Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-10-30
EQUAL TAXATION.


The national Democratic platform explic-
iuy lays down a general rule for taxation, to
take the place Of the complicated system
now enforced. at demands, Z" with all en-
phasis-
Equal taxation Of every species Of prop
ertys according to its real value.
No exception Is made. The great aues-
tlop which has embarrassed all governments
and nil political economists for generations.
and which has never before been solved to
heentire satisfaction Of anybody, is nov
settled. The Democratic wisdom gathered
in Tammany Hall on the Fourth Of July
has made the subject simple, and has dis
covered principle which can be universally
applied. Every species Of property is TO
be taxed equally, not upon any fetious ap-
praisement, but upon its real value.
This beautiful law Of Democratic finance
has lot yet been fully eIueidated. The or
atorso Of Tammany have not obeyed the or.
dersof their chief candidate, and vigorously
pressed this subject of taxation. l. is quite
time they we're about it; and if they con-
tihue to avoid it, the Republicans ought to
accept Mr.. Seymour's advice, and make
this great Democratic principle plain 10
everybody. 1t is not often that the party
gives US such an explicit and ineligible
declaration Of itspoicy.
The demand" of the Democratic party
implies thorough change in our present
system Of taxation. The laws passed by the
Republican Congress are far from taxing
equally every species of property, accord
ing to its real value The Republican par
tg strongly prefer not to do so; and, although
there are, doubtless, still many mistakes in
these laws which Republicans wish to re-
move, yet the charges they propose to make
are not in the direction of equal taxation
Of every species Of property. On the con-
trary, it is certain that every Republican of
influence in this matter would prefer to re-
tain our present tax laws unchanged, rather
than to carry out the Democratic platform.
Here, then, is distinct issue between the
two parties The Government must raise
large amounts Of money Under General
Grant the outlay of the nation can hardly
be much less than 10000, 600 year I'm
der Mr. Seymour, should the Democratic
party succeed in regaining power. those
who remember Mr, Buchanan's admins
tration viii be sure that the outlay win rap
idly rise to more than this. The Republic
an party propose to obtain the money by
adjusting taxation so that it shall burden
the people as little as possible. The Demo
cratic party propose to do away with all
such adjustments, and levy equal taxation
up9n every species Of property, according
to It's real value.
For example, the ''real value Of fancy
sulky driven in the Central Park, and Of
farmers hay wagon in the country, may be
about the same The Republican party
prefers to lay tax on the former and none
on the latter; believing that the vehicle kept
for the rich mans pleasure ought to pay
rather than that kept for the laboring man
necessity. The Democratic party proposes
to tax both equally.
That beautiful chronometer repeater,
with independent second hand and stop, with
which races are timedin Jerome Park, costs
just about as much as an average Kansas or
Minnesota farm. But the Republican Con-
gress have levied an enormous duty on the
watch, equal to atleast good year entire
profits from the farm, and an anuaal pay
ment besides; while they make the farm
free The Democratic party proposes to
tax the farm as much as the watch.
The Administer carpet in a luxurious par
lor is worth about as much as good stone
farm house in New York or Illinois. The
Republican party would maintain the law
which taxes heavily the rich man S tapestry,
and leaves the wogking-man's dwelling free.
The Democratic party proposes TO tax both
equally.
A cigar Of average quality costs the con-
sumer about as much as common loaf of
bread 4 bottle Of choice old Madeira wine,
such as some leading Democrats Of this city
give their guests, is worth as much as a
barrel of -four. The Republican party in
have voted to tax the wine and ei-
sars very heavily indeed; but have refused
to tax the -four and the bread. The Demo-
cratic party proposes to tax equally every
species Of property, according to its real
value. If -four be taxed like old Madeira,
and bread ike cigars, the loaf that is now
ten cents cannot be sold for less than twenty
fve.
There are rich men who have incomes of
scores and hundreds of thousands Of dollars.
There are poor men who find it difficult,
above their house rent, to get one thousand
dollars Of ready money FOR their families.
The laws for which the Republican party Is
responsible tax the large incomes FIVE per
cent, but DO not tax the small ones at all.
The Democratic party demands the aboei-
ton of this distinction; which will take fifty
dollars from the one thousand necessary to
support many laborer's family.
E'va-y man who has aeeess TO tho laws
can supply scores of further Illustrations for
himself Which principle Of taxation do
voters of the country prefer? That of the
party, to tax those kinds Of
property which will bear it best; or that of
the Democratic party to tax equally every
species Of property, according TO its real
value"
ry~uu. cp.NT zH