Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-08-18

would confine itself to equal protection, and as
Heaven does its rains, shower its fayors alike
on the high and The low the rich and the poor,
it would be an unqualified blessing. In the act
before me, there seems to be a wide and unnec-
essary departure from these just principles.
Nor is our government to be maintained or
our union preserved by invasion of the rights
and powers of the several states. In thus at
tempting to make our general government
strong. we make it weak. Its true strength
consists in leaving individuals and states, as
much as possible to themselves; in masking It
self felt not in its power, but In its benehcence
not in its control but in its protection: not IN
binding the states more closely to the center,
but leaving each to move unobstructed in its
proper orbit
Experience should teach us wisdom. Most OF
the difficulties our government now encounters,
and most OF the dangers which impend over our
union, have sprung from an ABANDONMENT OF
the legitimate objects of government by our ma
tional legislation, and the adoption OF such
principles as embodied in this act. Many
of our rich men have not been content with
equal protection and equal benefits, but have
beSouzht US to make them richer by act OF
congress. BY attempting to crafty their
desires have in the result OF our leg1sia-
ton, arrayed section against section, interest
against interest and man against man, in
fearful commotion, which threatens TO shake
the foundation of our union. Il Is time 10 pause
in our career, to review Our principles, and if
pOSS1Dlo revive LQab Q0VOtoO pALrlOIlSUl anu
spirit of compromise which distinguished the
sages of the revolution and the fathers OF our
union If we cannot at once in justice TO the in
terests vested under improved legislation,
make our government what it ought TO be, we
can at least take a stand against all new grants
OF monopoIies and exclusive privileges, against
any prostitution of our government TO the ad-
vancement of the few at the expense OF the
many, and in favor of compromise and gradual
reform in codes of laws and system Of
political economy"
The Embodiment of Sound Democracy.
I also beg to call your attention to the follow
ing extract contained in the farewell address of
Gen. jackson as the embodiment of sound
democracy:
There is too much at stake to allow pride or
passion TO influence your decision Never for
a moment believe that the great body Of the
citizens OF any state or states can deliberately
intend to do wrong. They may, under the in
fiuence Of temporary excitement or misg guided
opinion, commit mistakes; they may be misled
for time by the suggestions OF self-interest;
but in q community so enlightened and patriotic
as the people OF the United States, argument
will soon make them sensible of their errors
and when convinced, they will be ready to
pair them II they have no higher or better
motive to govern them, they will at least per-
ceive that their own interest requires them to
be just to others they hope to receive justice
at their hands.
But in order to maintain the union unim-
paired it is absolutely necessary that the laws
passed by the constituted authorities should be
faithfully executed in every part of the coun-
try, and that every citizen should at all times
stand ready to put down with the combined
force of the nation, every attempt at unlawful
resistance, under whatever preteXt it may be
made or whatever shape it may assume. I'm
cons titutional or oppressive laws may doubt
be passed by congress, either from erroneous
views or the want OF due consideration. If they
within reach of judicial authority the
remedy is easy and peaceful: and if, from the
character of the law, it is an abuse of power
not within the control of the judiciary, then
free discussion and calm appeals to reason and
to the Justice of the people will not fail to re-
dress the wrong. But until the law shall be
declared void by the courts, or repealed by
congress, no individual or combination of indi-
viduals can be justified in forcibly resisting its
execution It is impossible that any govern
ment can continue to exist upon any other
principles. 1t would cease to be q government
and would be unworthy of the name if it had
not the power to enforce the execution of its
own laws within its own sphere of action -
Abuse of the Taxing Power.
And particularly beg to invite your atten
ton to this language, found in the same ad-
dress:
There is, perhaps, no one of the powers con-
ferred on the federal government so liable to
abuse the taxing power The most product
i've and convenient sources of revenue were
necessarily given TO it that it might perform
the important duties imposed upon it; and the
taxes which it lays upon commerce being con-
cealed from the real payer in the price of the
article, they Go not SO readily attract the at
tention of the people as smaller sums demand
ed directly from them by the tax gatherer.
But the tax imposed upon goods enhances by
much the price of the commodity TO the
suner; and as many Of these duties are i'm
posed articles of necessity which are daily
used by the great body of the people. the
money raised by these imports is drawn from
their pockets. Congress has no right under
the constitution to take money from the people
unless it is required to execute some of the
specific powers entrusted to the government;
and if they raise moro than is necessary
for such purposes, it is abuse of
the power of taxation, and unjust
and oppressive. It may indeed happen that the
revenue will sometimes exceed the amount
ticipated when the taxes were laid. When,
however, this is aScertained, it is easy to re-
duce them; and in such case. it is unquestion-
ably the duty of the government to reduce
them. for no circurnst justify it in
Stunning powe- not given to it by the constitu-
ton, nor in taking away the money of the
people when it is not ne .ded for the legitimate
wants of the government
'Plain as these principles appear to be, you
will find that there is constant effort to in
duce the general government to go beyond the
limit of its taxing power, and to impose unnec-
eSSary burdens on the people. Many powerful
interests are continually at work to procure
heavy duties on commerce and to swell the
revenue beyond the real necessities of the
public service; and the country has already
felt the injurious effects of their COM
bined influence. They succeed in OBJ
tanning tariff of duties bearing most
oppressvely the agricultural and laboring
| classes of society, and producing revenue that
could not be usefully employed within the
range of the powers conferred upon congress;
and il order to fas ten upon the people this IN
lust and unequal system Of taxation, extrava-
CANT schemes of internal improvement were got
up in various quarters to sQuander the money
and to purchase support Thus, til
tutional ncasure was intended to be upheld by
another; and the abuse of the power of taxation
was to be maintained by usurping the power Of
| spending the money in internal improvements
You cannot have forgotten the severe and
doubtful struggle through which we passed
when the executive department of the govern
ment by its veto, endeavored to arrest this
prodigal scheme of injustice and to bring back
the legislation of congress to the boundaries
prescribed by the constitution. The good sense
| and. practical judgment of the people when the
subject was brought before them, sustained the
course of the executive: and this plan of
constitutional expenditure for the purposes
OF corrupt influences is, trust finally over
| thrown.
THE result of this decision has been felt in the
| rapid extingui5hment of the public debt and
the large accumulation OF surplus in the treas
ury, Notwithstanding the tariff was reduced,
and is far below the amount originally
contemplated by its advocates But rely upon
1t, the design to collect an eXtravagant reve-
nue., and to burden you with taxes beyond the