The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-05
MORE REVENUE NEEDED,
And Congress should Raise ft by Pro-
tectiye Tariff LEGISLATION.

served in ali public expenditures. and eX-
travasance stopped wherever it Is found,
and prevented wherever. in the future. II
may be developed. If the revenues are TO
remain as now. the only relief that can
come must be from decreased expenditures.
But the present must not become the per-
manent condition of the government. Ii
has been our uniform practice to retire,
not increase. our outstanding obligations,
and this policy must again be resumed and
vigorously enforced. Our revenues should
always be large enough to meet with ease
and promptness not only our current needs
and the principal and interest of the public
debt. but to make proper and liberal pro-
vision for that most deserving body of pub
lie creditors, the soldiers and sailors and
the widows and orphans who are the pen
sioners of the United States.
THE government should not be permitted
to run behind or increase its debt in times
like the present. Suitably TO provide against
this is the mandate of duty; the certain
and easy re nedy for most of our financial
difficulties. A deficiency is inevitable so
long as the expenditures OF the govern
ment exceed its receipts. II can only be met
by loans or an increased revenue. While
large annual surplus of revenue may invite
waste and extravaganza, inadequate reve-
nue. creates distrust and undermines pub
lie and private credit. Neither should be
encouraged. Between more loans and more
revenue, there ought to be but one opinion.
We should have more revenue and that
without delay. hindrance or postponement.
A surplus in the treasury created by loans
is not permanent or safe reliance. 1t will
suffice while it lasts, but it cannot last long
while the outlays of the government are
greater than its receipts, has been the
case during the past two years. Nor must
1t be forgotten that however much such
loans may temporarily relieve the situation,
the government is still indebted for the
amount of the surplus thus accrued. which
it must ultimately pay, while its ability to
pay is not strengthened, but weakened by
a continued deficit. Loans are imperative
in great emergencies to preserve the gov
eminent or its credit. but a failure to sup
| ply needed revenue in time OF peace for the
maintenance of either has no justification.
SHOULD PAY AS 1T GOES.
"The best way for the government to
maintain it's credit is to pay as it goes
| not by resorting TO loans, but by keeping
| out of debt-through an adequate income
| secured by a system OF taxation, external
| or internal. or both. 1t is the settled policy
| Of the government, pursued from the be-
| ginning and practiced by all parties and
| administrations, to raise the bulk of our
| revenue from taxes upon foreign produc
| ticrs entering the United States for sale
| and consumption; and avoiding, for the
most part, every form of direct taxation,
| except in time of war The country is
| clearly opposed to any needless additions to
the subjects OF internal taxation. and is
L
| to the system Of tariff taxation.
There can be no misunderstanding,
either, about the principle upon which this
| tariff taxation shall be levied. Nothing has
| ever been made palmer at a general cleo
| ton than that the controlling principle in
| the raising of revenue from duties on i'm
ports is jealous care for American inter-
ests and American labor. The people have
| declared that such legislation should be
| had will give ample protection and en-
| couragement to the industries and the de-
| velopment of our country. 1t is, therefore,
| earnestly hoped and expected that Congress
| will, at the earliest practicable moment
! enact revenue legislation that shall be fair
| reasonable, conservative and just. and
! which, while supplying sufficient revenue
| for public purposes will still be signaly
| beneficial and helpful to every section and
every enterprise of the people. To this pol
| icy we are all, of whatever party, firmly
bound by the voice of the people-a power
vastly more potential than the expression
| of any political platform.
| PARAMOUNT DUTY.
| 1.-THE paramount duty of Congress Is to
stop deficiencies by the restoration of that
| protective legislation which has always
| been the firmest prop of the treasury. The
4
strengthen the credit Of the government
both at home and abroad and go far
towards stopping the drain upon the gold
reserve held for the redemption of our cur
| rency, which has been heavy and well-nigh
| constant for several years.
I'm the revision of the tariff especial at
| tention should be given to the re-enactment
| and extension of the reciprocity principle Of
| the law of 1890, under which so great n
| stimulus was given to our foreign trade in
| new and advantageous markets for our sur
| plus agricultural and manufactured prod
| ucts. The brief trial given this legislation
| amply Justifies a further experiment and
| additional discretionary power in the max
| ing of commercial treaties the end I'm view
| always to be the opening up of new mar
! kets for the products Of our country by
| granting concessions to the products of
| other lands that we need and cannot pro-
| duce ourselves, and which do not involve
any loss Of labor TO our own people. but
| tend to increase their employment.
THE depression of the past four years
has fallen with especial severity upon the
| great body of toilers of the country and
| upon none more than the holders of small
farms. Agriculture has languished and Ia
Dor suffered The revival OF manufacturing
| will be relief to both. No portion OF our
| population is more devoted to the institu-
tions of free government nor more loyal In
| their support, while none bears more
cheerfully or fully its proper share in the
| maintenance OF the government or is better
| entitled to its wise and liberal care and pro-
| lection. Legislation helpful to the producer
is beneficial to all. The depre ssed condition
| Of industry on the farm anG i'm the mine
| and factory has lessened the ability of the
| people to meet the demands upon them
and they rightfully expect that not only a
| system OF revenue shall be established that
will secure the largest income with the
least burden. but that every means will be
taken TO decrease. rather than increase.
our public expenditures.
| Business conditions are not the most
| promising. 1t will take time to restore the
prosperity OF former years. II we cannot
| promptly attain IL, we can resolutely turn
| our faces in that direction and aid its re-
| turn by friendly legislation However trou-