The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-12-23
A QUESTIONABLE POLICY.

40 tariff reduction policy upon
the industrial interests of
the country in the face OF declln-
ing revenue in the Treasury, is one
of the political anomalies of our
times. The decrease in the revenue
for the current fiscal year is large.
1t will go into the tens of millions
of dollars, and may reach sixty mil
ions. This is under the existing
tariff, the decrease being due to the
fact that the country cannot afford
to make its customary imports. But
now come Mr.. Cleveland and the
Democrats of the Ways and Means
Committee with an elaborate tariff
scheme for making the deficiency
still greater. 1t is estimated by
some OF the members of the commit
tee that the Wilson bill itself will
cause falling off of about 100000,
600 in our Customs House receipts.
With this added to the existing rate
of decrease there will be more than
100000, 900 needed in the next
fiscal year to carry on the govern
ment.
1t is difficult to imagine anything
more unwise and untimely in state
manship than the presentation OF a
low tariff when revenues are declln-
ing, when there are no other sources
of supply available, when new ones,
if created, will be offensive to the
people and when the people have
just indicated by their votes that
they are not favorable to any med
ding with the tariff.
II the Wilson bill is to become a
law, the Federal Government must
apply the grinding power di-
rectly to its own people. The bur.
dens of city and State taxation piled
upon them, the internal revenue
system, which has always been more
or less unpopular and which it has
been the policy of the Republican
party to ameliorate, if not abolish,
must be revived and extended. If
this will not do, then the people
must be taxed directly out Of their
own pockets by levying on their in
comes. This is the most hateful of
all the forms of raising revenue,
however it may be argued as a
theory. 1t does not work satisfac-
torily or equitably in practice; it
invites the inquisition of collectors
and spies; it breeds perjury among
the people, and it gives the Fed
eral Government power for tyr
amy which the Republican party
removed as soon as the temporary
necessity for it had disappeared and
which it is astonishing that the Dem
ocratic party would now contem-
I7sate even the thought of reviving.
But n---s4Ar that Mr. Cleveland's
tariff theories may %-Jsycl, and
in order that ne may keep up the
pride of consistency, the Ways and
Means Committee must resort to
these odious expedients if the gov
eminent shall not be bankrupted by
Professor Wilson'S tariff. The gov
eminent, which under Republican
rule in times of peace has been car
ried on easily and with a surplus by
Custom House duties, which the
people do not feel, and by a home
taxation chiefly of liquors and
tobacco, must have its powers extern
ded as a huge machine on internal
industry and personal frugality; and
the tax on corporate investments
which has been ordered from the
While House to the Ways and
Means Committee is the first enter
irg wedge.
1t is pretty safe to say if such a
system shall be set up, if the Internal
Revenue Department with an income
Tax Bureau attached to it, shall
again become a great power in the
land, that Mr.. Cleveland will be the
last Democrat to sit III the White
House for many a long year to
come, even without any other gricy.
snce that the country has against
him or his party.
And yet it is practically certain
that the passage of the Wilson bill
will force such a system on the
country. The revenue deficiency
can be supplied in no other way.
Mr.. Cleveland virtually admits this
in his message. His hope and con
ISOLATION is that the necessity may be
only temporary.
In the meantime the experiment.
ing and tinkering will go on. The
country is told that its manufacturers
must learn how to carry on business
at lower profits and its workingmen
to labor at lower wages. The whole
industrial system must be upset and
placed on new basis. Thus, with
ower profits and lower wages, the
people must stand fresh domestic
taxation and be ready, if necessary,
% yield up share OF their incomes
o the Treasury. This is the logic
If the policv-so far as Mr.. Cleve-
and has one-on the tariff and the
eyenue. |