The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-04-23
The LabOrers Bear the Burdens OF
the War

The odous feature in the cons ption
law that excmpts. practically. the capital
ist from the burdens Of the war, and from
participation in it's dangers, while it de-
mands the body Of the laborer, is no more
unjust in principle than are the laws for
raising of revenue. Under the present
tariff and tue internal tax and revenue
laws. the laborers are paying nine tenths
Of the income received by the government
from those sources. 1t ID matter Of in
difference to importers what the duties
are upon the goods they import, for the
am cunt is added to the price at which The
goods are sold. As the tariff is most
onerous upon articles of general use, while
Injuries are lightly taxed. it is plain that
the working classes--farmers. mechanics,
and daily laborers-pay in the cCnsump-
ton of these articles the great portion OF
the tariff tax. The tariff upon woolens
and cottons amounts to a virtual prohibi-
ton. and enables New England manufac-
turers to place their own prices upon tkeir
cotton and wcolen fabrics. In these two
articles alone, which are indispensable to
every family We may trace the injustice
which operates throughout the tariff, dis
eliminating in favor of capital and against
labor.
In tracing through the taxes imposed
bv the internal revenue law, the same in
justice is apparent. The staples used by
all classes. but most generally used by la
borers, are most heavily taxed.
On all articles manufactured of copper
cotton. flax, glass, hemp, India rubber
iron, ivory, lead, leather, paper, steel. tin
willow, wood, wool, and worsted. there is
imposed a uniform tax of three per cent
We have already shown that the tariff OIL
cotton and wooden goods amour is to pro-
hibtion, and here is an additional tax o.
three per cent, imposed. The tax does
not affect the manufacturers, but comes
directly from the pockets Of the iaborer'
who are compelled to buy these goods
They are compelled to buy them becaus,
they are necessities. Leather Of all de-
scriptions is taxed Eve per cent. in ,h'
tariff laws. and is again taxed three pc
cent. in the internal revenue law. In
deed, most ofthe articles enumerated abov'
are heavily taxed in the tariff laws.
1t is indisputable that the capitalist
and manufacturers Of New England fash
toned the revenue laws TO sccommodat'
their own interests, and we have neve
had so unjust class Legislation in thi
CO, try before 1t has been the object o
tariff laws hitherto to guard the in terest
Of the laborers, and make the capital Q
, the country bear its just proportion of th
national burdens. But that is now re
versed. Capital 10 steadily increasing
, under the operations Of the war, while III
exactions and dangers of the war ar
, pressed upon the laborers.
We ask the workingmeu of Chicago t
candidly look at these facts. and tn en- de
t eide if they are willing to strengthen @
! support a party that has treated ther
: with such greivous injustice. The ques
3 ton is a practical one, affecting the int
r ssts aud manhood of every laborer and ar
tisan. - Chi. Times.
The account Of the troubles in the soutl
, ern mart of the State published in anOfhe