The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-09-10

tne present uuHlHl5tIhtuhS anu oub
mitting its record to the fair inspection
of my countrymen, endorse the plat
form thus presented, with the determi
nation that II am again called TO the
chief magistracy, there shall bea Contin
uance OF devoted endeavor to advance
the interests OF theentire country.
Our state Of Federal taxation and III
consequences largely engross at thiI
time the attention Of our citizens, and
the people are soberly considering the
necessity OF measures OF relief.
Our Government is the creation o.
the people, established to carry out theil
designs and accomplish their good. II
was founded on justice, and was made
for free, intelligent and virtuous peo'
pie. 1t is only useful when within
their control, and only serves them
when regulated and guided by their
constant touch. 1t is free Govern
ment because it guarantees 10 every
American citizen the unrestricted
personal use and enjoyment oi
all the reward OF his toll, and OF all
his income, except what may be his fair
contribution TO the necessary public eX.
peAse. Thereforc,it is not only the right
but the duty Gf free people, in the en-
forcement OF this guarantee, to insist
that such expense should be strictly linn
tied to the actual public needs. 1t seems
perfectly clear that when the Govern.
ment, this instrumeDtality created ana
maintained by the people to do their
bidding, turns upon them, and through
an utter perversion OF its powers, ex-
torts from their labor and capital tribute
largely in excess OF public necessities,
the creature has rebeIled against the cre-
ator and the mastes are robbed by their
servants.
A SLY ATTEMPT AT HEDGING.
The cost Of the Government must con-
tinue to be met by tariff duties collected
ut our custom houses upon imported
goods and by internal revenue taxes as
sessed upon spirituous and malt liquors,
tobacco and oleomargarine.
| suppose it is needless to explain that
all the duties and assessments are added
TO the price OF the articles upon which
they are levied and thus become tax
upon all those who buy these articles for
use and consumption. suppose, too,
it is well understood that the effect OF
this tariff taxation is not limited to the
consumers of imported articles, but that
the duties imposed upon such articles
permit a corresponding increase, III
price TO be laid upon domestic produc-
lions of the same kind, which increase,
paid by all our people as consumers OF
home productions, and entering every
American home, constitutes u form OF
taxation us certain aud as inevitable as
though the amount was annually pald
into the hands OF the tax gatherer.
These results are inseperabIe from the
plan we have adopted for the collection
OF our revenue by tariff duties. They
are not mentioned TO discF6dit the sys-
TEN but by way OF preface to the
statement that every million oil dollars
collected at our custom houses lor
duties upon imported articles and paid
into the public treasury, represent many
millions more which, though never
reaching the National Treasury, are
paid by our citizens Us the increased
cost of domestic productions resulting
from our tariff laws.
PURE DEMAGoGY.
In these circumstances and in view OF
the necessary effect Of the operation OF
our plan for raising revenue, The abso-
lutte duty OF limiting the rate OF tariff
charges 10 the necessities OF frugal and
economical administration ofthe govern
ment seems to be perfectly plain, The
continuance, upon h pretext OF meeting
public expenditures, OF suoh n scale OF
tariff taxation as draws from the sub
stance OF the people sum largely in ex-
cess OF public needs is surely something
which under government based upop
Justice and which finds its strength and
usefulness in the faith and trust OF the
people ought not to be tolerated. While
the heaviest burdens incident to the ne
cessities Of the Government are qncom-
plainingly borne, light burdens become
grIevoQs lnd intolerable when not JUS
titled by such neCessl tiles.
Unnecessary taxation Is unjust taxa
ton. 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 ex-
cess of all legitimate public needs. Asa
consequence there now remulns In the
National Treasurya surplus Of more than
one hundred and thirty millions OF dol
lars. No better evidence could be fur
nished that the people are exorbitantly
taxed. The extent OF the snperiiuouG
burden indicated by this surplus will be
better appreciated when it is suggested
that such surplus alone represents taxa;
ton aggregating more than one hundred
and eight million dollars in country
containing 90, Goa, 900 inhabitants.
THE SAME OLD SONG.
Taxation has always been the feature
OF organized goyerRmentj the hardest
to reconcile with the peoples idea Of
freedom and happiness. When present.
ed in a direct form nothing will arouse
popular discomfort more quickly and
profoundly than unjust and unnecessary
taxation. Our iQrmers, mechanics,
laborGrs, and all our citizens. closely
sean the slightest increase in the taxes
assessed upon their lands and other
property, and demand good reasons for
such increase. And yet they seemNto
he 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, If not with favor.
The surplus revenue now remaining
| in the Treasury not only furnishes con-
elusive proof OF unjust taxation, but its
existence constitutes a separat" and in.
dependent menace to the pros 'ity OF
the people. 80
The vast accumulation OF idle funds
represents that mHch money drawn from
the circulating medium of the country,
which is needed in the channels OF trade
and business.
nut WHAT ABOUT PROTECTION TO LABOR
AND CAPITAL?
1t isa great mistake to suppose that
the consequences which follow the con-
tinual withdrawal and boarding by the
Government of the currency of the peo-
pie are not OF immediate Importance TO
i the mass OF our citizens, and only con;
Germs those engaged in large financial
transactions. nm.