Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-09-19

people, ought not to be tolerated.
While the heaviest burdens incident TO the
necessities OF the Government are uncomplaln-
ingly borne, light burdens become grievous and
mtoleraole when not justified by such necessi-
ties Unnecessary taxation is unjust 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 public needs AS a
consequence, there now remains In the Ma
tional treasury q surplus Of more than one
hundred and thirty millions Of dollars. No bet
ter evidence could be furnished that the people
are exorbitantly taxed
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. Our farmers me-
chanics, laborers and all our citizens.
closely scan the slightest increase
In the taxes assessed upon their lands and 9th
er property and demand good reasons for such
increase. And yet they seem 70 be expected in
some quarters 10 regard the unnecessary vol
ume OF insidious and indirect taxation visited
upon them by our present rate Of tariff duties
with indifference IL not with favor. The sur
plus revenue now remaining IN the treasury not
only furnishes conclusive proof OF unjust taxa
tion, but its existence constitutes q separate
and independent menace to the prosperity of
the people. This vast accumulation 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 great mistake TO suppose that che CON-
sequences which follow the continual with
drawal and boarding by the Government Of the
currency OF the people are not OF immediate i'm
portanoe TO the mass OF our citizens and only
concerns those engaged in large financial
transactions. In the restless enterprise and
activity which free and steady 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 con
struction of new and important works
and the enlargement OF enterprises already es-
tabnshed, depend largely upon obtairing money
upon easy terms with fair security, and all
these things are stimulated by an abundant
volume OF circulat ng medium Even the har-
vested grain OF the farmer remains without
market unless money is forthcoming for its
movement and transportation to the seaboard.
The first results Of q 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 or advance on any
terms. Investors refuse all risks and decline
all securities, and in general fright the money
still in the hands OF the people k persistently
| boarded
II Is quite apparent that when this perfectly
natural If not inevitable stage is reached de-
preston in all business and enterprises will, as
necessary consequence, lessen the oppor-
tunity for work and employment, and reduce
| salaries and the wages OF labor. Instead, then.
OF being exempt from the influence and effect
/ OF the immense surplus lying idle in the Ma
tional treasury our wage earners and others
who rely on their labor for support, are, most
! OF all, directly concerned in the stu
| ton. Others seeing the approach OF
| danger may provide against it, but It will
| find those depending on their daily toll for
| bread unprepared, helpless and defenseless
| Such state OF affairs does not present a case
| Of idleness resulting from disputes between the
| laboring man and his employer, but II produces
an absolute and enforced stoppage of employ
| ment and wages.
| In reviewing the bad effects OF this accumu-
| lated surplus and the scale OF tariff rates by
/ which II Is produced we must not overlook the
| tendency toward gross and scandalous public
| extravagance which a congested treasury in
] duces in a time of profound peace substantially
the rate Of tariff duties imposed in time OF war
when the necessities OF the Government iusti-
| fed the imposition Of the weightiest burdens
| upon our people.
| Divers plans have been suggested 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
| am ONE Inelr reckless extravaganza
| the demorallZing influence of a great surplus of
public money upon the judgments OF individuals
| While such efforts should be made as are con-
| sistent with public duty and sanctioned by
sound judgment TO avoid danger by the useful
| disposition OF the surplus now remaining in the
treasury it is evident that IL its distribution
| were accomplished another accumulation would
soon take its place If the constant flow of re-
| dundant income was not cherked at its source
| by a reform in our present tariff laws.
| We do not propose TO deal with those condi-
| tions by merely attempting to satisfy the peo-
pie OF the truth OF abstract theories by alone
| urging their assent TO political doctrines We
present TO them the propositions that they are
uniustly treated in the extent OF present Fed
eral taxation, that as a result condition OF ex.
| treme danger exists, and that IL Is for them to
demand n remedy and that defense and safety
promised in the guarantees of their free gov
| ernment. We believe that the same means
which are adopted to relieve the treasury of its
present surplus and prevent its recurrence
should cheaper TO our people the cost OF supply
ing their daily wants. Both of these objects
we seek in part to gain by reducing the present
. tariff rates upon the necessaries OF life.
We fully appreciate the importance to the
country Of our domestic industrial enterprises
In the rectincation of existing wrongs their
maintenance and prosperity should be care
fully and in afriendly way considered Even
| such reliance upon present revenue arrange
ments as have been invited or encouraged
should be fairly or Justly regarded Abrup,
and radical changes. which might endanger
such enterprises and in1uriously affect the
| interests OF labor dependent upon their
success and continuance, arc not con.
templated or intended. But we know
the cost Of our domestic manufactured prod
| ucts Is increased and their price to the con.
sumer is enhanced by the duty imposed upon
the raw material used in their manufacture.
| We know that this increased cost prevents the
sale OF our productions at foreign markets in
competition with those countries which have
the advantage Of free raw material. We know
that confined TO a home market our manufac
| turing operations are curtailed; their demand
for labor irregular and the rate OF wages paid
uncertain. We propose therefore TO stimu
late our domestic industrial enterprises by
freeing from duty the imported raw materials
which by the employment OF laoor are used In
our home manufactures, thus extending the
markets for their. sale and permitting an in
creased and steady production with the allow
ance OF abundant profits.
True TO the undertaking course OF the Dem
ocratic party we will not neglect the inter
eSts OF labor and our worlxingmen. In al
efforts TO remedy existing evils we will fur
OF the reduction OF the wages OF honest toll
On the contrary, we propose in any adjust
ment OF our revenue laws, to concede such
encouragement and advantage to the EN-
ployerS OF domestic labor as VIII easily com
pensate for any difference that may exist be
tween the standard of wages which should b
paid 70 our laboring men and the rate allowed
IN other countries. We propose too, by ex
tending the markets for our manufacturers Il
promote the steady employment OF labor. while
by cheapening the cost OF the necessaries O
life we increase the purchasing power of the
workngman's wages and adds 70 the comforts
OF his home.
And before passing from this phase of tn.
question 1 am constrained to express tn.
opinion that while the interests Of labol
should be always sedulously regarded in AMI
modification Of our tariff laws an additiona
and more direct and efficient protection Il
those interests would he afforded by the re
striction and prohibition of the immigration
or importation Of La orers from other coun
tries. who swarm upon our shores having n
purpose or intent OF becoming our fellow citi
zens or acquiring any permanent interest fl
our country. but who crowd every field Of EN-