Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-09-11

strength and usefulness in the faith and
and trust of the people, ought not to be
tolerated. While the heaviest burdens
incident to the necessities of the govern
ment are uncomplainingly borne, light
burdens become grievous and intolerable
when not justified by such necessities.
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 con
sequence there now remains in the ma
tional treasury a surplus of more
than n hundred and thirty millions of
dollars. No better evidence could be
furnished that The people are exorbitant-
ly taxed. The extent of the superfluous
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 eighJthousands of dollarsi in a country
containing $4,000 inhabitants. Taxation
has always been the feature of organized
government hardest to reconcile with
the peoples ideas of freedom and
happiness. When presented in a direct
form nothing will arouse popular discon-
sSa" bio 4aiehtJ oho PictuululJ tulu
unjust and unnecessary taxation. Our
farmers, mechanics, laborers, and all our
citizens closely scan the slightest in
crease in the taxes assessed upon their
lands aud other property, anu demand
good reasons for such increase. And
yet they seem to be expected, in some
quarters, to regard unnecessary volume
OF insidious Indirect taxation visited upon
them by our present rate of tariff duties,
with indifference il not with favor.
The surplus revenue now remaining in
the treasury not only furnishes con-
elusive proof of the unjust taxation, but.
its existence constitutes a separate and
independent n 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 chan
nels of trade or business.
In reviewing the bad effects of this ac-
cumulated surplus, and the scale of tar
if rates by which it is produced, we
must not overlook the tendency toward
gross and ~scandalous public extravaganza
which a congested treasury induces, nor
the fact that we are maintaining, with
out excuse, in a time of profound peace
substantially the rate of tariff duties i'm
posed in time of war, when the necessi-
ties of the government justified the inn
position of the weightiest burdens upon
the people.
Divers plans have been suggested for
the return of this accumulated surplus
to the people and the channels of trade.
Some of these devices are at variance
with all rules of good finance, some are
delusive, come are absurd, and some be-
tray by their reckless extravaganza the
demoralzing influence of q great surplus
OF public money upon the judgments of
individuals. While such efforts should
be made as are consistent with public
duty and sanctioned by sound Judgment,
to avoid danger by the uselnl disposition
of the surplus now remaining in the
treasury, it is evident that il it's distribu-
tion were accomplished another accumu-
lation would soon take its place, if the
constant flow Of redundant income was
not checked at its source by q reform in
II present tariff laws.
We believe that the same means which
are adopted to relieve the treasury of its
present surplus and prevent its recur-
renee, hould cheaper to our people the
cost of supplying their daily wants.
And before passing from this phase of
the question 1 am constrained to express
the opinion that while the interests Of
labor should be always sedulously guard
ed in any modification OF our tariff laws,
an additional and more direct and effi-
cient protection to these interests would
be afforded by the restriction and prohi-
bition of the immigration OF importation
of laborers from other countries, who
swarm upon our shores, having no pur-
pose or intent of becoming our fellow
citizens, or acquiring any permanent in
terest in our country, but who crowd
every field Of employment with unin-
telligent labor at wages which ought not
to satisfy those who make claim to
American citizenship.
The platform adopted by the late ma
tional convention of our party contains
the following declaration.
Judged by Democratic principles the
interests of the people are betrayed when
by unnecessary taxation trusts and COM
binations are permitted and fostered
which, while unduly enriching the few,
combine to rob the body of our citizens
by depriving them as purchasers of the
benefits of natural competition
While we can not avoid partisan mis-
representation, our position upon the
question OF revenue reform should be SO
Aatb otabCh DO w dululu VI uO DllSuIl-
~derstanding. We have entered upon no
crusade Of free trade. The reform we
seek to inaugurate is predicated upon this
utmost care for established industries
and enterprises, a jealous regard for the
interests of American labor, and q sin
cere desire to relieve the country from
the injustice and danger of a condition
which threatens evil to all the people of
the land. We are dealing with no imag-
mary danger. Its existence has been re
peatedly confessed by all political par
ties, and pledges of q remedy have been
made on all sides. Yet, when In the
Legislative body, where under the Consti-
tuition all remedial measures applicable
10 this subject must originate, the Demo.
cratic majority were attempting with ex.
IRENE moderation to redeem the pledge
common to both parties, they were met
by determined opposition and obstruc-
ton, AND the minority, refusing to coop
crate in the house of representatives, or
propose another remedy, have RENTED
the redemption of their party pledge to
the doubtful power of the senate. The
people will hardly be deceived by their
abandonment of the field of legislative
action to meet in political convention and
hippantly declare in their party plat
form that our conservative and careful
effort to relieve the situation is destruct-
i've to the American system of protec-
ton. Nor will the people be misled by
the appeal to prejudice contained in the
absurd allegation that we serve the in
terests of Europe, while they will sup
port the interests of America. They
propose in their platform to thus sup
port tie interests of our country by re-
moving the internal revenue tax from