The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-04-07
ELKTON. APRIL :, 1894.
THAT GHOST OF A suRPLus

I
owner of an unusual memory either, to
recall the peculiar horror with which
Mr.. Cleveland not very long ago
regarded ga surplus" in the U. S.
Treasury.
Indeed it was the inherent Detno.
cratic dread of this 6ete n0iye, that
earned for Mr.. Cleveland a reputation
for craftsmanship, when he discanted
so wisely upon a Condition" and not
theory as confronting the country.
The robber tariff, 1t was argued,
wrung from the people their hard
earned dollars, only to pile them up in
the Treasury as surplus" upon
which Republican extravaganza could
feed.
A surplus in the Treasury was an
abomination, the direct result of high
protective tariff, and to destroy which
Mr.. Cleveland inaugurated the tariff
reform scheme.
To avoid this dread of the average
Democratic mind, the trainers of the
Wilson Bill, under the direction of Mr..
Cleveland, framed tariff that actually
created a deficiency in the Govern
ment Treasury.
But what is most marvellous, now,
Mr.. Voorhees, rises to explain to the
country, that all this Democratic dread
of a surplus has passed away like the
baseless fabric of dream, proudly
foots up total surplus of $4,000, 900
which the Wilson Bill in its present
shape is expected to produce, and
fervently declares that surplus has no
terrors for him, but on the contrary,
that it is ga source of safety, and can
at any time be wisely and honorably
devoted to the best purpose of good
government"
This is a new and not to say anus
ing departure in Democratic practice.
Now this financial fruition CD of
Mr.. Cleveland's hopes, this heretofore
abominable condition that confronted
US, so Mr.. Voorhees, assures US, is to
brought about through the agency of
an income tax.
According to the estimates of Sena-
tor Voorhees,, the product of this tax if
wholly deducted from the total receipts
would still leave the government in
possession of sufficient revenue to
meet its necessary expenditures. His
estimate shows that the receipts from
the income tax, which he places at
$780, 900, although this is much less
than what it would probably realize,
will be about equal to the surplus.
In this view of the case the imposi-
ton of an income tax loses the excuse
of being forced by financial necessity.
1t would have been bad enough to
resort to this odious means of raising
revenue in order to meet deficiency.
But Senator Voorhees, figures show
that with the sugar duties, the increased
whisky tax and other internal taxes
there will be no deficiency and that the
revenue from the income tax will be a
clear excess over the above necessary
expenditures. The only apparent
reason, therefore, for retaining it is to
satisfy the Populist and Socialist spirit.
There can be no doubt of this after we
read Mr.. Voorhees, remarks on this
question:
"Sir, for no earthly consideration
would paint an unjust or overweight
picture of the dangerous pretenslons
and intolerable arrogance of accumu-
lated wealth now manifest in this
country but, speaking in the fear of
my Maker, devoutly believe that the
limit of endurance has been reached /;
that the time has come for test to be
made between the power of boarded
money and the power of productive
labor; that the people from this time
forward, more than ever before, will
organize and take rapid and heroic
measures against the continued and
brutal dictation of the plutocracy,
against the paramount influence of
wealth, against the rule and supremacy
of the rich IN shaping the financial
policy of this government in their
own interests.
Let no man imagine or lay the fiat
tering JUNCTION to his soul that party
names or party ties will bind the
American people on this question or
compel their submission to the fnan-
cial servitude sought to be fastened on
them by the power of colossal wealth.
And when the contest comes, as it will
speedily, and in many ways and forms,
the bankers, money-changers, usurers
and possessors of millions who have
provoked it stand aghast at the conse.
quences of their own folly; they will
figuratively, if not literally, cry out for
the rocks and hills to hide them from
the wrath of an outraged people. A
two per cent. tax on portion of their
incomes will appear, in the hour of
reckoning, very small and trifing
matter compared to others more serious.
But unto that day, now near at hand, |
remit the further discussion OF what it
may bring FORTH
This is the monstrous argument of
the Chairman of the Finance Com
mittee OF the United States Senate for
the imposition of an inquisitorial tax,