The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-09-15

government, this instrumentality crea-
ted and maintained by the people to do
their bidding, turns upon them and
though an utter perversion gifts powers,
EFFORTS from their labor aud capital tri-
butte largely in excess Of public necessi-
ties, the creature has rebelletl against
the creator and the masters arc robbed
by their servants.
The cost OF the government must con-
tinue to be met by tariff duties collected
at the custom-hOusps upon imported
goods and by internal revenue taxes AS
sessed upon sptrt,uous and malt liquors,
tobacco and 0leomaEgarine.
I suopose 1t Is needless to explain that
all these duties aud assessments are
added TO the price of the articles upon
which they are levied, aud thus become
a tax upon all those who buy these ar
tictes for use aud consumption.
suppose, too, 1t - we'll understood
that the effort of this tariff taxation IL
not limited to the consumers of impor-
ted articles, but that the duties imposed
upon snch articles permit correspond
ing increase in prices to be laid upon
domestic productions of the same kind;
which increase, paid by all our people
as consumers OF home productions aud
entering every American home, con-
stitutes form of taxation as certain
and rs inevitable AS though the amount
was annually paid into the hand of the
tax gatherer.
These results are iDseperable from
the plan we have adopted for the col
lection Of our revenue by tariff duties.
'rhox, urn MT rnantinuoI tn sliarr al I
the system, but by way Of preface to
the statement that every mtttiOn Of
dollars cole cted nj our custom >hOuses
for duties on imported articles anu paid
into the put'iic treasury, represent many
millions more which, though never
reaching the public treasury, are paid
by our citiZ ms as the intreused cost Of
domestic productions resulting from
our tariff laws.
In these circumstances, and in view
of this necessary effect Of the operation
Of our plan for raising revenue, the alb
soiute duty OF
LIMITING THE RATE OF TARIFF CHAR
GEES
to the necessities of frugal and econ-
Omicul administration Of the govern
lnent seems TO be perfectly plain. The
continuance, upon pretext of meeting
public expenditures Of such scale of
tariff taxation as draws from the SUBJ
stance of the people sum largely in
excess Of public needs, is surely some>
thing which, under government based
upon justice, and which finds its strength
and usefulness in the faith and trust OF
tho people, ought not to be tolerated.
While the heaviest burdens Incident
to the necessities Of the government are
borne, light burdens
become grevious and intolerable when
not justified by such necessities.
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxa
ton. And If this Is our condition, we
are annually collecting at our custom>
houses AMI by means of our internal
revenue taxation many millions in ex-
cess of all legitimate public needs. AS
a consequence there now remains in the
national treasury surplus of more
than $l3O, 200, 900.
No better evidence could be furnished
that the people are exorbitantly taxed.
TIE EXTENT OF THE sUPERFI.UoUs
BURDEN
indicated by this surplus will be better
appreciated when it is suggested that
such surplus alone represents taxation
aggregating more than $lOs, 900 in a
country containing SO, 600 Inhabitants.
Taxation has always been the feature
of Organizall government, the hardest
to reconcile with the peoples ideas of
freedom and happiness. When pre-
senied in u direct form nothing will
arouse popular discomfort more quickly
and profoundly than unjust AMI un-
necessary taxation. Our farmers, me.
c',anics, Iaborers, and all our citizsns,
closely scan the slightest increase in
the taxes assessed upon their lands and
other property, and demand good rea-
sons for such increase. And yet they
seem to be expected, in some quarters,
TO regard the unnecessary volume OF
insidious and indirect taxation visited
upon them by our present rate Of tariff
duties with Indifference u not with
favor.
The surplus revenue now remaining
in the treasury not only furnishes con-
elusive proof OF unjast taxation, but it's
existence constitutes u separate and in-
dependent menace To the prosperity Of
tho people.
This vast REORGANIZATION VI lule IunuS
represents that much money drawn
from the circulating medium of the
country which ia needed in the chan.
nels of trade and business.
1t is a great mistake to suppose that
the consequences which follow the con-
tinual withdrawal and boarding by the
government of
THE CURRENCY or THE PEOPLE
are not OF immediate Importance to the
mass of our citizens and only concerns