The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-01-26
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 In
American manufactures or farming, or
miping or any other form Of industry, would
be damaged.
One class of our so-called statesmen in
sist upon change in the tariff laws, by a
reduction of tariff duties, as the means of
lessening the revenue. A very little exami
nation into the history of the past would
show that to reduce the customs duties is
the surest way to increase the revenues, ex-
cept on articles not produced In the country
such as sugar, tea, and coffee.
Those who really understand the situation
and desire to reduce the revenue without
injuring the business interests of the
country and reducing the price of labor are
in favor of removing all, or part at least,
Of the internal revenue taxes.
This fern of taxation has always been
odieus to the American people because of
its inquisitoriai and oppressive character,
and has never been adopted except to pro-
vide for war expenditures.
The first internal tax levied was ina
mediately after the adoption of the
federal constitution; It was only la fierce
until the administration ct President Jeffer-
son, who, In his first messs 90 In 1900, rec
commended its abolition, and Congress
adopted the suggestion.
Mr.. Jefferson, in that message, said:
These referring to the internal taxesa,
covering our lana with offesrs and OPEN
ing our doors to their Intrusion, had al.
ready begun that process of domiciliary vexa-
ton which, once entered, Is sesrcaiy to bore
strained from reaching successfully every ar
tfc4e of PR ice and property.
The second time when internal taxes
were levied was in 1878, during the war
with Great Britain, and these were re-
pealed three years after the close OF the
war. and the third time was the adoption
Of the present systen.
It is claimed, by those opposed to the
repeal of these taxes, that they are wkr
measure, and should not be repealed, be-
cause We are paying annually $50, 600 600
Of pensions and $40 600, eco Of interest upon
the war debt, ana "these war tsxes," they
say, 'should be retained to pay this war
debt"
Those who argue thus willfully forget
that we are still paying q large number Of
pensions to the survivors Of the war Of 1912,
and the argument they use would have
kept the internal revenue tax levied under
Washington in existence until the time of
Jackson and that levied under Madison up
to the present day. This shows the nom
sense of this stock argument Of the revenue
refermers who desire TO strike down the
American system of protection.
We have now two Systems of tax collec-
ton and two distinct armies of tax collect
ors. One of these Is composed of custom
house officers; the other consists of an
army of internal revenue collectors, num-
bering about 4,0oo, including SIS collectors,
$50 deputies, 1874 clerks, IS porters, 625
gaugers, 555 storekeepers, ISL acting both
as gaugers and storekeepers.
The tax gatherer of the first class is never
seen nor heard of by the people. He col
lects his 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 muzzle of the
gun, which the government does not need
1t was once the boast of the American
people that no American farmer or laborer
ever saw tax gatherer of the United
to note the contrary. In Macon, where he
is to speak, the Democratic committee was
SO divided and the feeling was so bitter that
the Carlisle reception was leftto the city au-
thorities. Ra1dallism of the wickedest sort
would not allow party Endorsement of the
great Kentucky leader.
Mr.. Carlisle is to lecture the people,
of Atlanta in behalf of the ENGLISH
system, and concurrently with this an
nouncement comes the Atlanta Constitution
with column letter in praise of "Randall,
of Pennsylvania" with columns of inter-
views, through which leading Georgia Dem |
ocrats demand the repeal of the internal
taxes before touching the tariff, and brist |
ling with auti Cleveland paragraphs. How
the Constitution harmonizes with the Presi-
dent by whipping other peoples shouldereI
is illustrated in the subjoined opinion:
Since Brer Bill Morrison was defeated for
Congress by the conservative voters OF his dis
trict he appears to be anxious to wreck thu
Democratic party on the tree trade rocks
Equally considerable is its warm wclcom
to Mr.. Carlisle in these words:
Under the manipulation Of the whisky