Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-09-10


fitness in the faith aud trust OF the people,
ought not 10 be tolerated.
While the heaviest burdens incident to
the necessities of the government are IN
borne, light burdens become
grievous aud intoerable when notJustihed
by such necessities.
Unnecessary taxation il unjust taxation.
And vet this ia our condition. We are an
nually collecting at our custom-houses and
by means OF our internal revenue taxation
many millions in excess of all legitimate
public needs. AS consequence there now
remains in the national treasury surplus
of more than one hundred and thirty mil
lions Of dollars.
No better evidence could be furnished
that the people are exorbitantly taxed. The
extent of the superfuous burden indicated
by this aurplus will be better appreciated
when it is suggested that such surplus alone
represents taxation asgregatiDg more than
one hundred and eight million dollars
in country containing fifty million inhab.
tants.
Taxation has always been the feature OF
organized government The hardest to recon.
uile with the people idea OF freedom and
happiness. When presented in direcI
form nothing will arouse popular discomfort
more quickly and profoundly than Unjust
and unnecessary taxation. Our farmers,
mechanics, laborers and all our citz9ns
closely scan the slightest increase in tne
taxes assessed upon their lands and other
property, and demand good reasons for such
Increase. And yet they seem to DE expected
in some quarters, to regard the UNNECESSARY
volume of jnsidious and indirect taxation
visited upon them by our present rate oil
tariff duties with indifference, II not with
favor.
The aurpus revenue pow remaining In
the treasury not only furnishes conclusive
proof Of unjust taxation, but its existence
constitutes a separate and Independent
menace to the prosperity OF the people. Ihis
vast accumulation of idle funds represents
that much money drawn from the circu
lating medium Of the country which Is
needed in the channels of trade and busi-
ness
IL is great mistake to suppose that the
consequences which follow the continual
withdrawal and boarding by the govern
meut of the currency of the people are not
of immediate Importance TO the mass OF our
| citiZens, and only concerns those engaged in
large financial transactions.
| IN The restless enterprise and activity
which free and ready money among the
people produces is found that opportunity
for labor and employment and that impetus
! 10 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 construction of new and important
works, and the enlargement CT enterprises
already established depend largely upon
| obtaining money upon easy terms with lair
security, ard all these things are stimulated
BY an abundant volume of circulating me-
dunn. Even the harvested grain of the
farmec remains without q market unless
money is forthcoming for lis movement and
transportation to the seaboard.
The first result of scarcity of money
amoug the people is the ezaction of severe
terms for its use. Increasing distrust and
| ,imidity is followed By refusal 10 loan or
advance on any terms. Investors refuse ali
risks and decline all securities, and IN a
general fright the money still 10 the hand
| OF the people is persisteptly boarded. 1t is
quite apparent that when this perfectly
natural, if not inevitable, stage is reached,
depression in all business and enterprise
will, as necessary consequence, lessen the
opportunity for work and employ menf, and
| reduce the salaries and the wages OF labor,
fustead then. of being exempt from the iE-
| Auence and effect of an immense surplus
| living Ito in the national treasury, our wage
earners and others wi no rely upon their labor
| Tor support are most Of all directly concern.
ed in the situation Others, seeing the Ap.
proach Of danger, may provide against it,
but it will find those depending upon their
daily toll for bread unprerared, helpless and
| defenseless. such state of affairs does not
present case OF idleuess resulting from die
putes between the laboring man aod his en-
| poyer, but it predicts an absolute and
enforced stoppage of employment and wa
ges
In reviewing the bad effects OF this accu.
mulated surplus aud the scale OF tarH rates
by which it is produced, we must not over
look the tendency towards gross and scan
dslous public extravaganza which congest-
ed treasury induces, nor the fact that we
are maintaining without excuse, in time
of profound peace, substantially the rate of
tariff duties imposed in time of war; when
the necessities of the government JUSTIFIED
the imposition of tho weig htiest burdens up.
on the people.
Divers plans have haen suggested for the
return Of this accumulated surplus to the
people aud tho channels Of trade. Some Of
these devices are at variance with al rules
OF good finance, sonl. are delu i've some are
absurd, and some betray by their reckless
ex,ravaganca ths demora'izing Influence ola
great surplus of ubiic 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
useful disposition Of the surplus now re-
naming in the treasury, it is evident that if
its distribution we're accomplished another
accumulation would soon takc its place if
the constant flow Of redundant income was
not checked at its source by reform in our
present tariff laws.
We do not prypose to deal with these
conditions by merely attempting to satisfy
the people of the truth of abstract theories,
nor by alone urging their assent to political
doctrine. We present to them the PROPOSE
tons that they are upjustly treated in the
= Ga.