The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-09-18
against the creator, and the masters are
ROBBED BY THEIR SERVANTS.


The cost of the government must con-
unue to be met by tariff duties collected
at the custom houses upon imported goods
and by internal revenue taxes assessed
upon splrltuous and malt liquors, tobacco
and oleomargarine
l 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 consumption. | suppose, too, it
is we'll understood that the effect of this
tariff taxation is not limited to the con-
sumers of imported articles, but that the
duties imposed upon such articles permit
corresponding increase in prices to be
laid upon domestic productions of the
same kind which increase, paid bv all
our people as consumers Of home produc-
uons, and entering every American home,
constitutes form of taxation as certain
and as inevitable 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 mentioned to discredit the system.
but by way of preface to the statement
that every million of dollars collected at
our custom houses for duties on imported
articles and paid into the public treasury,
represent many millions more which,
though never reaching the national treas
ury, are paid by our citizens as the
INCREASED COST OF DOwESTIr pponI-C
TIONs,
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 absolute
duty Of limiting the rate of tariff charges
to the necessities of frugal and economi-
cal administration of the government
seems to be perfectly plain. The contin-
uance, upon pretext of meeting public
expenditures, of such scale of tariff taxa
tion as draws from the substance of the
people 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 un-
complainingly borne, light burdens be-
come grevous and intolerable when not
justified by such necessities.
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxa
tion.
And if this is our condition, we are an
nually collecting at our custom houses
and by means of our internal revenue tax
alton, many millions in excess of all legiti-
mate public needs. As consequence,
there now remains in the National
Treasury surplus of more than $780,
10000.
No better evidence could be furnished
than
THE PEOPLE ARE ExoRBITANrLY TAXED.
The extent of the ss perfuous burden
indicated by this surplus will be better
when it is suggested that
such surplus alone represents taxation
more than sl08,O00 dollars
in a county containing $4,000, inhab
itants.
Taxation has always been the feature
of organized government the hardest to
reconcile with the peoples idea Of free
doom and happiness. When presented
in direct form nothing will arouse pop
ular discomfort more quickly and pro-
foandly than unjust and unnecessary tax
alton. 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 In
crease. And yet they seem to be ex-
pected, in some quarters, to regard the
unnecessary volume of insiduous and in
direct 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
constitutes separate and independent
menance to the prosperity of the people.
This vast accumulation of idle funds rep
resents so much money drawn from the
medium of the country which
is needed in the channels of trade and
business.
1t 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-
Die are not of immediate Importance to
the mass of our citizens, and only con
Germs those engaged in large financial
In the restless enterprise and activity
which
FREE AND READY MONEY AMONG THE
produces is found that opportunity for
labor and employment and that impetus
to business and prosperity which bring
in their train property TO our citizens in
every station and vocation.
New ventures, new investments in
business and manufacture, the construc-
tion of new and important works, and
the enlargement of enterprises already es-
tablished, depend largely upon obtaining
money upon easy terms with fair secur-
ity; all these things are stimulated by an
abundant volume of circulating medium
Even the harvest grain of the farmer re-
mains without a market unless money is
forthcoming for its movement and trans
portation to the seabord.
The first results of a scarcity of money
among the people is the exaction Of
severe terms for its use. Increasing
distrust and timidty is followed by a
refusal to loan or advance on any terms.
Investors refuse all risks and decline all
securities, and in general fright the
money still in the hands of the people is
persistently boarded. 1t is quite appa-
rent that when this perfectly natural, if
not inevitable, stage is reached, depress-