The Forrest City times., 1888-09-15

| CONDITION, NOT THEORY And yet this Is our condition, We are annually collecting at our custom houses and by means of our internal revenue taxa ton many millions In excess of all legiti- mate public needs As cohsequence there now remains in the national treasury a sur plus of more than siS1,O00,O00
 No better evidence could be furnished that the people should be exoroitsntly taxed The extent Of the superfiuous bur den indicated by this surplus will be better appreciated when it is suggested that such surplus alone represents taxation aggrcgat- ing more than sl0S. 900 in county contain ing 5000 inhabitants.
 Taxation has always been the feature of organized government the hardest to recon cile with the peoples ideas of freedom and happiness. When prcsentel in a direct form nothing will arouse popular disco tent more quickly and profoundly than un- just and unnecessary taxation Our farm CTS, mechanics, laborers, and ell our citi- zens closely scan the slightest increase in the taxes assessed upon their lands aud other property. and demand good reasons for such increase. And yet they seein to be expected, in some quarters, to regard the unnecessary volume of insidious and indirect taxation visited upon thom by our present rate of tariff duties with indiffer ence, if not with favor.
 The surplus revenue now remaining in the treasury not only furnishes conclusive proof of unjust taxation, but its existence constitutes separate and independent menace to the prosperity of the people.
 This vast accumulation of idle funds rep resents that much money drawn from the circulating medium of the country which Is needed in the channels of trade and bust. ness.
 II is a great mistake to suppose that the consequences which follow the continual withdrawal and hoarding 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 engaged in large financial transactions,
 CHEAP aSD DEAR MONEY CONDITIONS. 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 bur citizens in every statloh and vocation. New ventures hew investments in business and manu- facture, the construction of now and impor tant works, and the enlargement of enter prises already established, depend largely upon obtaining money upon easy terms with fair security; and all these things are stimulated by an abundant volume of cir culating medium. Even the harvested grain of the farmer remains without market unless money is forthcoming for its
 
 board.
 The first results of scarcity of money among the people is the sxaction Of severe terms for it's usu. Increasing distrust and timidity Is followed by a refusal 10 loan or advance on any terms. Investors refuse all risks and decline Bll securities, and iii general fright the money still in the hands of the consistently boarded
 It Is quite apparent that when this per fectly natural, if not inevitable, stage is reached depression in all business and en- terprise will, as a necessary consequence, lessen the opportunity for work and em- ployment and reduce salaries and the wages of labor.
 Instead, then, of being exempt from the influence and feet of all immense surplus lying idle In the national treasury, our wage -earners and others who rely upon their labor for support, arc 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 defenceless. Such a state of affairs does not present case of likeness resulting from disputes between the labor ing man and his employer, but it produces an absolute and enforced stoppage of en- ployment and wages.
 NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED.
 In reviewing the bad effects of this ac- cumulated surplus and the scale of tariff rates by which it is produced, we must not overlook the tendency toward gross and scandalous public extravagance which a congested treasury indulges, 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 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, some are absurd and some betray by their reck- less extravaganza. the demoralizing in fiuence of great surplus of public money upon the judgments Of individuals
 While such efforts should be made are consistent with public duty and sanctioned by sound judgment to avoid danger by the useful disposition of the surplus now re- maining in the treasury, it is evident that if it's distribution were accomplished an other accumulation would soon take it's place If the constant flow of redundant in come was not checked at its source by q reform in our present tariff laws.
 We do not propose to deal with those con ditions 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 proposi- tions that they are unjustly treated in the extent of present Federal taxation, that as result a condition of extreme danger exists and that it is for them to demand a remedy and that defence and safety promised in the guarantees Of their free government
 We believe that the same means which are adopted to relieve the Treasury of its present surplus and prevent it's recurrence, should cheapen to our people the cost of supplying their daily wants. Both of these objects we seek in part to gain by reducing the present tariff rates upon the necessaries of life.
 NOT TO BE ENDASGEBED.
 We fully appreciate the importance to the country of our domestic industrial en- terprise. In the ratification of existing wrongs their maintenance and prosperity should be carefully and in friendly spirit considered. Even such reliance upon pres ent revenue arrangements as have been in vited or encouraged, should be fairly and justly regarded Abrupt and radical changes which might endanger such enterprises and injuriously affect the interests of labor de pendent 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 increased cost prevents the sale of our pro uuCllOus dt lpftlkH htbS III tOull'tAltiOii with those countries which have the advan- tage of free raw material. We know that confined to home market our manufactur ing 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 employment of labor, are used in our home manufactures, thus ex- tending the markets for their sale and per hitting an increased and steady production, with the allowance of abundant profits.
 THE INTERESTS OF LABOR. True to the undertaking course of the Democratic party we will not neglect the interests of labor and our workingmen. In all efforts to remedy existing evils, we will furnish no excuse for the loss of employ ment or the reduction of the wages of honest toll On the contrary, we propose in any adjustment of our revenue laws to concede such encouragement and advantage to the employers of domestic labor as will easily compensate for any difference that may exist between the stand