Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
TIE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.


financial system suited to our needs thus secur-
ing an efficient agency of national wealth and
general prosperity; the construction and equip
ment of means of defense, to insure our ma
II nal safety and maintain the honor beneath
winch such national safety. reposss;
the projection of cur national do
main. still stretching beyond the needs
OF century expansion, and its preservation for
the settler and the pioneer Of our marvellous
growth; sensible and sincere recognition of the
value OF American labor, leading to the scrupu-
lous care and just appreciation of the interests Of
our woI kingmen; the limitation and checkicg of
such monopolistic tendencies and schemes as in
terfere with the advantages and benefits which
the people may rightly claim; generous regard
and care for our surviving soldiers and sailors
and Tor the widows aud orphans of such as have
died, to the end that while the appreciation of
their services and sac ifices is quickened the ap
plcatlon OF their pension funds to improper cases
may be prevented; protection against servile
immigration, which injuriously completes with our
laborlng men in the fields OF toll, and adds to
population an element ignorant of institutions
and laws, impossible CT assimilation with our
people and dangerous to our peace and welfare;
strict and steadfast adherence to the principles
OF civil service reform and thorough execution
of the laws passed for their enforcement, thus
permitting to our people the advantages Of bust
ness ehods in the operation Of their govern
ment: the guaranty to our colored citizens or all
their rights OF citizenship, and their just recog-
milton and encouragement IN all things pertain
Ing to that relation: firm, patient, and humane
Indian policy, so that in peaceful relations with
the government the civilization of the Indian
may be promoted, with resulting quiet and safety
to the settlers on our frontiers; and the curtai
ment OF cubic expense by the introduction of
economist methods in every department OF the
government.
The pledges contained in the platform adopted
by the lale CONVENTION Of the national democracy
lead to the advaQcement of these objects and in
sure good gOYernment-the aspiration OF every
true American citizen and the motive for every
patriotic action and effort In the consciousness
that much has been done in the direction of good,
government by the present administration, and,
submitting its record to the fair inspection Of my
1 YtgGn no vAlo fFnr fhIrG mr.
Sented, with the determination that, If am again
called to the chief magistracy, there shall be
continuance OF devoted endeaVor to advance the
interests OF the entire country.
Our scale of federal taxation and its conse-
quences largely engross at this time the attention
Of our citizens, and the people are soberly con-
SideIlng the necessity of measures OF relief.
Our government is tn creation of the people,
establlshed TO carry out Their designs, ana &C
and was made for a free, intelligent and virtuous
eople. 1t is only useful when within their con
troll, and only serves them well when regulated
and guided by their constant touch. 1t IS free
s vernment because it gIaran'ees TO every
American citizen the Unrestricted personal use
and enjoyment Of ali the e%ard OF his toll and OF
all his income, except what may be his fair con
tribution to necessary public expense. There
fore it Is not only the right but the duty OF free
people, in the enforcement Of is guaranty, to IN
siSt that such expense should be strictly limited
10 the ac ual public needs. Ii Sc ms perfectly,
clear that when the government. this Instrument
talitv created and maintained by the people to
do their bidding turns upon them and, through
an utter Perversion OF its powers, EFFORTS from
their Dor and capital, tribute largely in excess
of public necessities, the creature has rebeled
against the creator and the masters are robbed
b. their servants.
THE TARIFF.
The cost of the government must continue to
pc met by tarI1f duties collected at our custom
houses upon imported goods, and by internal
revenue taxes assessed upon spirituouS and mat
liquors, TOBACCO ami OleOmargerIn9.
Isuppose it is needless to explain that all these
duties and assessments are added to the price of
the articles upon which they are levied and thus
become a tax upon all those who buy these arti-
cles for use and consumption. supp0ss, too. i
is well understood that the effect Of this tariff
taxation is not limited to the consumers of i'm
ported articles, but that the duties imposed upon
SUCH articles permit corresponding increase in
price to be laid upon domestic productions Of the
same kind. which increase paid b. all our peo
pc as consumers OF home productions and enter
ing every American home, constitutes a form Of
taxation as certain and as Inevitable as though
the amor MT was annually pail into the hand OF
the tax-gstherer
These results are ingeparabe from the plan
we have adopted for the collection Of our reVe-
nue. by tariff duties. They are not mentionei
to discredit the system but by way Of preface
TO the statement that every million Of dollars
collected at our custom houses for dut es upon
imported articles and paid into the public treas
uIy represents many millions more, which,
though never reaching the national treasury.
are PAD by our citizens the increased cost Of
domestic productions resulting from our tariff
avs.
In these circumstances, and in view Of this
necessary effect OF the operation Of our plan for
raising revenue. the absolute duty OF limiting
the rate of tariff charges to the necessities Of a
frugal and economical administration Of the
governn ent, seems to be perfectly plsin. The
continuance, upon pretext of meeting p1bic
expenditures, CT such scale Of tariff taxation
as draws from the substance Of the people 6
sum largely IN excess OF public needs, is surely
something which. under a government base
upon Justice, and VIII ch finds its strength aGd
usefulness in the faith and trust of thA peope,
ought not TO BE- tolerated. While tn
heaviest burdens incident TO the necessities
of the government are uncomplainiagly borne.
light burdens become grievious and iDtolerabl-
when not justified by such necessities. UuEeces-
Sary taxation Is unjust taxation. And yet
this IS our condition. We are annually collec.-
ing at cur custom houses and by means Of otir
internal revenue taxation many millions in ex-
cess of ell Legitimate public needs. AS a CO. s.
quence there now remains in the national treas
ury surplus of more than $4,000 600.
No better evidence could be furnished that tn.
Teople could be extraordinarily taxed The exten;
Of the slperhIous burden indicated by this sur
US VII be better appreciated when 1t is srg-
gested that such surplus alone represents taxa
ton aggregatIug more than one hundred AMI
eight thousand collars in q county containing So
COO inhabitants.