The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-07-09
A PICTURE.


The Springfield, ILL.,, Register presents
the following picture representing a tax
collectors Office, with bondholder, and a
poor blacksmith who lost one leg in the
war, standing at the counter paying their
taxes. The following conversation natu-
rally takes place between the tax collector,
The bondholder, and the blacksmith:
Tax Collector" Now, Mr. Jaycook, We
are ready for yoa, sir. Your moneys and
'cacdits show sl2O,OOO, your household
furniture, Office fixtures, horse and buggy,
and some other little things foot up SO,
'575 more. Total S123,375. Deduct
$4,000 held in $50 government bonds,
which arc not taxable, and the balance is
S3.575. Your state and county tax on
this last amount is SLIGO. Check! All
right, sir.
"Now, Mr.. Bellows, l have your receipt
ready. Your moneys and credits show
$3.50, shop fixtures and tools, $3.50,
household furniture, $3.50, horse and wag-
on, 1915. Total taxable property for
state and county purposes, s3.950. Tax
S79."
Bellows" How is this? Jaycook'
personal property amounts to s123,5 ,575
and he pays only s71.5O, state and county
tax. while l, with less than four thousand
all told, am asked to pay 81 80 more than
he?"
Jaycook-''Ah, my good friend, you
see my S120, 900 in bonds are not taxable
In the country's extremity, with other
truly loyal men of the country, came to
the rescue with my greenbacks.
lpaned my bleeding country, threatened
with destruction by rebels and copper
heads, my money, and with that gratitude
which becomes grateful people, engaged
In the interest of God and humanity
am exempt. Thus it should be with q
magnanimous and christian people,
Bellows-.'And l, in the country's rea
extremity, had no greenbacks to loan, but
| shOuldered musket and gave my body
to the cause, leg of which 1 left on the
field of Shiloh: as engaged in the interests
of God and humanity, have no tax exemp
tion for ME. This may be all right, bat
don't see it,
Jaycook-" But you see, Mr.. Bellows
mine was voluntary act. l could moi
have been compelled to furnish the mon
ey. You volunteered, it is true, but you
could have been compelled to CO."
Bellows-"Yes, sir, 1 did volunteer
when my services were needed, but your
voluntary act was after the work was
done-after the rebellion was struck down
then you felt sure that your investment
was safe. The policy which exempts
your hundreds is yillainy, sir You loan.
cd your greenbacks worth less than sixty
cents on the dollar, and are claiming dol
lar for dollar in gold, in payment. risk
ei my life and gave limb to the cause
and when | came home to my family and
went to work for their support, l am made
to pay full national, state and county take.
on my little possessions, while your bonds
purchased with deprecated currency. ar
exempt This nice little game of Go,
and humanity superfne loyalty and pat
rlotic disintcresteGness is downright rob
berry, sir, and they who uphold it are n
better than thieves, and We of the laborin,
millions intend to block it, sir, with GU
ballots next November. We will sink an
inan or set of men, who stand up for il, S
deep that the sound of Gabriels trum
will never reach him. Do you mind thai
Mr.. Jaycook."
Exit disputants.
The Collector (solus)-It strikes thi
individual very forcibly, that it amt a
wind that blows out of that bellows.