“The government was almost entirely funded by tariffs”
It was also the era before the United States became a world power, although that may be coincidental. Gov’t spending was low, often below 10% GDP, until around WWII. It’s remained around 20% of GDP ever since.
The push to get rid of tariffs in the post Civil War era came from the widespread perception that they fell heaviest on ordinary Americans. It was believed that an income tax would be more fair in its impact. The income tax as promoted by Teddy Roosevelt, Wm Taft, and signed by Wilson affected only a small portion of Americans. The big change in how many paid income tax arrived with WWII.
Ok, if you defend the income tax over the tariff you are both wrong and a progressive. A twofer.
The $1.7T descretionary part of the budget could be covered by a tariff and a NRST. The other part ( the socialist part) by payroll taxes until that problem can be dealt with directly..