New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-13
FOR AMERICAN INDUSTRY.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE UNION LEAGUE
CLUB

POSITION OF HIGH TAXES ON THE LIQUOR
TRAFFIC BY THE SATISFACTION
DFFERRED-AN oUTLISE OF
THE DEB ,TE-uFFICERs
ELECTED.
The Union League Club held its annual meeting
for the election Of oficls and transaction OF other
business last night in the Club house. There was
a large attendance of members. The regular ticket
summoned by the Committee nominations was
elected without opposition.
The following is the list Of officers for 1885:
President, Chauncey NJ. Depew; vics-prssidsnts-Le
Granl b. Cannon. Cornelius " Bliss. Henry Bergh Lew
J.. Merton, Jesse SelsSan. Birdseye Blakolnan jas
Z. Carter. J, H. Hall. Villa. Riddle. AIrsa van van
Santvoord, Charles stewart Smits Joseph T. Gay; seq
Rotary, Granville z. HIVES; treasurer Gesrge ssn
tagus Executive Commiftse-class of 1900 Thomas ~
Acton, EDWARD Weed. Psyson Merrill, William NJ. hso-
irshaw Frederick L. Brown; CsAmltIes on Admis M,
simeon Baldwin, Walter A. Pease ]. Adrascs Bush
Committee Library and Publications -nehty n
Samuel A. Geldschmidt W. Argyle Watssn, Heraes -
Hotchkss, Edward G. Sampson Commiitee on At
Thomas Hicks, George r. Sheldon. Edwin ); Cbapir'
Joseph Mibank Committee on Political R Bl',nard
franklin A. Paddock f. b. Hissdals. John J. Knox
Thomas NJ North. d. y. IT ST.. Jon Tsom ha T.
James. Morris NJ. Budong. Theodore Roosevelt AudI-
tsrs-William H. Ross, James H. Dunhain' L. H. -
Townsend.
THE INTERNAL REVENUE SYSTEM OPPOSED'
The Committee on Political Reform presented
long report and resolution favoring the Abortion
of the Internal Revenue system, the protection Oh
American industries, and high State taxes on the
LIQUOR traffic. The report i'll full Will be found on
the seventh page OF NE lElBUNE III was re ea
and presented OH behalf of the committee by hr'
unsdale, VINO spoke on IL as follows:
MIR PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF TIE UNION LEAGUE
CLUB: before IS tahcn upon the report OF iho
committee and the resolution rscOmlnendcd 10y II,
have few suggestions 10 hlahe inat thllA wiz o
f.r.a fta arm
mend IL Win more certainty to your favorable CON-
sideraton T., ,,, ..
be seen, IN direct antagonism to the policy ihcaou
in the Presidents message The policy Oh that hlSs
sage therefore, comes naturally and properly under
review ON This occasion. In my judgment, no ncs,
sage has been to Congress from the days Oh
Washington to The present time, by any Pfesueim Oo
longing 10 any party, Revolutionary and uu-AhlcI
lean the message OF President CIeNeia,u, .ano
into view the present financial conditions III reNeecs
wellest ablisheu ana tfaulluhal P,iV mo- Il
been the guides and landmarks of all the statesmen anu
lawmakers for the past one hundred years. Inns IS
not apparent upon tho reading OF the message ana 10
the occasional observer IL seems like harmless pre-
divided the American people. II is only when We
the light Of history upon the message ana cohparo
its policy with the governmental policy that has been
pursued since the Constitution was adoed' hal mo
cnOr " of the departure from the established caoiS
Of our government Is made apparent.
The subject OF taxation IS one OF the most lnrcate
and imporfant that be considered BY statesmen
aud law make No subject receives IN an cnH
attention with all It's complications 1t naturally ias
int divisions.
vogue among civilized nations. One system 10 that
of imposts upon imported goods: tho other system IS
that OF internal taxation In one form or another WIN
Insignificant exceptions, all revenue that is deri,ea
by any government is derived from the ono or mo
other Of these two great sources The English Is tho
nearest approach to government that hhls us sup,
port by systom OF Internal taxation. MOST OF me
continental governments find their support upon .no
dual system OF seeking revenue both from lmpoStS
and from Internal taxation. The American system
seeks the chief support for the general government
from lmpOss and not from Internal taxation
GIooM AT THE FORMATION OF TIE GOVERNMENT.
