The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-26

iSNShuV Nldl 10, lIt IlOntN lIlut inc
government has no necessity ior-has
been going on for years; and, although the
surplus thus collected has been to some
extent reduced by buying the bonls Of
the government ut an enormous premium,
paying from 25to 2Sper cent. more than the
face OF these bonds, yet according to the
very last account have seen, the amount
OF surplus revenue now in the vaults OF
the treasury of the United States is Sll5,-
OOO,OOO in round numbers. There they
are, Sll5,000,0OO, four times all the ex-
pcnses of the government in the days of
Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Monroe and of
John Quincy Adams. One hunded and
fifteen millions OF dollars lying there per
fectly idle, doing no earthly benefit to any
human being, but deprving YOU OF the
currency you need in your business, and
depriving you Of the profits TO be made on
that money II it were back in the pockets
OF the people where il belongs, and, gen
tlemen, endangcring the well-being OF the
country and the honesty of our govern
ment; for, gentlemen, how will you have
nn honest government when il has this
immense amount Of money in the treas
ury for which II has no legitimate use?
Then everybody that can rake up claim
on the government, however dishonest,
everybody who can suggest some scheme
ior spending this money, out OF which he
expects TO make profit, goes to work to do
1t, appropriations are made that are Ut
terly disgraceful, that are utterly was,cful
OF the public treasure, and the people are
the sufferers.
We once had Governor in Ohio who
was a very plain-spoken man, and who
| Al
singular force and used figures of speech
that might shock tender ears, but which
nevertheless conveyed weight. ! speak OF
Governor Allen-and speaking OF this
thing OF having an overilowing and abund-
ant treasury, that grand old man said in
his magnificent waw "Why, YOU might as
well try 10 keep powder-housc in he'll as
TO have an honest government with u sur
plause. That was the truth very iorcibly
expressed, and now can appeal TO You
| Just look at what Congress il abont and
see whether or not this is the truth.
Why, my friends, | saw the other
day, in paper somebody who
was reviewing speech that
had the honor 10 make up there at
Port Huron, in Michigan, said that Judge
Thurman was wholly mistaken, wholly
mistaken in saying that there would be
any such surplus revenue in tho treasury
next year. Well, wondered when saw
that what could possibly bc the meaning
OF II, but ! have seen an explanation OF il
since in New York paper, and il means
simply tlis-that there are schemes ON
foot TO make appropriations 10 the amount
of 100000, 900 or $4,000, 600, or $4,000
600, for which there is no necessity what
sOcver, and which is Just throwing away
that much Of the people'smoney. That's
SOL Well, II they proceed in that way,
| II they take your money 10 the amount of
| SlOO,OOO,OOO year, and then scatter II
broadcast 10 fayoritcs for their benefit,
and not for the benefit OF the people at
large, why then, they can dcplctc the
treasury. Then, II they raised 500, OOO,-
/ OlO Of surplus IN a year they could
sluander il all. hut, that is not the kind
ol government that our forciathcrs in
| tended We should have. They intended
that we should have an honest. frugal,
economical, Republican, Democratic gov
crnmcnt-that is the kind OF government
! fApplause They never intended that We
| should collect SlOO OO0OO0 Of taxes and
then squandcr II usrlcs-ly and cxtrava-
| gantly without reason, in order 10 get rid
Of the surplus. Isn't II necessary 10 stop
this collection Of this great surplusl II
I II h, and Grant Ia his message 10
| Congress said Il was, and Arthur, in his
message 20 Congress, said Il was, and Gar
field. In his speech In the House Of Repre-.
sentative, said IL was, and John sherman,
in his speech the other day at Cincinnati
| 10 the chamber oi commerce, said II was.
II all these people admit and common
sense teaches M that Il Is necessary 10
| ~ luce the surplus. the question h, now
can IL be rcduccd2 l. not IL the plain
answer, reduce the taxcs?' II YOU re-
duce the taxes then the government will
not ccllcct more money than II had any
necessity for but II you keep up these
high taxes then the government Contin-
ucs 90 take money out Of your pockets
for which Il has no earthly use, aud pile II
up In the treasury or squandcr II away.
Now, the issue II fairly made up. The
Democrats say reduce the taxes They
arr too high. These taxes that are paid,
insidously paid, insiliously drawn from
the pockets oi the people by means oi high
protective talin, ought b. be reduced. !
say insidiOusly because, my friends, when
the tax glthcrcr oi Illinois comes around
and takes list ol your property and puts
down the amount u taxes that
YOU are 30 pay, YOU know CN-
actly what you have 10 pay, aud upon
what YOU have 10 pay H. Not 20 with
these tariff taxes. Tho man who imports
goods into the United States pays the tar
IN taxes before be can take his goods ont
oi the cust0m.h0usc. Oi course he alds
that tax b. what hc paid for the goods,
otherwise he would bc q dead failure aud
be would break up In q Wcck-ycs, IN a
day, In an hour. llc therefore adds that
tax when he sells 10 the wholesale mrr.
chants. the wholesale merchant keeps thC
tax added 10 the price and adds his own
profits when hC sells to the retail mcr'
chant, and the retail merchant keeps
the tax IN the price when hI
sells 10 yOu So That when yDr
buy roll oi cloth for suit o
! clothes YOU pay In the price that YOU Civ,
for Il the tax paid by the importer thai
same tax, with The merchants profit, piil
hy the wholesale merchant, that same tax
, with the retailers profit, paid by the retail
. merchant the whole thing, Ia th'
! end, comes out Of your pocket, and II !
as plain as two aud two make four
could quote any amount Of authority i0
II. but no sensible man needs any author
I uy upon as plain aud smp,
, proposition a. that Then iii
tax, this tariff tax, is paid b.
/, the consumer and the poor man who ha
F, 10 buy goods iof himself and n large iamI
y ly. although he may be- very poJr, often
!, times pays a. much or perhaps more take
= than a millionaire whose purchases M
\ bu, small. lApplauso aud checr. Why
" YOU take some old bachelor who is wort
I, 81, 10000, and who y Of no use to himsc