The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-09-15

excess of all legitimate public needs. Asa con
sequence there now remains In the national treas
! ury a surplus Of more han $iO,DO,oo. NO bet
3 ter evidence could lbs furnished that the people
are exorbitantly taxed. The extent of the super
fuous burden indicated by the surplus viii be bet
ter appreciated when II is suggested mat such
surplus alone represents taxation aggregatlns
| more than sos 5000 In a county containing DVo
Inhabitants,
| Taxation has always been the feature OF organ
! lied government the hardest To reconcile with the
people's ideas of freedom and happiness When
| pre- rn'ed in a direct form nothing viii arouse
! popular disc ntent more quickly ana profoundly
than unjust and unnecessary taxation Our farm
srs, mechanics lahorers, and all our citizens
closely scan the slightest Increase In the taxes as
sessrd upon their lands and other property, and
demand good reasons for such Increase And yet
they seem 10 be expected, IN some quarters 10 re-
gard the unnecessary volume of inSidOus aud III
direct taxation visited upon them by our present
rate Of tariff duties with indifference, II not WIN
favor The surplus revenue now remaining III the
treasury not only furnishes conclusive proof OF
unjust taxation but It's existence constitutes
separate aud independent menace 10 the prosper
ity Of the people
This vast accumulation Of idle funds represents
that much money drawn from the circulating
medium of the country, which is needed III the
channels OF trade aud business. II IL a great ms
take To suppose that the consequences when toi'
low the continual withdrawal ana boarding by
the government Of the currency Of the people are
not Of immediate Importance 10 the mass
Of our citizens and only concern those engaged In
large financial transactions In the restless en-
terpris.. and activity which free and ready money
among the people produces Is found that oppor-
tunity for labor and employment and that iippe-
t,is To business ard 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
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 with
ont a market unless money is forthcoming for its
movement and transportation To the seaboard.
The first result OF scarcity OF money among
the people is the exaction OF severe terms Tor its
use Increasing distrust and timidity is fouowei
by refusal to loan or advance on any terms In
vestorf refuse all risks and decline all securities
and In a general fright the money still In the
hands Of the people is persistently boarded IL Is
quite apparent that when this perfectly natural,
II not inevitable, stage is reached depression In all
business and enterprise will rs necessary con
sequence lessen the opportunity for work ana
employment, and reduce salaries and the wages
Of labor.
Instead, then, OF being exempt from the in
fuence and effect Of an immense surplus lying
idle In the national treasury, our wageearners,
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 pro
vide against it. but 1t will find those depending
upon their daily toll for bread unp-epared, help.
less, and defenceess. Such state OF affairs does
not present a case Of idleness resulting from dis
ii
but II produces an alb oute and enforced stopIaBe
of employ -aent and wages
In reviewing the bad effects Of this accumu-
lated surplus and the scale Of tariff rates by
which II IN produced, we must not overlook the
tendency toward gross and scandalous public ex
travagance which congested treasury Induces
nor the fact that we are maintaining, without ex-
cuse, in time Of profound peace, substantially
the rate Of duties Imposed in time OF war. when
the necessities Of the government justified the
imposition 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
delilsive, some absurd. and some betray by
their reckless extravaganza the demorallZng in
fuence of a great surplus Of public money upon
the Judgments OF individuals While such efforts
should BIZ made AZ are consistent with public duty
and sanctioned by sound judgment 10 avoid
danger by the useful disposition OF the surplus
now remaining in the treasury. IL is evident that
IL its distribution were accomplished another ac-
emulation would soon take its place II the con.
slant flow of redundant income was not checked
at its source by reform In our present tariff
laws. We do not propose to deal with these con- |
ditions by merely attempting to satisfy the peo-
ps OF the truth Of abstract theories, nor by alone
urging their assent TO political doctrine. We pre-
sent to them the propositions that they are un.
Justly treated in the extent OF present federal
taxation. that AZ a result condition Of extreme
danger exists, and 1t IL for them to demand
q remedy and that defense and safety
promised In the guarantees Of their free
government. We believe that the same
means which are adoDted TO relieve the
treasury Of its present surplus and prevent its re-
currence should cheaper to our people the cost OF
supplying their daily wants. Both Of these OBJ
jects geek in part to gain by reducing the pres
ent tariff rates upon the necessaries Of life.
We fully appreciate tho Importance to the coun-
try of our domestic industrial enterprises In the
rectification of existing wrongs their maintenance
and prosperity should be carefully and In a
friendly spirit considered Even such reliance
upon present revenue arrangements an have been
invited or encouraged should be fairly and Justly
regarded Abrupt and radical changes which
might endanger such enterprises, and iajurously
affect 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 IN increased and their
price to the consumer enhanced by the duty i'm
posed upon the raw material used In their manu-
facture. We know that this increased cost pre-
vents the sale of our productions at foreign mar.
kets In competition with those countries which
have the advantage of free raw material. We
know that confined to a home market, our manu-
featuring operations are curtailed, their demand
for labor irregular, and the rate Of wages paid
uncertain We propose, therefore, to stimulate
our domestic industrial enterprises by freeing
from duty the imported raw materials which by
the employers of labor are used IN our home man
ufactures, thus extending the market for their
sale and permitting AN increased and steady pro-
ducton with the allowance Of abundant profits.
True to the undertaking course of the Demo-
cratic party will not neglect the interests Of
labor and our workingmen In all efforts to REM
edy existing evils we will furnish no excuse for
the loss of employment or the reduction Of tn
wage OF honest toll. On the contrary, we propose
in our ad justment of our revenue laws to con-
cede such encouragement and advantage to EN-
ployers of domestic labor win easily com.
pensate for any difference which may exist be-
tween the standard of wages which should be-
paid to our laborng men and the rate allowed In
other countries. We propose, too by extending
the markets for our manufactures, TO promote
the steady employment Of labor, while by cheap
eninp the cost OF the necessaries Of life we in.