Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1888-09-13

all the reward Of his toll and Of all his
income, except what may be his fair con-
tribution to necessary public expense.
Therefore it is not only the right, but
the duty Of free people, in the enfoece-
ment of this guaranty, to insist that such
expense should be strictly limited to the
actual public needs. It seems perfectly
clear that when the government, this in
strumentality created and maintained by
the people to do their bidding, turns
upon them, and through an utter per-
version Of its powers, EFFORTS from their
labor and capital tribute largely In ex-
cess, Of public necessities, the creature,
has rebelled against the creator and
the masters are robbed by their servants.
The cost of the government must con-
tinue to be met by tariff duties collected
1t our custom houses upon imported
goods, and by internal revenue taxes as
sessed upon spirituous and malt liquors,
tobacco and 0lemargarine. I suppose 1t
ID needless to explain that all these duties
and and assessments are added to the
price of the articles upon which they are
levied, and thus become q tax upon all
those who buy these articles for use and
consumption. / suppose, too, 1t ts well
understood that the effect of this tariff
taxation is not limited to the consumers
Of imported articles, but that the duties
imposed upon such articles permit . cor
responding 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 entering every American homo, con-
stitutes form Of taxation as certain, as
inevitable, as though the amount was an
nually paid into the hand Of the tax
gatheref. These results are inssparable
from the plan we have adopted for the
collection Of our revenue byEariff 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 orduties
upon imported articles and paid into the
public treasury represent many millions
more, which, though never reaching the
national treasury, are paid by our citi-
zens as the increased cost of domestic
productions resulting from our tariff
laws.
In these circumstances, and in view Of
this necessary effect Of the operation Of
our plan for raising revenue, the abso-
lutte duty of limiting the rate of tariff
charges to the necessities of q frugal and
ment, seems to be perfectly plain. Tho
continuance, upon q pretext of meeting
public expenditures, Of such scale of
tariff taxation as draws from the sub
stance of the people sum largely in ex-
cess Of public needs, is surely something
which, under government 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
uncomplainingly borne, light burdens
become grievous and intoler0ble when
not justified by such necessities.
Unnecessary taxation Is unjust tax
alton. And yet this IL our condition.
We are annually collecting at our Gus
tom houses and by means Of our internal
revenue taxation many millions in ex-
cess Of all legitimate public needs. As q
consequence there now remains In the
national treasury 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 extent Of the superfuous burden in
dicated by this surplus will be better ap-
preciated when 1t is suggested that such
surplus alone represents taxation aggre-
eating more than $10o, 900 In country
containing so, 600, 900 inhabitants.
/ Taxation has always been the
feature Of organized government
the hardest to reconcile with the
peoples ideas Of freedom and
happiness. When presented in direct
form nothing will arouse popular discon-
tent 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
reasons 1Dr such increase. And yet they
seem to be expected, in some quarters,
to regard the unnecessary volume of In.
sidious and unjust taxation visited upon
them by our present rate of tariff duties
with indifference, ii not with favor.
The surplus revenue now remaining in
the treasury not only furnishes conclu-
sive proof Of unjust taxation, but its ex-
istence constitutes q separate and inde-
pendent menace to the prosperity Of the
people.
This vast accumulation Of idle funds
represents that much money drawn from
the circulating medium Of the country,
WHICH - uStsl6U III tu0 CU1uU0A6 VI V1eU0
and business.
It is great mistake to suppose that
the consequences which follow the con-
tinual withdrawal and boarding by the
government Of the currency Of the peO-
pie are not Of immediate importance to
the mass Of our citizens and only con-
Germs those engaged in large financial
transactions
In the restless enterprise and activity
which free ready money among the peo-
pie produces, 10 found that opportunity
for labor and employment and that Inn
petus to business and production, which
bring In their train prosperity to our cit
iSens in every station and vocation. New
ventures, new investments in business
and manufacture, the construction Of
new and important works, and the on
largement Of enterprises already estab-
lished, depend largely upon obtaining
money upon easy terms with fair secur-
ity; and all these things are stimulated
By An abundant volume OF circulating
medium. Even the harvested grain Of
the farmer remains without market