New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-30
THE INCOME IA \.

Now the point i made that the Admnstra-
ton and Congress have derived from the people
no authority whatever 10 impose IN income fax.
1.-THE Philadelphia Record states that there
is now no more valid reason for an income tax
than there was when the Democratic platform
was promulgated, or when NJ. Cleveland
penned hi. letter Of acccptancn.' and that " II
the necessity for such 4 tax existed a. that
time then the representatives Of The Demo
na,ic party and jhcif candidate for ihc PIc>i
dency were strangely ignorant Of the financial
condition Of the county. or they were wanting
in courage 70 meet 80 important an Issue be-
foie the people"
This arIagnmcnt is entirely justified. What
ever reason now exists for the imposition al
the tax on incomes was plainly visible 10 com
petent economists at the beginning Of and dur
ing the last Presidential campaign. Again and
again TIE TRIBUNE stated that it would be
found utterly impossible TO reduce the tax on
imported goods according 10 the Democratic
platform in such n manner rs 10 eliminate Pro-
lection. which that platform declared uncOnSi-
tutional unless tavcs Welding fifty 10 an
hundred millions we've imposed on sugar, tea
and coffee. or else on incomes. Again and
again inc ldtA NdN P''ht'' WV '""' Wv NV
po,ition Of such n tax on sugar. tea and clfice
would be resented by the Democrats Of the
West and South. and by their opposing votes
it would be rendered virtually impossible.
The party was forced to meet the alternative
Of abandoning tariff reduction, which the plat
form had formally pledged, or else imposing
duties or taxes which the platform did not
foreshadow.
1t is probable that the majority Of Demo
cratic representative, in the National Conven-
ton were ignorant Of these facts. But it is
not to be supposed that the President was
equally ignorant or the other prominent lead
ers Of the party. They preferred 10 make the
people believe that the aggregate of taxation
could be reduced, and very largely reduced,
enough TO permit the application Of Free Trade
theories TO the tariff, without imposing any
additional tax on American consumers. The
President himself, in his letter Of acceptance,
took great pains 10 leave the people misn-
formed on that subject. II is probably the
strict truth as 10 him and other leaders Of the
party, that they WeIo wanting in courage 10
meet so important an issue before the public"
Nevertheless, the responsibilities Of power
have to be met. Having been charged with
the conduct Of the Government, the Democrats
are compelled TO decide whether The tax on
incomes the tax on the brcakfaS'-table or the
tax on foreign importers shall be imposed. The
pledge 10 remove protective duties actually car
ried with il the pledge 10 do whatever else was
necessary TO that end The people We're de-
ceived and deliberately deceived, but will now
have to be enlightened by the action of Demo-
cratic Representatives in Congress, and by the
action of Democratic President and Cabinet
There is no possibility Of escaping the issue
The money necessary for the conduct Of Gov
eminent will have to be raised. II cannot be
raised without taxing the importers the break
fast-table or incomes. The Democrats who OPP
pose the income tax object that ii will create
two distinct casses-Onc which contributes d-
reGtly to the support Of Government by pay
ment of the tax, and one which does not. This
ia only one OF many serious objections Yet
it is one well calculated to arouse the amnesty
of Democrats, and particularly Of those who
have incomes and will be obliged 10 pay the
tax. We are likely to see hereafter an ex-
tremely ugly controversy between the taxpay-
ing Democrats and Democrats who are not tax
payers. Tho millions will dcnOuncc the at
tempt to tax sugar tea and coffee as an effort
to pile tho burdens Of government on the Door
whose consumption of such articles is about rs
large for each inhabitant the consumption
Of the richest citizens. There is neither rca
son, justice nor necessity in such tax On the
other hand, the possible payers of the income
tax will be among the foremost to insist that
the Republican policy, which taxes foreign i'm
porters for the privilege of selling in the Amcri-
can market, the largest and best market in the
whole world, is infinitely the wiser, and that
1t does in fact place the burdens of govern
ment to large extent upon those who see fit