The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-08-30


only serves them well when regulated and
| guided by their constant touch. 1t is a
| free government, because it guarantees TO
every American citizen the unrestricted
| personal use and enjoyment of all the re-
ward of his toll and of all his income, ex-
cept what may be his fair contribution to
necessary public expense Therefore it is
not only the right, but the duty, of q free
people, in the enforcement of this guar
anty, to insist that such expense should be
strictly limited to the actual public needs.
1t seems perfectly clear that when the gov
ernment, this instrumentality created and
maintained by the people to do their bid
ding, turns upon them and, through an ut
ter perversion of its powers, extorts from
their labor and capital tribute largely in
excess of public necessities, the creature
has rebelled against the creator and the
masters are robbed by their servants.
The cost of the government must con-
tinue to be met by tariff duties collected
at our custom houses upon imported goods,
and by internal revenue taxes assessed
upon spirituous and malt liquors, tobacco
and oleomargarine. l suppose it is need
less 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 articles for use and consumption.
suppose, too, it is well understood that
the effect of this tariff taxation is not
limited to consumers of imported articles
articles permit a corresponding increase
in price to be laid upon domestic produc-
tions of the same kind, which increase,
paid by all our people, as consumers Of
home productions and entering every
American home, constitutes q form of tax
alton as certain, as inevitable, as though
the amount was paid annually into the
hands of the tax gatherer. These results
are inseparable from the plan we have
adopted for the collection of our revenue
nod
to discredit the system, but by way of
preface to the statement that every
million OF dollars collected at our custom
houses for duties upon imported articles
and paid into the public treasury, represent
many millions more which, though never
reaching the national treasury, are paid
by our citizens as the increased cost of
domestic productions resulting from our
tariff laws.
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 econom-
ical administration of the government,
seems to be perfectly plain. The continu-
ance, upon a pretext of meeting public ex-
penditures, of such scale of tariff taxa
tion as draws from the substance of the
people sum largely in excess of public
needs, is surely something which, under o
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 incident to
the necessities of the government are un-
complainingly borne, light burdens become
grievous and intolerable when not justified
by such necessity.
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
And yet this is 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 a 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 superfiuous burden indi-
Gated by this surplus will be better appre-
clated when 1t Is suggested that such sur
plus alone represents taxation aggregating
more than $10S, 600 in a county containing
$4,000 inhabitants.
Taxation has always been the feature of
organized government; the hardest to
reconcile with the peoples ideas of free
dom and happiness. When presented in a
direct form nothing will arouse popular
discomfort more quickly and profoundly
than 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 and other p.operty and demand good
reasons fer such increase. And yet they
seem to be expected, in some quarters, to
regard the unnecessary volume of lns1d-
ious and direct taxation visited upon them
by our present rate of tariff duties with
Indifference, if not with favor. The sur
plus revenue now remaining in the treas
ury not only furnishes conclusive proof of
unjust taxation, but its existence consti-
tutes separate and independent menace
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 channels of trade and business.
1t is great mistake to suppose that the
consequences which follow the continual
withdrawal and boarding by the govern
ment of the currency of the people are not
of immediate Importance to the mass of
our citizens, and only concerns those en-
gagged 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 impe-
tus to business and production, which
bring in their train prosperity to our citi-
zens in every station and vocation. New
ventures, new investments in business and
manufacture, the construction of new and
important works, and the enlargement of
enterprises already established, depend
largely upon obtaining money upon easy
terms with fair security; and all these
things are stimulated by an abundant
volume of circulating medium. Even the
harvested grain of the farmer remains
without a market unless money is forth
coming for its movement and transporta-
tion to the seaboard. The first results of a
scarcity of money among the people is
the exaction of severe terms for its use.
Increasing distrust and tlmidity is followed
by refusal to loan or advance on any
terms. Investors refuse all risks and de-
cline all securities, and in a general fright
the money still in the hands of the people
is persistently boarded. 1t is quite appar-
ent that when this perfectly natural, if
not inevitable, stage is reached depression
in all business and enterprise will, as
necessary consequence, lessen the oppor-
tunity for work and employment and re-
duce salaries and the wages of labor.
Instead, then, of being exempt from the
influence and effect of an immense sur
plus lying idle in the national treasury,
our wage-earners and others who rely
upon their labor for support are most of
all directly concerned in the situation.
Others, seeing the approach of danger,
may provide against it, but it will find
those depending upon their daily toll for
bread unprepared, helpless and defense
less. Such state of affairs does not pre-
sent a case of idleness resulting from dis
putes between the laboring man and his
employer, but it 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 it is produced, we
must overlook the tendency toward gross
and scandalous public extravaganza which
q congested treasury induces, nor the fact
that we are maintaining, without excuse,
in time of profound peace, substantially
the rate of tariff duties imposed in times
of war, when the necessities of the gov
ernment justified the imposition of the
weightiest burdens upon the people.
Divers plans have been suggested for the
return of the 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,
some are absurd, and some betray by their
reckless extravaganza the demoralizing
influence of a 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 useful disposition of the surplus now
remaining in the treasury it is evident