The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-16
Il Conversation 6ettueeN Il Democrat
and kepubticu!t Farmer.

A correspondent Of the Easton Argus
says: Several days ago l happened to
drop in to see one of my neighbOrs, a
solid Democrat, where | found another,
IA wellmeaning Republican. A CONVEX
sation sprang up between the two in re-
gard to the crops, politics, &C., OF which
the following is about the substances:
Democrat-We!l neig hbor Blake q
seat. What is the news?
Republican-Oh there is nothing spe-
eial that [ know OF. How do your crops
look?
Democrat Well they are looking
very well, and | WAS in hopes we would
have full crop Of wheat, but within Il
ance in my wheat and rye, and | am
afraid | will have only half Il crop.
How does. yours look:
Republican, find some Weevil inmine
too. 1t is a great pity, because the tax
es are so high and the wheat failed last
year and if it fails this year again, Where
under the sun is the money to come
from to support our families and pay
these heavy bounty and State, school,
county and road taxes?
Democrat don't like taxes myself,
but Pm like theoId woman's cells, have
been skinned so much and so long that
| got kinder used to it. We're Il rich
people and the government can make
just as much money $ it pleases, and
the fact is, we need heaps of money to
pay our way.
Republican-Th is so, but think it
about time our government begins to
practise economy. The War is over now
and with peace we ought to have some
of the blessings of peace.
DemOcrat-Very true, hut then our
duty as people has just begun. We
| have made all the slaves Of the South
| free, and it is our bounden duty to take
care of them, feed them, to educate and
clothe them. At least, SO the leaders of
your party in Congress tell us.
RepubIican-Well, | know Thad. Ste
vens and the radicals say SO, but can't
say that like the proceedings altogeth-
er. We made those niggers free and l
think that's doing enough tor them.
They ought to go to work now and
make their own living depend en-
tirely on the government.
Democrat es that used to be con-
sidered talk but the times have chang
ed. The negro is all Congress cares
about, now. 1t is reported that a new
Bureau law is to be passed by Congress,
which will do better by the negro than
the present law, and if President John
son vetoes it, it will pass amy how. The
Republican Congressman think they are
not doing enough for the negroes, and
they talk of spending fifty millions a
year to build colleges for them, so that
they can learn French and engineering
and everything of that Kind, in order
that they may become fit to vote with
us, to sit on our juries and take charge
of our public works and be school teach
ers and professors in our colleges and
/ ministers in our churches and every
thing of that sort.
Republican-An who is to pay for
all that?
Democrat-Why, you and and John
here. We pay for it. You help pay
for these things in everything you buy.
When you buy a pair OF boots you pay
three dollars towards it. When you
buy a hat for two dollars and half,
yoi, pay about ii dollar tax. When you
buy suit tor $50, you pay perhaps six
dollars tax. Some articles are taxed
three or four times before they get into
your hands. For instance, when you
20 to tailor for $50 suit, he has to pay
six per cent. government tax to the col
lector every month. The tailor, when
he bought the goods, paid a tax to the
who do .,n cloth and