The Democratic advocate., 1888-01-21

lines, as if they were engaged in more
meritorious occupations than the people
who produce corn and wheat, or who are
employed in other industrial pursuits; some
want to increase the pensions already al
lowed, and grant additional ones, to the
deserving and undeserving alike; some
want the government to loan money to the
people to start in business or pay their
debts; and one gentlemen at least, who may
be supposed to speak for considerable
number of his party associates, advocates
the erection of a public building in every
city having population of twenty thou
sand-not because there is any necessity
for it, but simply in order ''to have con-
tinually before the people visible testi.
monial to the existence of the national
government" These are only few sam
piles of the selfish and extravagant projects
which an overhowing treasury has develop
ed, but they are enough to show the dan
ger of longer delay in the consideration of
this subject
The only debatable question is in what
manner shall the revenue and taxation be
reduced? Upon this question the two po-
litical parties are divided, although there
are some Republicans who are inclined to
take the Democratic view and some Dem
ocrats who favor the Republican policy.
1t is clear that it is possible to reduce the
revenue without reducing taxation, and
equally clear that it is possible to reduce
taxation to a certain extent without re-
ducing the revenue The rates of taxation
upon imported goods might be made so
high that all importations would cease,
and the government would thus be pre-
vented from collecting any revenue what
ever from that source; but this would not
diminish taxation upon the people. On
the contrary, it would greatly increase
their burdens; but they would be COM
PEELED to pay the whole tribute to the do
mestic producer of the dutiable goods, in
stead of paying part of it to the govern
ment, as they do now; and, besides this,
it would be necessary fer the government
to increase taxation in other forms in or.
der to provide for its own support, If, Oh
the other hand, all duties which are now
wholly or partially prohibitory should be
reduced to that precise rate which would
enable the importer to pay them, and still
compete ON equal terms with the domestic
producer taxation would be diminished,
but the amount of revenue would be in
creased To reduce both revenue and
taxation at the same time is the problem
now presented, and the true Democratic
solution is to abolish, as far as practicable,
the taxes on the actual necessaries of life
and on the raw materials used in their
production, andto revise, simplify, and, in
proper cases, reduce the duties on the
other articles embraced in the tariff sched-
ules. The prime objects should be to pro-
vide sufficient revenue for the support of
the government, at the least possible ex-
pense and inconvenience to the people
who pay the taxes, and to impose the
heaviest burdens upon those who are able
to indulge in the use of luxu.ies rather
than upon those who consume only the
common necessaries of life. The Republi-
can solution is, to repeal all the internal
taxes upon whisky, beer, and manufac-
turcd tobacco, and retain high rate of
taxation on the food and fuel and clothing
of the people, and on the building mate
rials, implements of labor, medicines, and
other articles that are indispensable in the
support of their families and the prosecu-
ton of their business. 1t will be seen that
the difference between the two parties on
this question is radical, and irreconcilable
upon any common principle, and hence, if
there is an adjustment at any time before
the Democratic party secures complete con-
troll in Congress, it must be the result of
compromise and concession. But no mat
ter what form the proposed adjustment may
assume, the question whether whisky, beer,
and tobacco shall be made free, and food,
fuel, clothing, and other articles of neces-
sity subjected to heavy tax, will necessa-
rily be involved; and on this question the
Democratic party represents the real inter-
ests of the people and the true economic
principle.
Very little tax is paid under the inter
nal revenue laws, as they now exist, ex-
cept by those who voluntarily use distilled
spirits, beer, tobacco, snuff, or cigars.
These are not necessaries of life, but inju-
rious luxuries. the use of which could be
beuefcially dispensed with, and it is diff
cult to see why they are not the most pro
per subjects for taxation that could be Sc
lected. Besides this, the whole amount of
the tax under these laws, less the incon-
siderable cost of collection, is paid into the
public treasury, and consequently there is
no charge imposed upon the people except
for the benefit of the government itself.
The tariff taxes, on the contrary, are laid
and collected upon imported articles of abb
solute necessity, and as their inevitable
effect, in most cases, is to increase the
prices of domestic articles ofthe same kind,
the whole amount paid by the people does
not go into the public treasury for the
benefit of the government. 1t is denied
by the advocates of protective tariff that
the imposition of duty upon imported
goods enhances the prices of goods of the
same kind produced at home; but this de-
NAL is so palpably inconsistent with all
their other arguments in support of such a