Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-05-16
Eoual Taxation or Reputation.

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EQUAL Taxation or Reputation.
The above is the new watchword
of diving Democracy. The old cry
Of "woor' and negro equality, in
former years SO potent for the Dem
ocratic cause, has lost its influence
over the American people. Preju-
dice has given way to reason, and we
have learned, that equal rights before
the law for the black man by 40
means involves the social union and
equality of the two races. The
power of the Democratic party has
always been in its appeals to the ig-
norance, the passions and prejudices
of the people. And now that this
hitherto all-powerful weapon, the
negro question, has passed from their
hands, the party, as drowning man
catching at straws, look round for
ssme other lever by which to move
the popular will. Hence this new
howl Of "equal taxation or repudia-
tion." Yet the very men, who use
it, are intelligent enough to know
that it is wholly false. They, by in
citing and encouraging secession and
rebellion, entailed upon the country
a heavy national debt and made tax
alton necessary, yet new seek to es-
cape the responsibility of their own
work by their charge of inequality Of
taxation which they make against the
Union party. They make the charge,
not because Of its truth, for they
know it to be false, but simply for
selfish party purposes. If it be true
that Congress has for the last four
or FIVE years been legislating in the
interests of the rich and against the
poor, by imposing upon the latter
%iass an unequal portion of the bur
den of national taxation, it would be
a very simple and easy thing for our
Democratic friends, who are so solici-
tious for the welfare of the people, to
rectify the wrong. AS the Constitu-
ton guarantees equality of taxation,
they can az once by an appeal to the
courts test the legality Of the legisla-
ton of Congress upon the subject OF
revenue, and redress the wrongs of
the people, if any they have suffer
ed. And the very fact that no ap-
peal has been made to the courts is
proof conclusive, that the charge of
unequal taxation is wholly false and
without foundation: On the contra
ry, wherever determinations have
been made, in the selection OF objects
of taxation, they have uniformly been
in faver of the poorer classes. The
rich man pays a tax upon income,
the poor man does not. Articles of
luxury are taxed heavily, those which
are necessaries for the poorer classes
are taxed not at all, or only to a
slight extent. And SO on through
the whole catalogue of taxation-the
aim has been frem the beginning to
raise the requisite amount OF revenue
with as slight burden upon the peo-
pie as possible. The Democratic
journals, which are retailing this SLAM
derous charge, are acquainted with
these facts, but suppression of the
truth answers their purpose better,
and therefore they suppress it. As
to honesty in political contests, they
have long since lest all conception
of it.
The inevitable result of the course
Of faisehsod and Misrepresentation
adopted by the Democratic party
upon this subject, must be to double
the very burdens of the people,
which they profess to be so anxious
to Tighten. The confidence of capi-
talists, both at home and abroad, in
our Government securities will be
shaken, our nationsl credit impaired,
our finances ruined. and the Govern
ment. instead of being able to fund
its floating and maturing debt, at low
rates of interest, will be compelled
to do so at rates which will double
the present load of taxation. The
national debt can not, and will not be
repudiated- The people owe it and
will pay it. Every thing that tends
to impair the national credit, only
makes its paymen. harder. Let the
people therefore at once aad forever
frown down this false charge of un-
equal taxation and this threat of re-
pudiation, and brand with deserved
infamy those demogogues who would
sacrifice both the credit and the
honor of the nation, to secure their
own return to power.
ES Intelligence just received
from the interisr of Georgia, gives
alarming accounts of the terrible des-