The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-17

We have been trying to understand the
point Of view OF those Democrats and
business men who abhor the idea OF an in
come tax and would never consent to It as
an independent proposition, yet are inclined
to accept that evil for the sake OF what
they have come TO regard az a highly impor-
tant matter. namely. the immediate settle
ment Of the tariff uncertainty.
The demand for definite legislation. no
matter what, concerning the tariff, is the
whip with which the Administration hopes
TO drive the WILSON bill and the income tax
through the Senate. It Is heard cracking
pretty loud now In all parts Of the country
where large business interests are waiting
for legislation by Congress.
Wherever the cry for peace at any price
Is heard. the process OF reasoning seems to
be something like this: We can afford even
so great sacrifice OF principle as Is In
volved In the income tax proposition, for
the sake OF putting an end Mt last to the
tariff agitation which has disturbed busi-
ness since MIR. CLEVELAND wrote his mes
sage OF 1887. The WILSON tariff may be good
or bad: the main thing Is to take the ques-
ton out OF politics. What We want Is legis-
lation definite and final. and an end to un-
certainty. The tariff once settled somehow,
business will boom; and as for the income
tax. infamous and Ubiquitous as 1t is. that
can easily DO repealed next year. or as soon
as the increase OF customs revenue makes
IL unnecessary.
There never was a more dangerous mis-
take than that which regards the present
proposed arrangement OF the tariff sched-
ules as a finality, unless 1t be that which
looks upon the present income tax scheme
merely as q rather obnoxious expedient to
meet a temporary deficiency.
Repeal the income tax easily. can you. a
year or two years hence when tho customs
revenue has increased 2 Why. the populis-
tic and socalistic and sectional forces be-
hind the present scheme tolerate it only rs
an entering wedge. 1t is altogether too
mild measure to suit their ideas OF what
an income tax should be. 1t is a temporary
expedient only in the sense that II en-
acted it will speedily give way 10 a
still more inequitable. oppressive. and
un-Democratio confscation OF the re-
suits Of individual thrift and industry.
1t Is the first twist OF the screw. 1t is the
first step toward radical change In the
whole system Of Federal taxation. and in
the IaOrlC OF American lnStltuLlOnb. IL IL
goes through Congress and receives at the
White House the signature Of the misguided
statesman who invited 1t In his message Of
last December. right upon Its heels will
come the graduated income tax for which
parts OF the West and the South. and the pro-
gressive Anarchists Of the North and the
East. are already olamoring. The growth Of
customs revenue will only afford a pretext
for another revision Of the tariff. with con-
sequent disturbance to business in order to
shift to still further extent the common
burdens to the shoulders Of the few. There
is no backward step In the march Of social
ism and revolution. In which the Democracy
Is now urged to join.
This income tax Is no tub to the whale.
Repeal 1t you cannot in the Fifty
fourth Congress or In the Fifty-fifth.
You must help to beat 1t now. or
you will beat 1t never. Now is the
only time to defeat the income tax. as per-
manent feature OF our system. with its in
terminable train ofinevitable consequences.
fatal to Democracy. and destructive of the
institutions which have served our people
so well for more than hundred years.