Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-03-07
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mand The credit of the government, the in tegrfty of it's currency and the tnviolability of It's obligations must be preserved. This was the commanding verdict of the people and 1t will i not be unheeded
 Economy Is demanded in every branch of the government at all times, but especially In pe-
 rtoqs like the present Of depression in business and distress among the people. The seYerest economy must be observed in all public expen- dttures and extravaganee stopped whenever 1t Is found, and prevented wherever. in the future.
 1t may be developed. If the revenues are to re-
 main as now the only relief that can come must
 be from decreased expenditures But the pres ent must not become the permanent condition
 of the government It has been our uniform practice to retire not to increase, outstand- Ing 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 interestof the public debt, but to make proper and liberal pro vision for the most deserving body of public creditors, the soldiers and sailors and the wid- ows and orphans, who are the pensioners of the United States The government should not be permitted to run behind or Increase It's debt, in times like the present. Suitably to provide against this Is the mandate of duty-the cer- tain and easy remedy for most Of our financial difficulties. deficiency Is inevitable so long
 as the expenditures Of the government exceed it's receipts. It can only be met by loans or an in-
 crease of revenue. While large annual sur plus may create vast extravaganza, tnude- Quate revenue creates disaster and undernines public and private credit. Neither should be encouraged Between more loans and moro revenue there ought to be but ono
 opinion We should have more revenue,
 and that without delay, hindranee, or postponement. surplus in the treasury created by loans, is not permanent or safe re-
 liahce IL will suffice while it lasts but 1t can
 not last long while the outlays of the govern
 ment are greater thhn It's receipts as has been the case during the past two years. Nor must | 1t De forgotten, however much such loans may temporarily relieve the situation the govern
 ment Is still indebted for the amount of the surplus thus accrued. which 1t must ultimately
 pay which it's ability to pay is not strengthened but weakened by continued deficit Loans are imperative in great emergencies To preserve the government or It's credit but a failure to supply needed revenue tn time of peace for the maintenance of either has no justification.
 The best way for the government to maintain its credit is to pay as 1t goes not by resorting to leans but by keeping out of debt-through an adequate income secured by system of taxation, external or internal or both It is the settled policy of the government pursued from the beginning and practiced by all parties and administrations, to raise the bulk of our revenue from taxes upon foreign productions
 entering the United States for sale and con sumption, and avoiding, for the most part, every form of direct taxation, except in time Of war,
 The country Is clearly opposed to any needless
 addition to the subjects of internal taxation,
 and is committed by it's latest popular utter ance 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 general election than that the controlling principle In the raising of revenue from duties on imports is a jealous care for American interests and American labor. The
 people have declared that such legislation should be had as will give ample protection and en- eouragement to the industries and the develop ment Of eur country. It 1s therefore earnestly hoped and expected that congress will at the earliest practical moment, enact revenue legis- lation that shall be fair, reasonable, conserYa- tive and just, aud which, supplying sufficient
 revenue for public purposes will still be signally beneficial and helpful to every section and every enterprise of tbe peopie. 3o this policy
 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. The paramount duty of congress is to stop deficiencies by the restoration of that protective legislation which has always been the 6rrnest prop of the treasury. The passage of such a law or laws would strengthen the credit Of the government both at homo and
 abroad, and 20 far towards stopping the drain
 upon the gold reserve held fer the redemption of our currency which has been heavy and we'll nigh constant for several years.
 In the revision of the tariff, special attention should be given to the re-enaetment and exten- sion of the reciprocity principle of the law of iS90 under which so great stimulus was given
 to our foreign trade in new and advantageous markets for our surplus agricultural and manu-
 factured products. The brief trial given this legislation amply lustifes a further experiment and additional discretionary power in the mak- ing of commercial treaties, the end ill view al-
 ways to be the opening up of new markets for the products of our country, by granting con cessionS to the products of other lands that VIC
 need and can not produce ourselves, and which do not involve any loss of labor to our 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. Agrf- culture has langutshed and labor suffered. The revival of manufacturing will be a relief to both. No portion of our population is more de- voted to the institutions of free government, nor more loyal to 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 pro- lection. Legislation helpful to producers Is beneficial to all The depressed condi-
 tion 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 rightfully expect that not only
 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 ex-
 pend1tures.
 Business conditions are not the most promis-
 ing. IL will take time to restore the prosperity
 Of former years. If we can not promptly attain
 1t, we can resolutey turn our faces In that di-
 rection and aid it's return by friendly legisla-
 tion 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 parties so much de- sire, depend more largely upon the prompt, en-
 ergetic and intelligent act of congress than
 upon any other single agency affecting the situ-
 ation.
 IL Is inspiring, too, to remember that no great
 emergency in the one hundred and eight years
 of our eventful national life has ever arisen,
 that has not been met With wisdom and courage
 by the American people, with fidelity to their
 best interests and highest destiny and the
 honor of the American name These years of
 glorious history have exalted mankind and ad-
 vanced the cause of freedom throughout tho
 world and 3mmeasurably strengthened the pre-
 cious freeinstitutions which we enjoy. The peo-
 pie love and will sustain these institutions. The
 great essential to our happiness and prosperity
 is that we adhere to the principles on which the
 government was established and insist upon
 their faithful observance. Equality of rights
 must prevail and our laws be always and every
 where respected and obeyed We may have
 failed in the discharge of our full duty as
 citizens of the great republic. but it is consohng
 and encouraging to realize that free speech, free
 press, free thought, free schools, the free and
 unmolested right of religious liberty and wor-
 ship, and free and fair elections are dearer and
 more universally enjoyed to-day than ever be-
 fore. These guarantees must be sacredly pre-
 served and wisely strengthened. The consti-
 tuted authorities must be cheerfully and vigor-
 ousy upheld. Lynchings must not be tolerated
 In great and civilized country like the United Statesi courts-not mobs must execute the pen alties of the law. The preservation of public
 order, the right os discussion, the integrity Of
 courts, and the orderly administration of justice
 must continue forever the rock of safety upon
 which our government securely rests.