Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-10
Ofovernment-the aspiration Of every
true American citizen and
THE MOTIVE FOR EVERY PATRIOTIC ACTION
AND EFFORT

In the consciousness that much has
been done IN the direction Of good gov
ornment by the present Administration
and submitting its record TO a fair in
spection OF my countrymen. ] endorse
tho platform thus presented. with the
determination that if am again called
TO the Chief Magistracy there shall be
the continuance of n devoted endeavor
10 advance the interests OF the entire
country.
Our scale OF Federal taxation and its
consequences largely engross at this
ume the attention OF our citizens and
the people are sobcrly considering the
necessity OF measures of relief.
Our Government Is the creation Of the
people established 10 carry out their de-
signs and accomplish their good. 1t was
founded on justice aud was made
for the free. intelligent, and virtuous
people. II is only useful when within
their control and only serves them well
when regulated and guided by their con
slant touch. It Is free government be-
cause 1t 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 NAV
be his fair contribution 10 necessary
public expense Therefore it is not only
the right, but the duty Of q free people
IN the enforcement Of this guaranty to
insist that such
EXPENSE SHOULD BE STRICTLY LIMITED TO
THE ACTUAL PUBLIC NEEDS.
1t seems perfectly clear that when the
Government this fundamentally created
and maintained by the people to do their
bidding turns upon them, and through
utter peryersiOn Of its powers cxtorts
from their labor and capital tribute
largely in excess Of the public neces-
sites, the creature has rebeled against
the creator and masters are robbed by
their servants. The cost of the Govern
ment must continue to be met by the
tariff duties collected at our custom
houses upon imported goods and by the
internal revenue taxes assessed upon
spiutuous and malt liquors, tobacco, and
oleomarganDe. / suppose it is needless
10 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, 1t 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 articles permit a correspond
Ing increase IN price to be laid upon do
mestic productions Of the same kind,
which increase is paid by all our people
az CONSUMERS Of our home productions,
and entering every American home CON
stitutes a form of taxation as certain and
as inevitable as though the amount was
ANNUALLY PAID INTO THE HAND OF THE
TAX-GATHEBER.
These results are inseparable from the
plan We have adopted for the collection
Of our revenue by tariff duties.
They are not mentioned to dis
credit 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 repre-
sent 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 circum-
stances and in view Of this necessary eff
feet of the operation of our plan for
missing revenue the absolute duty Of lin
iting the rate of tariff charges to the ne
cessities OF q frugal and economical
administration of the Government
seems to be perfectly plain. The
continuance upon the pretcxt Of
meeting the public expenditures of such
a scale of tariff taxation as draws from
the substance Of the people sum
largely in excess Of the public needs is
surely something which, under a gov
ernment 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
uncomplainingly borne
LIGHT BURDENS BECOME GRIEyOUs AND
INToLERABLE
when not justified by such necessities.
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation,
and yet this is our condition. We are an
nuallv collectinga our custom-hOusesand
by means of ourinternal-revenue taxation
many millions III excess Of all legitimate
public needs. As a consequence there
now remains in the national Treasury a
surplus Of more than Sl3O, O0O, 600.
No better evidence could be furnished
that the people are exOrbitantly taxed.
The extent of the superhuous burdens
indicated by this surplus will be better
appreciated when it is suggested that
such surplus alone represents taxation
aggregatlng more than SlOS, eco III q
county containing 80, 900 inhabitants.
Taxation has always been the feature
of an organized government the hardest
toreconcile with the people sideasof free7
dom aud happiness. When presented IN
a direct form nothing will arouse popular
discomfort moro quickly and profoundly
than unjust and unnecessary taxation.
Our farmers, mechanics, aborers, and
ali our citizens closely
SCAN THE SLIGHTEST INCREASE N THE
TAXES ASSESSED
upon their lands and other property,
and demand "a good reason for such IN
crease and yet they seem to be eX-
pected in some quarters to regard as
unnecessary the volume of insidlous and
indirect taxation visited upon them 10y
our present rate Of tariff duties with IN
difference, if not with favor. The surplus
revenue now remaining III the Treasury
not onlv furnishes conclusive proof OF
unjust taxation, but its existence constl-
htes q separate and Independent menace
TO the prosperity of the people. This
vast accumulation of idle funds repre-
sents that much money drawn from the
circulating medium of the country
which is needed in the channels OF trade
and business. 1t is great mistake to
suppose that the consequences which FOL
low the continual withdrawal and hoard
inc bv the Government Of thecurrency OF
the people are not Of immediate
importance to the mass Of our citizens
and only concern those engaged in large
financial transactions. In the restless
enterprise and activity which free and
,.ood. rnonev among the people produces