The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-05
FROM THE FRONT PORCH
CONTINUED From Flrst RaEs.

government. II has been our UNIFORM
practice to retire, not Increase OUT
outstanding obligations. and this policy
must again be resumed and vigorously
enforced. Our revenues should az
ways DO lnrRC enough to meet with
ease and prnmptness not only our cur
rent needs and the principal ana inter-
est OF the public debt. but TO make
proper and liberal provision for that
most deserving body OF public credi-
tors. the soldiers and sailors ana the
| widows and orphans who are the PEN
siOners OF the United States,
The government should not he per-
mltted TO run behind, or increase lts
debt In times like the present. Suit
ably to provide against this Is the man
date OF duty: the certain and easy rem
edy for most OF our financial diflcul-
| ties A deficiency Is Inevitable 80 long
| as The expenditures Of the government
exceed It's receipts. II can only be met
by loans, or an increased revenue.
While large annual surplus OF reve-
nuc may invite waste and eXtFaVn-
Eancc, inadequate revenue creates dis
trust and undCrmines public and prl-
VRtC credit. Neither should be encouT-
aged. Between more loans ana more
reVenue, there ought To be but ouN
opinion. We should have more reve'
nue. and that without delay, hindrance'
or postponement. A surplus IN the
treasury created by loans Is not a
permanent or safer reliance. II Will
| suffice while It lasts. but It cannot last
long while the OUTLAWS OF the governs
mcnt are greater than It's receipts. as
has been the case during the past two
years. Nor must II be forgotten that
| however much such loans may tenn
porariIy relieve the situation, the gov.
ernment Is still Indebted for the
amount of the surplus thus accrued,
which II must ultimately pay, while It's
ability to pay Is not strengthened but
weakened by continued deficit Loans
are imperative in great emergencies 10
preserve the government or It's credit,
but failure 90 supply needed revenue
In time OF peace for the maintenance
OF either has no justification.
Best Way TO MRIntNIn Credit.
The best way for the government to
maintain its credit, Is to pay as 1t goes
mot by rcsorting to loans. but by
keeping out OF debt-through an ade.
Quate income secured by system OF
| taxation, external or internal, or
| both. II IL the settled policy of the
! government. pursued from the begin
ming and practlced by all parties. ad-
ministratiOns. to raise the bulk OF our
revenue from taxes upon foreign pro-
auctions 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 Ia clearly opposed to any need
less additions to the subjects OF inter-
nal taxation, and a. committed by its
latest popular utterancG TO the system
OK tarIh' taxation. There can be no mis-
understanding. either, about the prin-
ciple upon which this tarlft taxation
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 IN
terests and American labor. The people
have declared that such legislation
should be had as will give ample pro-
lection and announcement TO the In
dustries and the developemGnt OF our
country II is. therefore. earnestly
hoped and expected that Congress will,
nj the earliest practicable moment. en-
act revenue legislation that shall be
fair, reasonable. conservative and just,
and which while supplying SUFFICIENT
revenue for public purposeS, will still
be Signally beneficial and helpful to
every section. and every enterprise Of
the people. To this policy, we arc all
OF whatever party, firmly bound by
the Voice OF the people-a power vastly
more potential than the expression OF
any political platform. The paramount
duty of Congress Is to stop dehcien-
cics by the restoration OF that protec-
tive legislation which has always been
the f1rmest prop Of the treasury, The
passage OF such q law or laws would
strengthen the credit Of the govern
ment. 10th at home and abroad. and
go far towards stopping the drain up
on the gold reserve held Tor the re-
demption OF our currency which has
been heavy and well nigh constant for
several years.
Revision Of the Tariff.
In the revision OF the tariff, especial
attention should be given to the re-en-
actment and extension OF the Teciproc-
i;y principle OF the law OF 1890. under
which So great stimulus was given
to our foreign trade in new and adj
vantageOus markets, for our surplus
agricultural and manufactured pro-
ducts The brief trial given this leg
IslatIun amply justItieS a further eX.
pertinent and additional discretionary
power in the making OF commercial
treaties, the end in view always to be
the opening up OF new markets for the
products OF our country. by granting
concessions TO the products OF other
lands that we need and cannot pro-
ducc ourselves, and which do not In
volve any loss OF labor to our own peo-
pie, but tend to increase their employ
mcnt.
The depression OF the past four years
has fallen with especial severity upon the
great body OF tOllers OF the country. and
upon none more than the holders Of small
farms. Agriculture has lanEuished and
labor suffered. The revival OF manufac-
turing will bc a relief to both. No por-
ton Of our population ls moro devoted Ia
the institutions OF free government, nor
more loyal In their support, while none
bears more checrfully or fully Its proper
share In the maintenance OF the govern
mcnt, or is better entitled to Its wise and
liberal care and protection. Legislation
helpful to producer Is beneficial 10 all.
The depressed condition OF industry on
the farm and in the mine and factory has
lesSened the ability of the people TO meet
the demands upon them, and they right
fully expect that not only system OF
revenue shall be established that will Sc
cure the largest income with the least
burden. but that every means will be
taken to decrease, rather than increase.
our public expenditures. Business con-
dItlons are not the most promising. It
viii take time to restore the prosperity
Of former years II VIC cannot promptly
attain II, we can resolutcly turn our facc7
In that direction. and aid Its return by
friendly legislation. However, trouble
some 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 revival OF business
which men Of NIL parties 80 much desire.
depend more largely upon the prompt.
energetic, and Intelligent action OF Con-
gross, than upon any other single agency