Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-09-13


designs and accomplish their good. 1t
was founded on justice, and was made
for free, intelligent and virtuous peo-
pie. 1t is only useful when within
their control, and only serves them we'll
when regulated and guided by their
constant touch. 1t is a free govern
ment, because it guarantees to every
American citizen the unrestricted
personal use and enjoyment of all the
reward of his toll and Of all his income,
except what may be his fair centribu-
ton to necessary public expense
Therefore it is not only the right, but
the duty, of free people, in the en-
fOrcement of this guaranty, to insist
that such expense should be strictly
limited to the actual public needs. II
seems perfectly clear that when the
government, this instrumentality
created and maintained by the people
to do their bidding, turns upon them
and, through an utter perversion of its
powers, extorts 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 con-
tinue to be met by tariff duties collect
ed at our custom houses upon imported
goods, and by internal revenue taxes
assessed upon spurious 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 tax upon
all those who buy these articles for
use and consumption. L suppose, too,
it is well understood that the effect of
this tariff taxation is not limited to con-
sumers of imported articles, but that
the duties imposed upon such articles
permita corresponding 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 home, constitutes a form of
taxation as certain, as inevitable, as
though the amount was paid annually
into the hands 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 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 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 economical administration
Of the government, seems to be perfect
ly plain. The continuance, upon a
pretext of meeting public expenditures,
Of such a scale of tariff taxation as,
draws from the substance of the people
D 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. g..
While the heaviest burdens incident
TO the necessities of the governments are
lncomplainingly borne, light burdens
become grievous and intolerable when
not justified by such necessity.
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxa
ion. And yet this is our condition.
We are annually collecting at our in
.ernal revenue taxation many millions
II excess of all legitimate public needs.
AS a consequence there now remains in
ihe national treasury surplus of more
han one hundred and thirty millions
If dollars.
No better evidence could be furnish
I'd that the people are exorbitantly
'axed. The extent of the superf1uous
burden indicated by this surplus will
De better appreciated when it is sug-
yested that such surplus alone repre-
'ents taxation aggregating more than
Sl06, quo in county containing $4,000
Taxation has always been the feature
If organized government; the hardest
% reconcile with the peoples ideas of
reedom and happiness. When pre-
'ented in a direct form nothing will
Irouse popular discomfort more quickly
Ind profoundly than unjust and un-
necessary taxation. Our farmers, me-
'hanics, laborers, and all our citizens,
closely scan the slightest increase in
he taxes assessed upon their lanls and
'ther property and demand good
'easons for such increase. And vet
hey seem to be expected, in SOM"
quarters, to regard the unnecessar,
1olume of insidious and direct taxation /,
Visited upon them by our present rate
# tariff duties with indifference, if not
With favor. The surplus revenue now
in the treasury not only
furnishes conclusive proof of unjust
axation, butts existence constitutes
eparate and independent menace to
he prosperity of the people. This vast
.ccumulation of idle funds represents
hat much money drawn from the
circulating medium of the country,
which is needed in the channels Of
rade and business.
1t is great mistake to suppose that
he consequences which follow the
ontinual withdrawal aud boarding by
he government of the currency of the
'eople are not of ofimmediate importance
o the mass of our citizens, and only
oncerns those engaged in large
financial transactions.
In the restless enterprise and activity
which free and ready money among
he people produces, is found that op-
ortunity for labor and employment,
nd that impetus to business and pro-
uction, which bring in their train
to our citizens in every
tation and vocation. New ventures,
ew investments in business and manu-
acture, the construction of new and