The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-01-14

the expense OF the Drawn and musclr
of those who eat honest bread in the
sweat of their faces: in this age of
swollen pretense, sham aristocracy and
gilded vulgarity, based upon the labor
of others, almost, if not quite, q (,
inadequatoly paid as in the sonih in
the davs of slavery; in such an age a.
this the splendid utterances which [
have just read from the message of the
president will fall upon the mind of
the people as token, a promise OF re-
lief. reform and redemption from one
who has never broken a pledge nor
forgotten public duty. He declares
tor the lowly and oppressed, and
announces why, under our theory OF
! government, il is ga culpable betrayal
Of American fairness and justice as well
as an indeiensible eXtortion" to rob the
! people under the guise Of taxation.
Since the matchiess and immortal in
auguraI read by jefferson on the 4th of
| March, 1901, no communication has
cmanated from the chief magistrate OF
this government more able, more
ELEVATED IN srATEsMASsHIP,
more humane and benevolent in its
purposes to the people, or more con-
ducive to the general welfare aud 10
good government than the message now
under consideration. Who will Join
issue with him on this opening state
ment, which | have Just read? He
says the taxes are wrung from the peo-
pie largely III excess of what the gov
ernment needs. Who denies that? lie
declares that every citizen is entitled TO
the ''iull enjoyment of all the fruits cf
his industry and enterprise, with only
such deductions rs may be his share
toward the careful and economical
maintenance of the government which
protects him. Who will gainsay this
statement of great fundamental doe.
trine of free governmeI unless II bs
the senator from Ohio, who congratu-
lates the people on having the fruits of
their industry taken away from them
and gathered into the treasury The
other side of the chamber has indicated
in a somwhat confused aud disOrderiy
way its purpose 10 attack every point
in the message. Let it be understood
that there will not only be no unread
ness oil this side 10 meet every such
assault but that we challenge and court
the conflict. Bul in addition 10 the
u
revenue created by excessive and un-
just taxation and bitter opposition To
the president on that point, the me hod.
suggested in the recent message by
which TO remedy the already great aua
still growing evil have especially
lSCiTED THE HOSTILITY
OF those who i'll q marked degree havs
The interest of the republican party in
their keeping. The sources of federal
revenue are easily conprehended. The
duties laid at our custom houses on
goods from abroad seeking admission
and sale here, and the internal or
domestic taxes Oh spirituous and malt
liquors and on tobacco furnish not only
ali the money required for actual ex-
penseS by the government, bat have
created the enormous surplus now on
hand anu cohlnuing to Increase with
amazing and startling rapidity. The
deep and fluent streams of money run
ming from the hands of the people into
the treasury must be checked or dimiD-
lsheG one or the other, or the prolific
aud superabundant fountains of reye-
nue must he stopped. Where shall re-
duction OF taxes begin? On what srti-
cles now affording an overplus shall!
1t take place. These are questions
which provoke contention, engender
selfish conflicts, and really constitute
the most serious difficulties we have 10
encounter. In the light, however, of
democratic principles, and the more
than half century of democratic at-
lninislration, aud in view of the dis
nnot views of the chief magistrate.
there need be no doubt as TO the points
where the democratic party will seek
to tighten the burdens of the people by.
lessening their taxes. To cheaper the
price OF such commodities as constitute
the necessities of civilized life, and ie
place the burdens of government az
far as possible on those articles which
contribute to the luxurious habits and
artificial tastes and appetites of man
kind is the true policy and the
JUST EXERCISE OF TAXING POWER.
II was declared by the democrats in
national convention assembled in 1874
that sufficient revenue for all legitimate
purposes of the government could be
raised from custom house taxes on
iewer imported articles bearing heay-
lest on articles OF luxury aud bearing
llshlest on articles Of necessity. Such
u the position OF the party now and
1t Will be adhered to in the approach
ing revision of the tariff. Ii is true
that very determined assault is being
made on our internal revenue, and
there is s!song purpose in various
quarters To- entirely abolish or greatly
reduce the taxes not collected on spirit
aous and malt liquors and on tobacco.
The result OF this movement, should
IL succeed, ls obvious AT y glance. kt
would place before the American pcu-
pie free whisky aud tobacco 1t would
cheaper the use OF articles which are
OF no necessity, while Il would retain
Snd continue the present duties on
everything people wear aud on every
implement of husbaudry wherewith
nearly l0,OOO,000 agricuItnrists prepare
their fields and gather their harvesis.
FIGURES.
The report of the committee Oh i'll
iernal revenue shows that for the wear
ending June 80, 1887, the sum OF Slls,-
SS7 ,3Ol O6 was collected by this office
and all of il from distilled spiri,s
liquors and tobacco in
its various forTs, with the ex-
ception of 1917, ,724 73 arising iroua
oleo and two or three other minor
sources. The. c0mtpittee. estimates
that during the current fiscal year end
ing June 80, lSSS, there will be collect
ed as internal revenue $t2o, ,OUO, 900. u
will be remembered that the president
estimates the surplus which will have
accumulated III the treasury by present
rates of taxation June 80, lSSs, N the
'nm of $40, ,000. 900, showing that even
The total destruction of our whole in.
ternai revenue system would not make
A sufficient reduction 10 correct the eyiL
BY which wQ ave confronted.
Sir, am fully aware That there sie
many and grave objections to Internal
revenue taxation, sud ] am also aware
hat many worthy and patriotic people.
are opposed to its existence on
groands far different, however, from u
tesire To pcrpetuate from personal gain
enormous and unjust taxes on the
necessities of life. appreciate the
act that FOR many years, and especially
IA certain states, the whole system
With all its peculiar forces, was usrt
Is q powerful instrument of pa,t ,tisan
POLITICAL warfare, and was rendered
'dious TO every tair-msnoed citizen
We are also reminded that Il isa war
AK and in times of peace il should
'ass away. All these considerations
ND others have their weight. but
shile the lakes laid by the war tariff
N almost every article which enters
nto the dairy wants and necessities 0t
very man, woman and child in the