The west Tennessee star. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1888, 1888-09-21


the faith and trust Of the people, ought not to
be tolerated While the heaviest burdens incl
dent to the necessities Of the Government are
borne, light burdens become /
grievous and intolerable when not justified by /
such necessities. Unnecessary taxation is un-
just taxation; and yet this is our condition; We
are annually collecting at our custom-houses |
and by means of our internal revenue taxation. |
many millions in excess Of all legitimate pub /
lie needs. As consequence there now remains |
in the National Treasury a surplus of more |
than one hundred and thirty millions OF dollars.
No better evidence could be furnished that the /
people are exorbitantly taxed. The extent OF /
the superfluous burden indicated by this sur
plus will be better appreciated when it is sug- |
gested that such surplus alone represents taxa |
tion aggregating more than one hundred and |
eight thousand dollars in a country containing |
fifty thousand inhabitants
Taxation has always been the feature of or
ganized government the hardest to reconcile !
with the peoples ideas Of freedom and happi-
ness. When presented in direct form, moth
ing Will arouse popular discomfort more quickly
and profoundly than unjust and unnecessary
taxation; farmers, mechanics. laborers and all
our citizens closely scan the slightest increase
in the taxes assessed up on their lands and 9th.
er property, and demand good reasons for such
increase. And yet they seem to be expected,
IN some quarters, to regard the unnecessary
volume of 1nsidious and indirect taxation Wis
tied upon them by our present rate Of tariff
duties with Indifference, II not with favor.
Treasury not only furnishes conclusive proof
OF unjust taxation, but its existence constitutes
separate aGd Independent menace to the
prosperity of the people. This vast accumula-
tion of idle funds represents that much money
drawn from the circulating medium of the
country, which is needed in the channels Of
trade and business. 1t is a great mistake to
suppose that the consequences which follow
the continued withdrawal and boarding by the
Government of the currency Of the people are
not OF immediate Importance to the mass OF
our citizens, and only concerns those engaged
in large financial transactions In the restless
enterprise and activity which free and ready
money among the people produces, is found
that opportunity for labor and employment,
and that impetus to, business and production,
which bring in their train prosperity to our
citizens in every station and vocation. New
ventures, new investments in business and
manufacture, the construction of new and i'm
portant works. and the enlargement Of enter
prises already established, depend large
ly upon obtaining money upon easy
terms with fair security; and all
these things are stimulated by an abundant
volume of circulating medium. Even the har-
vested gram Of the farmer remains without a
market, unless money is forthcoming for its
movement and transportation to the seaboard.
The first results of a scarcity Of money among
the people is the exaction OF severe terms for
its use; increasing distrust and timidity is fol-
lowed by refusal to loan advance on any
terms. Investors refuse all risks and decline
all securities and in a general fright the money
still in the hands OF the people is persistently
boarded. 1t is quite apparent that when this
perfectly natural, If not inevitable, stage is
reached, depression in all business and enter
| prise will, as a necessary consequence, lessen
| the opportunity for work and employment, and
reduce salaries and the wages of labor.
Instead then, of being exempt from the in
| fuence and effect OF an immense surplus lying
/ idle in the National Treasury, our wage-earners
and others who rely upon their labor for sup
| port. are most OF all directly concerned in the
/ situation. Others seeing the approach of dam
| ger, may provide against IT, but it win find
| those depending upon their daily toll for bread
| unprepared, helpless and defenseless. Such q
/ state of affairs does not present case of idle
/ ness resulting from disputes between the labor
/ ing man and his employer, but it produces an
absolute and enforced stoppage of employment
! and wages. In reviewing the bad effects of
| this accumulated surplus, and the scale of
| tariff rates by which it is produced must
hot overlook the tendency towards gross and
| seandalous public extravagance which con-
gested treasury induces, nor the fact that we
| are maintaining, without excuse, in a time Of
profound peace, substantially the rate OF tariff
| duties imposed in time of war, when the neces-
! sites of the Government justified the imposi-
| ton Of the weightiest burdens upon the peo-
pie.
