The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-15

| lore II Is not only the r1gnt, DuI tue uuty OF .
free people, in the enforcement of this guar
anty, to insist that such expense should be
strictly limited to the actual public needs
1t seems perfectly clear that when the gov
ernment, this instrumentality created and
maintained by the people to do their bidding
turns upon them, and through an utter per
version 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.
| BURDEN ON EVERYBODY.
The cost of the government must continue
to be met by tariff duties collected at oul
custom houses upon imported goods, and by
internalrevenue taxesassessed upon spirituous
and malt liquors, tobacco and oleomargarine
suppose it is needless to explain that all
these duties and assessments are added tc
the price of the articles upon which they are
levied, and thus become a tax upon all those
who buy these articles for use and consump.
ton. suppose, too, it is well understood
that the effect of this tariff taxation is moi
limited to the consumers 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 enter
ing every American home, constitutes form
of taxation as certain and as inevitable as
though the amount was annually paid into
the hand of the 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 men.
toned 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 citizens as
the increased cost of domestic productions
resulting from our tariff laws.
UNNECESSARY AMP UNJUST.
In these circumstances, and in view of this
necessary effect of the operation of our plan
for raising revenue, the absolute duty of lin
iting tha rate of tariff charges to the necessities
of frugal and economical administration 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 ill excess of public needs
is surely something which, under Q govern
ment based upon justice, and 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 uncom-
plainingly borne, light burdens become
grievous and intolerabe when not justified by
such necessities.
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation,
THAT ENORMOUS sURPIps,
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 a surplus of more
than one hundred and thirty millions of dol
lars.
No better evidence could be furnished that
the people are exorbitantlY taxed, The ex-
tent of the surperduous burden indicated by
this surplus will be better appreciated when
it is suggested that such surplus alone rep
resents taxation aggregating more than one
hundred and eight million dollars in country
containing fifty million inhabitants.
TAXATION DIRECT AND INDIRECT.
Taxation has always been the feature of
organized government the hardest to recon-
cile with the peoples idea of freedom and
happiness. When presented in direct form
nothing will arouse popular discomfort mora
quickly and profoundly than unjust and un-
necessary taxation. Our farmers, mechanics,
laborers and all our citizens closely scan the
slightest increase in the 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 re-
gard the unnecessary volume of insidious and
indirect taxation visited upon them by our
present rate of tariff duties with Indifference,
If not with favor.
DRAWN FROM THE CHANNELS OF TRADE.
The surplus revenue now remaining in the
treasury not only furnishes conclusive proof
of unjust taxation, but its existence eonsti-
tutes separate and independent menace to
the prosperity of the people. This vast ac-
cumulation of idle funds represents that much
money drawn from the circulating medium of
the country which is needed in the channels
of trade and business.
1t is a great mistake to suppose that the
consequences which follow the continual
withdrawal and boarding by the government of
the currency of the people are not of imme-
diate Importance to the mass of our citizens,
and only concerns those engaged in large
financial transactions.
WHAT BRINGS PROSPERITY.
In the restless enterprise and activity which
free and ready money among the people pro-
duces is found that opportunity for labor and
employment and that impetus to business and
production which bring in their train prosperi-
ty to our citizens in every station and voca.
ton. New ventures, new investments in
business and manufacture, the construction Of
new and important works, and the enlarge
ment of enterprises already established, de-
pend largely upon obtaining money upon easy
terms with fair security, and all these things
are stimulated by an abundant volume of cir
culating medium. Even the harvested grain
of the farmer remains without market unless
money is forthcoming for its movement and
transportation to the seahoard.
INEVITABLE OUTCOME OF THE SYSTEM.
The first result of scarcity of money
among the people is the exaction of severe
terms for its use. Increasing distrust and
timidity is followed by refusal to loan or
advance on any terms. Investors refuse all
risks and decline all securities, and in a
general fright the money still in the hands of
the people is persistently boarded. tits quite
apparent that when this perfectly natural, if
not inevitable, stage is reached, depression in
all business and enterprise will, as q neces-