The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-02-10

June q, 1880, the swelling disbursements
under which have done so much to cause
our present embarrassments. Under the
operation Of that law alone, our annual
pension appropriation has risen more
than $6O,OOO,OOO.
Such is the story Of our depleted treas-
ury, and the real purpose of all these
gratuitous bestowals of public moneys,
and these immense additions to our an
nual burdens, is not far to seek. They
were but part of general plan to fasten
on the American people. in perpetuity,
the harsh and gigantic scheme of private
taxation embodied in the Mckinley bill;
no possible precaution against its re-
formation or repeal being omitted. l
cannot help quoting and applying to our
tariff policy the weil-known words in
which John Bright described the foreign
policy of his own country, when he said
that wars had been multiplied, taxes in
creased, loans made, public expenditures
augmented, IN order that the great fam
lilies Of England enthroned in legislation
might have the first pull at 1t and the
largest profit out of it,"
There is no actuarY in existence" he
declared, who can calculate how much
of the wealth. of the strength, OF the
supremacy OF the territorial families of
England has been derived from an un-
holy participation in the fruits of the
industry OF the people. which has been
wrestpd from them by every device OF
| taxation"
Is it to be wondered at that months be-
| fore the close of Mr.. Harrison's admins
tration the treasury was IN distress, and
that, too. notwithstanding the large nd
diti0nal sum which the Sherman bill put
at its tlisposal-a trust fund of over fifty.
four million dollars, deposited by nation
al banks to redeem their notes-ani
which had been used so fully that Just
before the present administration came
into power over twenty-five millions
were still due holders Of b:nknotes. Nor
need we wonder that Secretary Foster
changed the form of treasury statement
and put to the credit of his cash assets
some twenty millions Of minor and sub.
sidiary coin in June, 1891, or that the
requirements Of the sinking fund were
only in part met in 1891, and not met al
all in 1892 and 1893, except by counting
payments for the redemption Of bank
notes-out Of their own trust fund in
reality-as payments towards the sinking
fund, under another ruling, to which, If
] mistake not, Mr.. Foster was driven by
the stress OF circumstances. When to
tls more than S2CO,Oo0, COO used and made
away with by the last administration
we add the loss of revenue from the two
articles of sugar and tobacco alone,
which amounts to more than 15O millions,
it is not hard to understand why we have
now an empty treasury, and how impos-
sible it has been for Mr.. Carlisle to
maintain the gold reserve and yet meet
the daily expenses Of the government.
Such also are the supremely difficult
conditions under which the Democratic
party undertakes the duty of tariff re-
form. In attempting tile great work
which it has SO eagerly sought permis-
sion to perform, it is brought to face an
empty treasury and permanent scale OF
colossal expenditures. 1t finds itself
thus compelled not only to hold on to
taxes it wishes to repeal or to reduce, but
actually to seek out new sources OF public
revenue.
New taxes ore always unpopular taxes
and no matter where we may turn fol
them we are sure to meet chorus OF
vehement and angry protest. Especially
has this been true as to the propositions
to increase the internal tax on beer anf
to impose moderate personal income
tax.-Hon. VIM. L. Wilson, in North
American Review.