The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-15
cooD SOUND SENSE.

| Moline correspondent ofthe Union, dis
cuss,ng the PROPHECY of voting debts upon
people who don't want to be in debt, shows
that the poorer classes of people pay tht
largest taxes in proportion to their properly
and says:
"Ths manufacturer has ct least two avenue'
of escape from these burdens, while the poor mar
has none. 1t is an established rule in every de'
partment of acture that taxes, IKE orn ah
necessary expenses, are added to the price ., 49,
article manufactured, and the consumer Psh nn1d
taxesl IT. perchance, the means OF egl ,;re must
he closed against him. then the P"rkman pays
have his wages reduced and the W. P"s
the taxes, But the man of smsh ine"A' "'s n'
such channels of relief.
The linton said
,.hers won,d be injustice in assessing a
- - ,hen there is injustice in assessing
u 80 res and the argument against the railroad
in n o, does not held good.
rs new correspondent "Civis,' explodes
the sbove fallacy as follows:
Nov here is where we propose to take
issue. The position, in the opinion OF some
is hardly reconcilable with the genius of re
publican government, especially when we
consider the common rule Of legitimate tax
alton is only for the purpose of defraylne
needful expenses of government In eAeeu-
ting police regulations, and in carrying ior'
ward the various departments OF ITS admin
istration, in its legislative and Judleaai pow
ers. This, it would seem, were aosoiutety
necessary for public safety, ana no good eisi
&c ;ts hnrtbens. But to vote taxes for ute
nor objects, such as speculative enterprises,
can onlv be consumma,ed by special legis.
la.ion, enabling the people to impose extra
the expression of their own desires at the
ballotbox.
These special enabling acts to the people
are clearly predicated upon questions OF poll
CIV, and have no foundation in political econ
omy or correct principle. On the one hand
public necessity and safety demands the
proper expenditure of money for making
and carrying out the laws for the protection
of life and property the preservation of peace
and good order in society, and the proper
sanitary ana educational conditions. On
the other hand, it is simply question of ex-
pediency, whether people will impose add,
tioal burthens upon themselves in support
of an enterprise, the only consideration OF
which is, the incidental benefits hoped for
III Tue SptCuldllOu.
Railroads, like other enterprises, are en-
tered into. not particularly to subserve pub
lie interests, but because they promise mon
etary advantages and dividends to the pro
iectors. 1t would be troublesome, to the
most astute reasoner, to furnish argument
based upon fair logical deductions, in favor
of taxing the people to bnild railroads, that
would not be equally valid when apph
ed to building up of factories or any other
enterprise. And yet, / apprehend the edit
ors of the Union would enter their protest
against proposition to tax the public fol-
the erection of a cotton mill. pillow factory, OIL
merchandising establishment. 1t must be a
very ingenious dissertation that would sue
cessfully dispute that any or all of these loca,
undertakings would not contribute to the
general interests of the community-increas
ing the value of surrounding estates, adding
to the taxable property of the commonwealth
and giving lucrative employment to labor.
The people of Moline are an industriou;
and enterprising people, and are undoubted
IL anxious to have the projected road pas,
through their town. They will use all prop
er efforts to secure that result. But there art
some of US who cannot escape the conclu
sion that while all have an indubitable RICH
to subscribe all the stock to this road tina
We may desire to pay for as individuals, We
have no moral right to force our neighbors
TO take stock in the enterprise when it i:
against their will, as would be the case with
many in the event of taxation.
CyIs.