Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-09-14

except what may be his falr contribution to
necessary public expense. Therefore it is not
only the right but the duty of a free people,
in the enforcement of this guarantee, to insist
that such expense should be strictly limited
to the actual public needs. Itseems perfectly
clear that when the government, this instru-
mentality created and maintained by the peo-
pie to do their bidding, turns upon them, and
through an utter perversion of its powers, ex-
torts 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.
The cost of the government must continue
to be met by tariff duties collected at our Gus
tom houses upon imported goods, and by in
ternal revenue taxes assessed upon spirituous
and malt liquors, tobacco and oleomargarine.
suppose it is needless to explain that all
these duties and assessments are added to 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 not
limited to the consumers of imported articles,
but that the duties imposed upon such arti-
cles permit a corresponding increase in price
to lie laid upon domestic productions Of the
same kind, which increase, paid by all our
people and consumers of home productions
and entering every American home, consti-
tutes a form of taxation as certain and as in
evitable as though the amount was annually
paid into the hand Of the tax gatherer.
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 represent many millions
more which, though never reaching the
national treasury, are paid by our citizens as
the increased cost of domestic productions re-
sulting from our tariff laws. In these cir
cumstances, and in view Of this necessary
effect of the operation of our plan for raising
revenue, the absolute duty of limiting the rate
of tariff charges to the necessities OF frugal
and economical administration of the gov
eminent seems to be perfectly plain. The
continuance, upon pretext of meeting public
expenditures, of such a scale of tariff taxation
as draws from the substance of the people a
sum largely in excess of public needs is surely
something which under a 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 uncomplain-
ingly borne, light burdens become grievous
and intolerable when not justified by such
necessities. Unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxation. And yet this is our condition. We
are annually collecting at our custom houses
and by means of our internal revenue taxa
ton many millions in excess of all legitimate
public needs. As a consequence there now
remains in the national treasury a surplus OF
more than S130, 100000.
No better evidence could be furnished that
the people are exorbitantly taxed. The ex-
tent of the superfuous burden indicated by
mis- surplus will be better appreciated when
it is suggested that such surplus alone repre-
sents taxation aggregating more than sos,
600 in county containing $4,000 inhabitants.
Taxation has always been the feature OF
organized government the hardest to recon
Gle with the peoples ideas of freedom and hap
piness. When presented in a direct form
nothing will arouse popular discomfort more
quickly and profoundly than unjust and I'M
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 insidlous
and indirect taxation visited upon them by
our present rate of tariff duties with indiffer-
ence, if not with favor.
The surplus revenue now remaining in the
treasury not only furnishes conclusive proof
of unjust taxation, but its existence consti
tutes separate and independent menace to
the prosperity of the people. This vast accu-
mutation of idle funds represents that much
money drawn from the circulating medium
of the country, which is needed in the chan
nels of trade and business
1t is great mistake to suppose that the
consequences which follow the continual with
drawal and boarding by the government Of
the currency of the people are not of imme
date importance to the mass of our citizens
and only concerns those engaged in large
financial transactions
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
prosperity to our citizens in every station ano
vocation. New ventures new investments IL
business and manufacture, the construction
Of new and important works and the enlarge
ment of enterprises already established, de
pend largely upon obtaining money upor
easy terms with fair security; and all thest
things are stimulated by an abundant volume
of circulating medium. Even the harvested
grain of the farmer remains without market
unless money is forthcoming for its move
ment and transportation to the seaboard.
The first result of scarcity a money
among the people is the exaction of severe
terms for it's use. Increasing distrust anG
timidity is followed by a refusal to loan Oh
advance on any terms. Investors refuse al
risks and decline all securities, and in gen