Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-04-10
kyOW Unjust!

In the days of Democratic rule, the taxes
Of the country were laid in proportion to
the wealth Of the citizens. There was no
discrimination for the rich at the expense OF
the poor-no favor shown to men Of wealth
for which the impoverished !aborer had to
pay--no exempted ''bonds' that drew an
emo. mous interest without returning some
re, enue to the cetfers of the people-no IA
vored class that reaped the benefit Of gov
ernment, without bearing its share Of the
burdens, and no pampcred up nabobs, who
were fed and fa,tened on the toll of the day
laborer, aud enriched by the bread that was
taken from the mouths of the starving mill
ions. But Aboitionisn,, with other changes
has changed all this. To-day, the poor men
of the country, the toiing, sweating, hard
listed masses arc paying al the taxes, bear
ing all tue burdens, while the rich enjoy the
emolumcuts, ard arc blessed with all the
benefits Of the government. We're the
taxes Of the country equally divided as under
the Democratic administration, according to
the wealth Of the taxable inhabitants, it
would lessen them one fourth, for that class
of citizens who are now compelled to pay
them all. And why should they not, broth
er working man? Why should the dol ars
Of the rich 60 free, and the dimes Of the
poor be taxed? Why should the thousands
Of the banker and broker that is invested in
government bonds be exempt and the huI-
Lred. you have invested in home for your
wife and little ones be loaded down with tax
alton? Can you answer? Hardly.
And yet is SO. You make and repair the
roads; you keep up the schools; you main.
tain the poor; you pay the State, County,
relief, bounty and the score of other taxes
that are imposed upon you, and that have
been doubled and tripled, since aboli!'cnsm
came in power, and your wealthy ne'ghbor,
who has invested thousands upon thousands
of dollars, in the bonds Of the government,
is exempt from al. No assessor bothers
him to know the aI.ount OF money he has
at interest, al 70 tax-gatherer dogs his
heels, for his pIuYorlois Of the burdens Of
the government they ire put on to your
shoulders-yoU hare to bear the load, and
out of the bread that should go into the
mouths of your children, and from the
clothes that should keep them warrs. you
are compelled to take enough to pay yonr
mres and his aiso And not only his taxes
but an eShorbitant interest on the money
that he has leaned to the government-in-
tere:t that will net rate less than 10, and in
many instances as high as20 per cent. For
forty-6vs cents he received one dollar sworth
of bonds, and you pay him interest on the
one dollar, when he invested but the forty
five cents. What justice is there in this?
Why should government&hus favor the
rich and oppress the poor9 Will you tell
us honest toilers? Ye who drudge day in
and day out--work your finger ends sore,
and still barely make a living? Is it the
kind of government poor men should have?
Is the party that has brought it to this the
party of the poor man?" If not, and it GER
tainly is not, why do poor men cling to, and
support the very men who are crushing
tl,em to the earth, that the rich may revel
in luxury aud ease at tie expense of the
laboriny masses. Tell us ye Solons Of Abo-
litionism, why we who toll from dawn Of
day till dusk of eve," should pay twenty per
cent. interest to rich men and their taxes
besides Bellefonte Watchman.
SHOE PEaaINa.-At the recent exhibit
ton of the Polytechnic branch of tho Amer