The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-03-12

enue. While large annual surplus OF
revenue may invite waste and extrava
gance, inadequate revenue creates distrust
and undermines public and private credit
Neither should be encouraged. Between
more loans and more revenue there should
be but one opinion.
We should Have More Revenue,
and that without delay, hindrance OF
postponement. A surplus in the treasury
created by loans is not permanent Oh
safe reliance 1t will suffice while it lasts.
but it cannot last long while the OUTLAWS
of the government are greater than its re
ceipts, as has been the case during the past
two years. Nor must it be forgotten that
however much such loans may Temporal
lily relieve the situation, the government
is still indebted for the amount of the sur
plus thus accrued, which it must ulti
mately pay, while it's ability to pay is not
strengthened but weakened by contin
ued deficit Loans are imperative III
great emergencies to preserve the govern
ment or it's credits, but failure to supply
needed revenue in time of peace for tho
maintenance of either has no justification
Best Way to Maintain Credit.
The best way for the government to
maintain its credit is to pay as it goes
not by resorting to loans, but by keeping
out of debt-through an adequate income
secured by system of taxation, external
or internal, or both. 1t is the settled pol
icy of the government pursued from tho
beginning and practiced by all parties and
administrations, to raise the bull k of our
revenue from taxes upon foreign prOduc-
tions entering the United States for sale
and consumption and avoiding for the
most part every form of direct taxation,
excep- in time of war. The country ia
clearly opposed to any needless addition
to the subject of internal taxations, eX-
cept in time of war.
No Mistake About the Manner.
There can be no misunderstanding,
either, about the principle upon which
this tariff taxation shall be levied. Moth.
ing has ever been made palmer at gen.
eral election than that the controlling
principle in the raising of revenue on inn
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 protection and
encouragement to the industries and
the development of our country. 1t is,
therefore, earnestly hoped and expected
that congress will, at the earliest practi'
cable moment, enact revenue legislation
that shall be
and which, while supplying sufficient rev.
enue for government purposes, will still
be signally beneficial and helpful to ever Y
section and every enterprise of the people
To this policy we are all, of whatever p ar
ty, firmly bound by the voice of the peo-
plea power vastly more potential than
the expression of any political platform.
The paramount duty of congress is to stop
deficiencies by the restoration of that pro-
tective legislation which has always been
the firmest prop of the treasury. The
passage of such law would strengthen
the credit of the government both at home
and abroad, and go far toward stopping
the drain upon the gold reserve held for
the redemption of our currency which has
been heavy and we'll nigh constant for
several years.
The Reciprocity Principle.
In the revision of the tariff, especial at
tention should be given to the re-enact-
ment 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 mar
kets for our surplus agricultural and
manufactured products. The brief trial
given this legislation amply justifies Il
further experiment and additional dis
cretionary power in the making q com
mercial treaties the end in view always
to be the opening of new markets for the
products of our country by granting con-
cessions to the products of other lands;
that we need and cannot produce our
selves and which do not involve any loss
of labor to our own people, but tend to
increase their employment.
Agriculture and Labor Have Suffered.
The depression of the past four years
has fallen with especial severity upon the
great body of the country and upon none
more than the holders of small farms.
Agriculture has languished and labor suf-
fered. The revival of manufacturing will
be relief to both. No portion of our pop
ulation is more devoted to the institutions
of free government, nor more loyal in
their support, while none bears more
cheerfully or fully it's proper share in the
maintenance of the government, or is bet
ter entitled to it's wise and liberal care
and protection. Legislation helpful
10 prOuucer Is DencuCldl 10 all. lne ue-
pressed condition on the farm and in 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 estab'
lished that will secure the largest revenue
with the least burden, but that every
means will be taken to decrease, rather
than increase, our public expenditures.
1t VIII Take Time.
Business conditions are not the mos,
promising. 1t will take time to restore
the prosperity of former years. If we
cannot promptly attain it, we can reso.
luteIy turn our races In JnaJ direction and
aid it's return by friendly legislation.
However troublesome the situation
may appear, congress will not, am sure,
be found lacking in disposition or ability
to relieve it, as far as legislation can do
so. The restoration of confidence and the
revival of business, which men of all par.
ties so much desire, depend more largely
upon the prompt, energetic and intelligent
action of congress than upon any other
single agency affecting the situation
1t is inspiring, too, to remember that nc
great emergency in the 1OS years of ou1
eventful national life has ever arisen thai
has not been met with wisdom and cour-
age by the American people with fidelity
to their best interests and highest destiny,
Hnd to the honor of the American name
Ithaca Daorc IF rrlorio,,c b;ctorx, ho va ~,