The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-29
A SIGNIFICANT LETTER.

youn ------
This corresponds with our information generally
For pure cussedneas and reckless disregard OF the
liberties and traditions e people claiming " be
Democratic this internal revenue system has no
parallel.
We defy any newspaper In Tennessee 10 deny any
one Of the following propositions
Tho system Of collecting revenue by an internal
tax. except whom war or other great strnlns on the
country, by cxhnusling the Treasury made neccs-
siry Is departure from tho principles Of the Coy.
ernment, aud was condemned by every ]'rcsidcut
Of the United States before the war that had TO deal
with IL
2 Tho theory and practice Of tho Democratic
party has always been nPalnsi IT,
II Is retained and Kept In force alone In tho
Interest Of n monopoly IN the making o. whisky.
We have n national treasury OVERLOOKING. We
don't know whit 10 do with the money. The sur.
plus IA immense; IL Is alarning our public men.
The States arc In great need OF revenue, and have
always, undor Democratic rule. had the benefit Of
such taxes were collected on any business In the
State as privilege taxes until this aboninaton WIS
fastened ON us by the Republican party.
Il was the boast Of Mr. Jefferson that n tax gath.
orcr was never seen at any mans house TWAS tho
browning glory OF our liberties according 10 Mr.
Webster that no mans property was seized or
forfeited until Judgment was rendered after notice
given.
Hut now. 10 protect whisky monopoly tax col.
lectors 60 with shouyuns and they destroy the ctl.
xens property before trial. II any man suppo.cs
the American people are gon 10 stand this abom
Inatlon he viii ind he has been under nm eyre
sious mistake. -Ndshraie Americm
Let us take the significant letter first
and ask what is its significance, where lies
It's force, II IL has any. To us ii is 10 DO
found in the one fact which underles
many mems actions and words in rela-
ton TO the tariff as well as the internal
revenue, and that is sel6shness. This man
Of the mountains makes whisky or he rep
rcsents or speaks for constituency that
makes whisky, and perhaps In de.
fiancc Of the internal revenue tax, which
Is continued Ms war tax, and will be and
ought 10 he 50 continued 30 long ~ there
Ia dollar Of war debt to pay. No lcgiti-
mate manufactures has anything 10 fear
from the internal revenue. lie docs not
pay the tax. II Is paid by the consumer,
and ought to be. Whisky is a luxury as
tobacco Is, aud those who choose to in.
dulgc in either should be, and thoy arc
willing TO pay the tax which amounts to
so little in the daily consumption, Of oven
tho most guxzling and exirayagant consul
mcB rs not TO be apprcciable.
Az TO the other paragraph about the
National Treasury there Is a
simple remedy for that, n very simple one.
II Ia the removal Of the duty on sugar. on
wool, on all WOODEN goods and on steel and
iron. This would about curtail the reyc.
nue. Of the surplusand would mako cheap.
or sugar for the poor working man, his
wife and children, cheaper tools, cheaper
blankets and cheaper clothes Better
these necessities of life should be cheap.
than that whisky should DO cheap,
or tobacco be lessencd In price 10 the
manufacturer who makes paying profit
already.
As 10 Mr. Jencrson's boast that In his
day tax gathorcr was never seen at any
mans house boast can be made 10.
day. 10 Ear rs the internal revenue Is con.
ccrnod. But not 40 far ~ the ncccSarics
Of life are concerned. The tax gathcrcr
enters every poor mans house and collects
his utho from the sugar that swccicns the
toilers coffee or his ,oa-boih prime nee.
csSarios Of liic-from tho wool In his coat,
In his hat, his vest aud his trousers, and
In the undcrclothing which all physicians
hold Is essential 10 the health aud life oI
the workers In mills or pits or Workshop.
nay, lac collects Il twice, Ia tho raw WOO
and In the cloth itself The tax gaihcrcl
takes his 1.-THE from every tool that
Is used by the mechanic or the
farmer, and for all their machinery
% that before they can put bread In Their
mouths they must contribute their dol,
Of aims TO the bcggap who stand at III,
treasury door, and nov impudently ascr
their claim TO the charity that was at fins
given them grudgingly and always with /
protest against u as unconstitutional, anI
wrong In morals rs In law.
A " the last paragraph about the dc
struction Of property. no man engaged Il
legitimate business need fear no sum
mary a proccss-no man but an illici
distillcr Of whisky nocd fear H. An,
these arc IN bc dealt with always summar
ilyand wiihoutdelay. They should neyc
be tcmporizcd with nor parlcycd with
They mako outlaws Of themselves by liy
ing In defiance Of the law, and should b,
made In every case 10 feel the full weigh
Of the law. They should DO visited will
IL seycrcst penalties, and thus be brough
10 knowledge Of Il, Of Ia importance an,
Of the slccplcss vigilance Of a government
administered by n man who believes II
equitable burdens Of taxation, In relieving
the people and reducing robbcr tariff .,
that the poor man may have chcape
clothing. cheaper sugar and cheaper tools
aud that class legislation may be wipe,
= from the statute books forever.
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