Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-01-28
now 70 Reduee ,hs Revsnasr.

How to Reduce the Revenues.
The great question OF the day is how to
reduce the revenues. They are undoubtedly
In excess OF the needs of the government
and should be reduced. But that reduction
should be made so that neither the In.
vested labor nor the invested capital 10
American manufactures or farming, or
mixing or any other form Of industry, would
be damaged.
One class OF our so-eallsd statesmen In
slst upon a change in the tariff laws, by d
reduction OF tariff duties, as the means OF
iessening the revenue. A very little exami.
nstion into the history of the past would
show that TO reduce the customs duties is
The surest way to Increase the revenues, ex.
eept on articles not produced In the country
such IS sugar, tea, and coffee.
Those who really understand the situation
and desire TO reduce the rev niue without
iniuring the business interests OF the
country and reducing the price OF labor are
10 favor of removing all, or put at least,
of the internal revenue taxes.
This form OF taxation has always been
'dious to the American people because OF
is inquisitorial and oppressive character.
anG has never been adopted except TO prs.
vide for war expenditures.
The first internal tax levied was i'm
nediately after the adoption OF the
federal constitution; It was only In force
until the administration OF President Jelfer-
son, who, In bis first message Ia 1890, rec.
ommended it's ah ,litlon, ard Congress
sdopted the iggeslioa.
Mr.. JEFF srson, 10 that message, said:
Tnesa referring to tbs internal taxes).
covering our land with otiics ~ and OPEN
ing our doors t. Their intrusion, had al.
ready begun that process Of dom cilIary vexa
ion which, orc entered. Is scare y to be re-
trained from reachlfg successfully cry ar.
sicle of pr ice ard 5perty.
The second time when internal taxes
we're levied was 10 1913, during tbs war
With Great Britain, and thsse were re.
oealed three years after the close OF the
var. and she tniri tins was the adoption
4 the present system.
1t Is claimed, by tacss opposed TO the
repeal Of these tsx, s, thai they are war
measure, and should not BE- repealed, be-
;ause we are paying annually $4,000, 600
II pensions and $40 900, eco Of interest upon
the war debt, ami "Ebese war taxes.n they
say, '.should be retaiaed to pay this war
iebt.n
Those who argue thus wilifully forget
hat we are still paying large number OF
PENSIONS TO the survivors Of the war OF 1872,
iDd the argument they use would have
kept the internal revenue tax levied under
Washington in existeaee untii the time OF
Jackson and th II levied under Madison up
% the present day. This shows the non
sense Of this stock argument Of the revenue
refosmers who desire. TO strike down the
AMERICAN system OF protection.
: Wshave now two sys'ems OF tax eollee-
Ion and two distinct armies Of tax collect
~. One Of these is composed OF custom
mousse officers; the other consists OF an
army Of internal revenue collectors, nun.
bering about 1000, Including IS collectors,
$50 deputies, 1874 clerks, IS porters, 625
saugers, 555 storekeepsrs, 757 acting both
g gaugere aud storekeepers.
The tax gstherer OF the frat class Is never
seen nor heard Of by the people. Herol-
lecss bic revenue at the custom house,
where imported goods are brought into the
country, but the tax gatherer of the second
class Is seen everywhere, often accompanied
by armed bodies OF troops and deputies,
collecting revenues at the muzzge Of the
gun, which the government does not need.
1t was once the boast Of the American
people that no American farmer or Iab0rer
ever saw tax gatherer Of the United
70 note the contrary. Ia Macon, where be
is to speak. the Democratic COMMITTEES was
50 divided and the feeling was % bitter that
the Carlisle reception was left 70 the cifyau-
thorities. R4 ldsllism ofthe wickeiest sort
would not allow party Indorsemeut Of the
great Kentucky leader.
Mr.. Carlisle Is 70 lecture the people
Of Atlanta 10 behalf OF the English
system, and eoDcurrentiy with this an !.
nouucement comes the Atlanta Cotastitntion
with column letter 10 praise Of ssRandalI,
Of Pennsylvania with columns Of inter
views, through which leading Georgia Dem.
octats demand the repeal Of the internal
rsxes before touching the tariff. and srist-
liIg with anti Cleveland paragraphs. How
the Constifstion harmonizes with the Presi-
dent By whipping other peoples shoulders
Il illustrated In the subjoinea optimism:
Since Bier Bill Morrison Was defeated for
Congress By the conservative voseFs d his die
triet be appears 70 be anxions TO wreck the
Democrafie party on the tree trade rocks
Equally consIderate Is It's warm welcome
to Mr.. Carlisle in these words:
Under the manipulation Of the whisky