The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-05

inadequate revenue creates distrust and
undermines public and private credit.
Neither should be encouraged Be-
tween more loans and more revenue.
there ought To be but one opinion. We
should have more revenue and that
without delay. hindrance, or postpone
ment.
A surplus In the treasury created by
loans is not 3 permanent or safe reliance.
IL will suffic, while II lasts, but IL cannot
last long VIII e the outlays OF the govern
ment are greater than the receipts. as
has been the case during the past two
years. Nor must II be forgotten that
however much such loans may tempo.
rarily relieve the situation, the govern
ment Is still indebted for the amount
OF the surplus thus accrued, which IL
must ultimately pay. while It's ability
to pay Is not strengthened but weak
ened by continued deficit. Loans are
imperative In great emergencies to pre-
serve the government or It's credit, but
a failure to supply needed revenue In
time OF peace for the maintenance Of
either has no justification.
The best way for the government &c
maintain it's credit, is to pay as II goes
not by resoTting to loans, but by keep.
ing out Of debt-through an adequate
income. secured by a system Of taxation
external and internal. or both. 1t Is tho
settled policy Of the governmet pur.
sued from the beginning and praciced
o. all parties and administrations. tc
raise the bulk of our revenue from taxes
upon foreign productions 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 sub
Jects OF internal taxation, and is COM
mitted by its latest popular utterance to
the system OF tariff taxation. There can
be no misunderstanding, either, about
the principal upon which their tariff tax
alton shall be levied. Nothing has ever
been made palmer at general election
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 as will give ample protec-
tion and encouragement to the industries
and the development OF our country. 1t
is therefore, earnestly hoped and ex'
Iected that congress will. at the earliest
practicable moment, enact revenue leg
lslation that shall be fair, reasonable,
conservative and just and which, while
supplying sufficient revenue for public
purposes, will still be generally behe-
fetal and helpful to every section and
every enterprise of the people. To this
policy we are all, of whatever party.
firmly bound by the voice of the people
power more vastly potential than the
expression of any political platform. The
paramount duty OF congress is to stoI
deficiencies by the restoration of that
protective legislation which has always
been the firmest prop Of the treasury.
The passage of such a law or laws would
strengthen the credit of the government
both at home and abroad, and go far to-
wards stopping the drain upon the gold
reserve held for the redemption of our
currency, which has been heavy and well
nigh constant for several years.
In the revision of the tariff especial at
tention should be given to the re-enact-
rleBt and extension Of the reciprocity
principle of the law of 1890, under which
so great a stimulus was given to our for.
eign trade in new and advantageous
markets. for our surplus agricultural
and manufactured products. The brief
trial given this legislation amply justi
.es further experiment and additional
discretionary power in the making OF
commercial treaties, the end in view al
ways 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
labor suffered. The revival of manufac-
turing will be relief to both. No por
tons Of our population is more
devoted TO the institutions of free
government. nor more loyal in theii
support, while none bears more
cheerfully or fully it's proper share in the
maintenance OF the government, or is
better entitled to its wise and liberal care
and protection. Legislation helpful to
producers is beneficial to all. The de-
pressed condition of industry of the farm
and in the mine and factory has lessened
the ability OF the people to meet the de-
mands 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,
bat that every means will be taken TO
decrease, rather than increase, our pub
lie expenditures. Business conditions are
not the most promising 1t will take time
to restore the prosperity of former years.
If we cannot promptly attain 1t, we can
resolutely turn our faces in that direction
end aid its return by friendly legislation.
However troublesome the situation may
appear. congress will not, ] am sure. be
found lacking in disposition or ability to
relieve IL. as far as legislation can do so.
The restoration of confidence and the re-
,ival of business, which men of all parties
so much desire. depend more
largely upon the prompt. ener.
getic and intelligent action OF
congress than upon any other single
agency affecting the situation.
II is inspiring. too. TO remember that
no great emergency in the los years OF
our eventful national life has even arisen
that has not been met with wisdom and