The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-06-30
TARIFF REFORM.


The American people are to-day con-
frOnlcd with the presence of an accu-
mutation in the federal treasury of All
Immense surplus not needed for public
purposes. Out of the channels of
trade large sums have been gathered,
to rest unused in the receptacle of fed
eral taxes Al the rate of $l4O,0 100000
year, taxation takes out of the earn
ings and The toll and the income of the
people more money than the govern
ment requires, to be poured into an
already overlooking treasury. read
the other day "a statement of the con-
diiion of the public treasury, which
showed, that day, over $500, ,00O, 900
locked up in the public vaults, $780,
900 gathered from the internal revenue
system, and more than million OF
dollars collected from custom duties.
Is this not enough To set every Ameri-
can citiZcn.to inquiring: must we con
tinue forever To aInass $40, 200, 900 a
year more than is required by the gov
crnment, and pour the same into the
federal treasury? II il shall be so then
il is only Il question of Years when all
The money is !oc'icd up at Wa b;ngton,
and none lett for the business
of the people. Shall this enormous
sum remain there rs temp
tation to the eX'rIvaganl and dishon-
est2 Where the carron is, there the
crows will be; and in and about Wash
ingtun are gathered the advocates of
the widest aud most Ill ishonest schemes.
They are the lobbyists IrorOsing to
take out OF This public IuuL>tIat which
they have no right 10 receive, in order
to promote their personal and individ-
nal advancement through the success OF
their cunning employers. The result
is Il decentralization OF the public con-
science, a destruction OF the public
honor, and legislation made, not for
the public interest, but Tor the benefit
ot the few Who seek TO live upon the
labor of the many.
Why this surplus? Whence did 1t
come? Have you paid any taxes, good
reader, III support of the town, town
ship, county, or state in which You
live? The amount may be ascertained
by looking at the tax receipts which
you obtained on the day that you paid.
But how much did you pay TO the sup
port of the United States government
last year! Can anyone answer DO you
suppose il WAS put in the public treas
nry ithout somebody paying il? If
You didn't pay any OF il, the Ipau who
lives in the next town or the next city
didn't pay any OF il, and so on clear to
he seas on either side; and then it
must have come into the public treas
ury by MI earthquake or cpnvulSiun of
nature, or have dropped from the
clouds. But it did not; ii came out
of your incomes, out OF your toll aud
your earnings, in IL way which | shall
Indicate rs proceed.
Is it 10 be supposed that it would
have been possible to have enacted q
law by the present congress, or the last
| congress, to produce the result OF SO vast
a surplus without criticism and con-
demnation on your part? Where is
The congressman who would dare to
vote 20 raise $l40000,0 900 more than
the people require for the expenses of
the government? This result happens,
and the money is in the treasury, be-
cause the people have lost hold of the
Subject-mater of taxation. 1t Is there
because the citizens do not know
whence the money comes. Ii is there
because they do not know how much
each has contributed to it; and this is
because the tax laws which gather the
money for the support of the govern
| hIcnt i'll 1883 were passed III 1862.
There is not government in Chris
tendon which does not provide through
its ministers-its eXchequer represent
| ativcs Tor the report to the legislative
| assemblies each year of the amount
required that year, and of the sources
from which the money shall be gather
ed. Often there is il deficiency to be
provided for because enough had not
been raised the year before. But in
the United States, for more than
quarter OF II century, there has been
no general law passed by congress to
raise taxes for the support OF the fed
ernl government. This law, with its
extraordinary taYatinn of 1862, was
passed, il you will recoIlect, in the
midst OF gigantic civil war, when Il
milton mrn were III the field to be
armed, equipped, and provided for.
And Mr.. Morrill,, who was then as now
senator tor Vermont, in reporting the
bill said. in excuse for the heavy bur
dens which ii imposed, that when the
exigency was ended, when the war
should be over, The taxes should cease
Is the war over? How long since
the last soldier returned to his home /?
The unborn child of Appnmattox day
is II voter of this day. To most of the
youth nt the land all Of the thrilling
events of that exciting period are maj
tcrs Of history. Twenty-Five wears have
come ahd gone, and over the graves of
the brave defenders of our union
twenty-five seasons have cOmc-in
spring 10 scatter its blossoms, in sum
mcr its gorgeous flowers, in tho winter
lis stainless SHOWS. Nothing remains
except the splendid result of the valor
nr those engaged in the conflict, and
The "reminiscences in which the living
| soldiers alone have II right To indulge.
Nothing rcmains2 Yes, the tax gath
rrrr; he who was taking money ont of
| the pockets of the people in 1862 is
| taking money from them to-day. The
taxes are paid to-day Tor the most part
AZ when the battles were being fought
around Richmond, and when Sherman
marched to the sea. Shall this con-
TIME forever? II II shall, the day will
come when the government alone is
"a Il aud the people all are poor
! 1t these taxes ave To be reduced, in
! what direction shall the reduction be