When the convention assembled to franc the Con-
sttuton they met under 81 Jomy auspices. During
tho Revolution the Confederation OF the Unitod states
had been formed but the Government had little power
After tho Revolutionary War discussions and diner
enccs surang up among the several States They dis
regarded their obligations to furnish money to the
General Government. They adopted different lines OF
policy with reference to importations of goods And
50 IL came pass that within i've years Of the tor
of that great war the fathers OF the Rcpubo
spar lest Instead OF securing liberty and equality to
man, they had simply and only estaDllsheu ana
and prepared the way for mutual obstruction u,
ashingon, Franklin, Knox, Jay and others express
ing their discouragements, not yet seeing ther Nay
clear 70 tho cOnsummaton OF the glorious result when
was wrought out by the American CONSTITUTION: ~
last a convention of delegates was held IN Fhladel-
phia consider what could be done 10 feeuy hc GYMS
tho country was laboring under , .,
Washington presided at this convention, ana Alex
andcr Hamilton the brightest financial genus Oh MS
age and generation, represented the State OF New
York The first great want was money 10 carr on
tho Government, to enablo II 10 sustain anu uolonu
itself and among the subjects that received The most
careful consideration was the fiscal system wsie y,
should be put into practice Hamilton Is repu,.o ,
have said that II the General Government wa no.
cIothed with the exclusive power to levy poSts UPON
Unmarried goods and also with tho power W ooio -,
Internal revenue he did mol care TO remain i9ns. ~
~ conventon lat should return to Ncw-York After
urotracted debate and consideration these great
powers of taxation were loseG M t0 mon imported
goods was absolutely tafen from the states put 10, Il
tho states and the General Governncnt wero d.
LN
The second act that passed aiter inc auoP. '
of the Constitution, was an act 10 levy Import uu
upon imported goods; and 1t was declared III inc p1
awhile to be also or the purpose of protecting Ameri-
can Industries So that the first act relating 10
revenues for supporting the Government. was a"
upon imported goods subsequently, inc son. d a,
government provided system OF Internal taAaIIon .
because its Indebtedness and burdens were 100 gGat
TO be sustained by the impost duties These leVIes
of Internal taxes were so dstasteful to the people
that they provoked violence and opposition Inc pro
cesses of the court disrcgarded and a RIDICULOUS
spirit manifested Itself in Massachusetts, North Caro-
lima and Pennsylvania, as well as az olner P o,n,
The rebellion became formidable In PennsyIvamas
that Washington was Obliged to organize an army OF
$1,000 men TO suppress 1t. These Internal taxes "eio
continued during the war OF ISL Snd na .s o from
that time given up to the states and no attempt insdo
by tho Government for forty years to collect one uoi
lar from that source.
IL was not until tho necessities OF the Government
again required large that an internal revenue
no timo from the beginning OF the Government unlll
now has any political party ever suggested or pro-,
l.
when tho necessities - the Government could mol "
met by imposed duties. For forty years debate mas
gone on as TO the rate OF imposed duties. Men have
discussed high tariff and low tariff, ad val0rem dns
and specific duties, but never has the proposition been
made TO the American people to decrease imP9sl
duties and take upon themselves the burden OF IN
ternaI taxes under circumstances similar TO those
that exist until the late message OF the President
This, we say, Is revolutionary.
POSITION OF THE INTERNAL SYSTEM
It antagonizes tho American idea of government
As read the history OF my country the Internal rev.
enuc system stood behind tho Treasury the same as
the volunteer has stood behind the regular army omy
to be used in Of emergency. This splendid ;!
carried The Government through its elcr wars anu
struggles laid aside for forty years, was again IN
voked I'm the war of the Rebellion. II proved a to"c.
OF strength to inc Treasury and during lts sfua'os.
efficiency IL yielded TO the Government the maglnceit
income Of about million dollars a day. AMER tn'
closed the same power of taxation was tbe bul-
uark off he Urea nd lied 10