The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1888-09-20


OF dollars collected at our custom-ho for
duties upon imported articles and paid into
tho public treasury, represents many millions
more which, though never reaokirg the Ma
tonal Treasury, are paid by our citizens as
the increased cost OF domestic productions
resulting trom our tariff laws. In these circum-
| stances, 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 70 the necessities Of frugal and
economical administration Of the Government,
seems TO be perfectly plain. The continuance,
upon pretext OF meeting public expenditures,
OF such a scale Of tarin taxation as draws from
the substance OF the people n sum largely in
excess OF public needs, is surely something
which, under government based upon 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 incl
dent to the necessities OF uhe Government are
uncomplainingly borne, light burdens become
grievOus and intolerable when not justified by
such necessities. Unnecessary taxation Is un-
just taxation; and yet this is our condition; we
afe annually collecting at our custom houses
and by means OF our internal reventfe taxation,
many millions In excess OF all legitimate pub
lilo needs AS q consequence there now remains
in the National Treasury q surplus Of more
than one hundred and thirty millions OF dollars
No better evidence conh be furnished that the
the superfuous burden indicated by this sur
plus will be better appreciated when IL Is sug-
gested that suob surplus alone represents taxa
tion aFgreRatng more than one hundred and
eight thousand dollars in o country containing
fifty housand Inhabitants.
Taxation has always been the feature OF or
ganhed government the hardest to reconcile
with the peoples ideas Of freedom and happi.
ness. When presented in q direct form, moth
| ing will arouse popular dsoontent more Quinkiw
and profoundly than unjust and Unnecessary
taxation; farmers, mechanics. laborers and all
our cttiEene closely scan the slightest increase
| In tie taxes assessed upon their lands and 9TH
er property, and demand good reasons for such
| increase. And yet they seem to he expected,
| in some quarters, to regard the unnecessary
| volume OF Insidious and indirect taxa ion Wis
ite4 upon them by our present rate OF tarin
duties with Indifference. If not W tn favor
The surplus revenue now remaining in the
| Treasury not only furnishes conclusive nrrcf
OF unjust taxation, but its existence constitutes
separate and independent menace to the
| prosperity OF the people This vast accumula-
| ton OF idle funds represents that much money
| drawn from the circula' Ing medium Of the
| country, which is needed in ths channels OF
| trade and bnsirPps. tits great mistake to
| suppose that the consequences VIII ch follow
| the continued withdrawal and boarding by the
| Government OF the currency Of the people are
! our citizens end only concerns those engaged
] 10 large financial transactions. In the restless
| enterprise and activity which free and ready
money among the people produces IS found
| that opportunity fcr labor and employment,
and that irretus to business and production.
! when bring in their train prosperity to our
| CT liens in every station and vocation. New
| ventures, new investments in business and
| manufacture, the construction OF new and tn.
| pOrtant works, and the Enlargement OF enter
prises elrtady established, depend large
! y upon obtaining money upon easy
| terms with fair security; and all
| these things are stimulated by an abundant
volume OF circulating iAedium. Even the har-
vnst"t gram Of the farmer remains without a
| market, unless money Is forthcoming TOR its
| movement and transportation tc TIE seaboard
| The first results .! d scarcity OF money among
| the people Is the exaction OF severe terms for
its use; increasing distrust and tmidltv tr 10
! lowed by refusal TO loan CT advance on any
| terms. IpveesO.s refuse all risks and decline
! al! securities, and in q general fright the money
| still In the hands Of the people is persistanty
| boarded. IT Is quite e-pafent that when this
| perfectly natural, II not inevitable, stage is
| rcaohed depression IN all business and enter
| prise will, as necessary consequence, lessen
the opportunity for work AMI employment, and
| reduce AalaI es and the wages OF labor
Instead, then, OF being exempt from thu IN
| duence and effect OF an imrI9nse surplus lying
\ idle in the Nat0Hal Treasury, our wage -earnCrs
and Gtners who rely upon their labor for sup
| port, are most OF all directly concerned in the
| situation. Others, seeing the approach o. dan
| ger, may provide against 1t, but 81 will find
| those depending upon their daily toll for bread
| unprepered, helpless and defenseless. Such a
| state OF affairs does not present case OF IDLE
ness resulting from disputes between the labor
| ing man and his employer, but 1t produces an
| absolute and enforced stoppage Of employment
| and wages In reviewing the bad effects of
| this accumulated surplus. and the scale Of
| tariff rates by which 1t l. produced, we must
| not overlook the tendency towards gross and
| scandalous public extravaganza which a con-
| gested treasury induces, nor the fact that We
are maintaining, without excuse, in time OF
! profound peace, substantially the rate of tarin
duties imposed in time of war, when the neces-
stiles OF the Government justified the imposi-
| tion OF the weightiest burdens upon the peo-
pie.
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,
and some betray by their reckless extravaganza,
the demoraliZing influence of a great surplus
of public money upon the judgments Of individ-
uals. While such efforts should be made as
are consistent with public duty and sanctioned
by sound judgment 10 avoid danger by the use
fuI disposition OF the surplus now remaining in
the Treasury, 1t IL evident that II its distribu-
tion were accomplished another accumulation
| would soon take its place, If the constant flow
OF redundant income was not checked at its
| source by a reform In our present tarlff laws.
We do not propose TO deal with these condi-
tions by merely attempting TO satisfy the peo-
pie OF the truth Of abstract theories, nor by
alone urging their assent TO political doctrine.
We present to them the propositions that they
are n NJ
federal taxation; that as q result q condition
OF extreme danger exists, and that it is for
them TO demand @ remedy and that defense
and safety promised in the guarantees Of their
free Government We believe that the same
means which are adopted 10 relieve the treas
ury of its present surplus and prevent its
curenee, should cheaper to our people the
cost Of supplying their daily wants. Both OF
these objects we seek In part to gain by reduc-
ing the present tariff rates upon the necessaries
of life. We fully ap reciate the Importance to
the country OF our domestic industrial enter
prises. In the rectification of existing wrongs,
their maintenance and prosperity should be
carefully and in friendly spirit oonsid-
cred. Even such reliance upon present
revenue arrangements as have been invited or
encouraged should be fairly and justly regard
ed. Abrupt radical changes, which might
endanger such enterprises and injuriously sf-
feet the interests OF labor dependent upon their
success and continuance are not contemplated
or intended. But we know the cost OF our
domestic manufactured products is increased
and their price TO the consumer enhanced by
the duty imposed upon the raw material used
in their manufacture. We know that this in
creased cost prevents the sale OF our produc-
tions at foreign markets in competition with
those countries which have the advantage of
free raw material. We know that confined to
home market, our manufacturing operations
are curtailed, their demand for labor irreg-
ular,. and the rate of wages paid uncertain. We