| Divers plans have been su ggested for the re-
| turn OF this accumulated surplus to the people
| and the channels of trade. Some of these de-
| vices are at variance with all rules of good
| finance; some are delusive; some are absurd,
| and some betray by their reckless extravaganza,
| the demoralizing influence of great surplus
| of public money upon the judgments OF individ-
| ua1s. While such efforts should be made as
are consistent with public duty and sanctioned
| by sound judgment to avoid danger by the use
| ful disposition of the surplus now remaining in
the Treasury, 1t is evident that IL its dtstribu-
tion were accomplished another accumulation
would soon take its place, il the constant flow
of redundant income was not checked at its
source by a reform in our present tariff laws. z
We do not propose to deal with these condi
tions by merely attempting to satisfy the peo
pie of the truth of abstract theories, nor by
alone urging their assent to political doctrine.
We present TO them the propositions that they
are unjustly treated in the extent OF present
| federal taxation; that a result a condition
OF extreme danger exists, and that It is fol
| them to demand a remedy and that defense
and safety promised in the guarantees Of theil
free Government. We believe that the same
l means which are adopted to relieve the treas
ury OF its present surplus and prevent its re
currence, should cheaper to our people tho
cost Of supplying their daily wants. Both o
these objects we seek in part to gain by reduc
ing the present tariff rates upon the necessarie
of life. We fully appreciate the importance Il
the country OF our domestic Industrial enter
prises In the rectifcation of existing wrongs
their maintenance and prosperity should b.
carefully and in a friendly spirit consid
cred. Even such reliance upon presen
revenue arrangements as have been invited o
encouraged should be fairly and justly regard
ed. Abrupt radical changes, which nigh
eudanger such enterprises and in1uriously az
feet the interests Of labor dependent upon thef
success and continuance, are not contemplate
or intended. But We know the cost of on
domestic manufactured products is increase
and their price to the consumer enhanced b
the duty imposed upon the raw material use
} in their manufacture. We know that this II
creased cost prevents the sale of our produS
tions at foreign markets in competition wit
those countries which have the advantage
: free raw material. We know that, confined {
> home market, our manufacturing operation
: are curtailed, their demand for labor irrei
: ular, and the rate of wages paid uncertain. w
1 | propose, therefore, to stimulate our domest
Industrial enterprises by freeing from duty th
, imported raw materials which, by the emplo,
ment of labor are used in our home manufac
ures, thus extending the markets for their sal
and permitting an increased and steady prI
duction, with the allowance Of abundaT
: profits.
: True to the undertaking course Of the Dem
! cratic party, we viii not neglect the interes
= of labor and our workingmen. In all Efforts
remedy existing evils, we will furnish no e
: euse for the loss Of employment or the redu
! tion Of the wages of honest toll On the 60
n trary, we propose IN any adjustment OF o
q revenue laws to conoede such encouraging
" and advantage to the employers OF domestic
g Dor as wiz easily compensate for any dineren
b that may exist between the standard OF Wag
Il which should be paid to our laboring men q
% the rate allowed in other countries. We y
II | pose TOO o 6AAcAAAA8 hAA2
a manufactures, 70 promote the steady empio
m ment Of labor, whiles BY eheapsning the COST
~ the necessariea Of life, we increase the purcha
al ing power Of the workingman's wages, and q
~ 20 the comforts Of his home.
Of And before passing from this phase OF I
le | question am constrained 10 express the opi
ae ion, that while the interests Of labor shou
ie be always sedulously regarded IN any modtnc
~ ton OF our tariff laws, an additional and me
ot direct and sncient protection TO those 1nseres
- would be Afforded By the restriction and pro-
1n o1tion OF the immigration OF lLupoL p- ee--o- =
or laoorers nom other countries, "no y. - -
- our shores, having no purpose or intent OF
- J coming our fsllow-citizens, or acquiring q
= permanent interest IN our country, but "
: / crowd everv field Of ernpIovuseuS with unfnti