Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-09-20

ugnt DuruonS become groVlOuS anu fuJoLor
able when not justified by such necessities
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation'
And yet this is our condition. We are an
nuelly collecting at our custom houses and
by means OF our internal revenue taxation
many millions in excess OF all legitir ate
public needs. As a consequence there now
remains in the national treasury a surplus
of more than one hundred and thirty mil
lions Of dollars.
No better evidence could be furnished
that the people are extortionately taxed.
The extent of the supertiuous burden indi-
Gated by this surplus will be better appre-
ciated when it is suggested that such sur
plus alone represents taxation aggregating
more than one hundred and eight thousand
dollars In county containing 1900 inhabi-
tants.
Taxation has always been the feature Of
organized government; the hardest TO rec
oncile with the peoples ideas OF freedom
and happiness. Whenpresented in 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 the
taxes assessed upon their lands and other
property, and demand good reason for such
increase. And yet they seem to be expect
ed in some quarters to regard the unneces-
sary volume of insiduouS and indirect tax
alton visited upon them by our present rate
OF tariff duties with indifference If not with
favor. The surplus revenue now remain
ing in the treasury not only furnishes con-
elusive proof of unjust taxation, but its ex-
istence constitutes separate and indepeu-
dent menace to the prosperity of the people.
This vast accumulation of.idle funds repre-
sents that much money drawn from the
circulating medium of the country which is
needed in the channels Of trade and bust
ness.
1t is a great mistake to suppose that the
consequences which follow the continual
withdrawal and boarding by the govern
ment OF the 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 rest
less enterprise and activity which free and
ready money among the people produces Is
found that opportunity for labor and en-
ployment and that impetus to business and
production which bring in their trnin pros
perity TO our citizens in every station and
vocation. New ventures, new investments
in business and manufacture, the construc-
ton of new and important works, and the
enlargement of enterprises already estab-
lished, depend largely upon obtaining mon
ey upon easy terms with fair security; and
all these things are stimulated by an album
dant volume Of circulating medium. Even
the harvested grain Of the farmer remains
without market unless money is forth
coming for it's movement and transporta-
tion TO the seaboard. The first results OF
q scarcity of money among the people is the
exactlon of severe terms for its use. In
creasing distrust and timidity is followed
by a refusal to loan or advance on any terms.
Investors refuse all risks and decline all
securities, and in ageneral fright the money
still in the hands of the people is persist
emily boarded.
II is quite apparent that when this per-
fectly natural, If not inevitable, stage is
reached, depression in all business and en-
terprise will, as a necessary consequence,
lessen the opportunity for work and
employment and reduce salaries and the
wages of labor.
Instead, then, of being exempt fromthe in
fuence and effect of an immense surplus ly-
ing idle in the national treasury, our wage
earners and others who rely upon their la
Dor for support are most of all directly con-
cerned in the situation. Others seeing the
approach of danger may provide against IL,
but il will find those depending upon their
daily toll for bread unprepared, helpless
and defenceless. Such a state of affairs
does not present case of idleness resulting
from disputes between the laboring man
and his employer, but it produces an abso-
lutte and enforced stoppage OF employment
and wages
In reviewing the bad effects Of this accu-
INFLATED surplus and scale of tariff rates
by which it is produced, we must not over
look the tendency toward gross and scanda-
lous public extravaganza which congeSted
treasury induces, nor the fact that we are
| maintaining, without excuse, in time or
profound peace, substantially the rate Of
tariff duties imposed in time OF war, when
the necessities Of the government justified
the imposition of the weightiest burdens
upon the people.
Divers plans have been suggested for the
return of this accumulated surplus TO the
| people and the channels Of trade. Some Of
/ q oil
| of good finance; some are delusive, some
| are absurd and some betray by their reck-
| less extravaganza the demoraliZng influ-
ence of IA great surplus of public money
upon the Judgment of individuals.
While such efforts should he made as are
consistent with public duty and sanctioned
| by severe Judgment to avoid danger by the
useful disposition of the surplus now remain
ing in the treasury, il is evident that if its
| distribution were accoI plished another &C
| emulation would soon take its place If the
| constant flow of redundant income was not
checked at it source by areform in our pres
emit tariff laws.
We do not propose to deal with these con-
ditions by merely attempting to satisfy the
people of the truth of abstract theories nor
| by alone urging their assent to political
| doctrine. We present to them the propos-
| itions that they are unjustly treated in the
| extent of present federal taxation, that rs
| a result a condition of extreme danger eX-
| lists, and that it is for them to demand q
| remedy and that defense and safety prom
ised in the guarantees of their free govern
| ment.
| We believe that the same means which
| are adopted to relieve the treasury Of its
present surplus and prevent its recurrence
should cheaper TO our people the cost of
supplying their daily wants. Both of these
objects we seek in part to gain by reducing
the present tariff rates upon the neces-
| saries of life.
We fully appreciate the Importance 10
the country of our domestic industrial en-
terprises, In the rectifcation of wrongs
their maintenance and prosperity should be
carefully and in a friendly spirit consider
ed. Even such reliance upon present
revenue arrangements as have been invit-
ed or encouraged should be fairly and just
ly regarded. Abrupt and radical changes
which might endanger such enterprises
and injuriously affect the interest of labor
dependent upon their success and contin
uance are not contemplated or intended.
But we know the cost of our domestic
manufactured products is increased and
their price 10 the consumer enhanced by
the duty imposed upon the raw material
used in their manufacture. We know
that this increased cost prevents the sale
| of our productions at foreign markets. in