Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-02-09


80 sympathetic: / deny thatthe peo-
pie ass impressed with the idea that
this Is an unjust tax ,oran odious tax,
or that rms considerable number Of
the peopaeg have inadSany assertion
whatever to that effect.
I do believe, lido know that a num-
Der Of the capitalists who pay thistax,
and who ought to pay this tax, and
some others Who .Sstght to pay the
tax, but do moi, II know thatpresses'
in their interest, that newspapersash
aswspapet ahhpak khSsbave their
own individual interests atstake,and
who represent these capitalists and
their desires, have beF xlamoripg
for the repeal Of this tax. know
that they have denounced over and
, over again, jn the mass and individ-
ualIy, Senators and members Of Con-
gress who insist upon the retention
OF this income tax. know that in
that way those newspapers which
circulate throughout the community,
and have a very great influence in the
country, have, SO far astheircolumns
are CONCERNED, impressed an appear
ance Of such q sentiment; but deny
that the masses Of the people have at
all been affected by it. deny that
there is any public sentiment OF the
masses Of the people anywhere
throughout this broad land ia favor
OF the repeal Of this income tax, and
/ defy the proof to the contrary. 1t
has not been presented, II cannot be
presented. The whole effort, the
whole clamor, Is in the interest and
for the benefit of the capitalists who
pay, and who ought to pay this tax,
and not made by the people, nor in
the interest Of the people in any re.
spect whatever.
And, sir, 1t was for this purpose
mainly, to denysthat it, was the de-
mand Of the people, that l rose. ! am
With the people as a general rule, and
am always disposed to comply with
their demands unless tlisy interfere
with my convictionsaf porSiitutiapal
duty. TWAS therefore nssisty to ftle'i
ny that there is any pf,cbfof thislaI-r
legged demand from the people any
where that ] rose to speak On this ocr
casion. 49,.
remember when went home
from the session Of Congress last sum-
mer, and the political campaign was
about to come ON, that some Demo
cratic papers out our way began to
find fault with Congress for reducing
the income tax. Those Democratic
papers insisted that Congress had
been acting III the interest Of capital
lists, and had reduced the income tax.
replied that every Democratic Sen
ator on this floor voted then In the
interests OF capitalists for tho repeal
Of the income tax; and the Demo
cratic newspapers dried npuM due
Difference to the Democratic leaders
here. But they started out with the
idea, which ut once strikes everybody,
that it was in the interest Of capital
lists that the income tax was reduced,
and that it would be in the interest
of capitalists that it should be re-
pealed. s"'i5 $751;
A word now as to the propriety, as
to the Justice, us to the policy OF All
income tax. Is it not right and po-
little that the; property Of the country
should bear the burdens of the taxi
ton of the country: Is it not, as a
general rule, true that the PROPERTY |
of the country Is that Xhicl. is sup
ported and defended blythe Govern
memt Of the couhtty;s,sSl6AStt It general
~ makes its expenditures for the pro.
motion Of the prosperitXswhich ms
creases and protects property and re-
munerates capitalists? |
The principal that property and In 10 !
come, as general rule, are to sup.
port the Government IL recognized
everywhere and by everybody; and
on this general, broad principle, 1t is
right that the taxes should be levied
upon those who have the property.
Upon tho policy Of the thing; upon
the fairness and justice Of the thing,
IL it not right and proper, politicahd
expedient, for any Govcrnmcnttoln lay
its taxes upon those who will least
feel the burden OF thetaxati0n? Can
not men who haveIan annuatipcOme
over two thousand dollars iAy3t per
cent. on that excess of income easier
thnn poor men can pny taxes out Of
the means which are below the me-
oo.c;fins of tina s,,,,norf IF thair fami.