construction of new and important work
and the enlargement of enterprises al
ready established depeud largely spo
obtaining money upon easy terms, VIII
fair eecurity, aud all these things al
stimulated by an abundant volume OF I'll
CIRCULATING MEDIUM.
Even the harvested grain of the farmt