The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-14

employers of industry? How shall we
commence to restore the most vital element
of life, mans buthigM IN the soil? and
how distribute all accumulated and accu-
mulating wealth with even-handed justice =?
These are the vital questions of the hour,
and upon their practical solution must
depend the destiny and perpetuity of the
American Republic. The problem can be |
solved and demonstrated by this measure
direct taxation upon accommodating icealh.
Its effects would be Immediately but
gradually to redist'ibae accumulated
wealth, and thereby forever to prohibit
monopoly of all kinds. The measure is
eminently just, because it looks to the per-
manent stability and general good Of all So
ciety. 1t would place limit to the cn-
pidify of man, without in the least taking
from him his individual right to accumu-
late an ample sufficency Of what is termed
wealth or property.
1t would conducc to harmonic industry
and capital, because capital, having no in
| CENTRE to exact and Cypress, could afford to
be liberal and just, and therefore would
coaesce with and harmonic all the dis
agreements and exactions now imposed
upon labor. The natural tendencies and
will of man are towards justice and good
ness, and, except for the demon Of ava
rice, he would choose justice and mercy.
Is ii constitutional, and how can it become
the righteous law of the land? Simply by an
act of the Legislature laying q direct tdr
upon accommodating aUeaHh, upon an equita-
bic basis, founded upon the taxable pro-
perty of the iudiv dual. .
Would the measure be polite and we'll
received by the American people? I'm
hesitatingly, yes; because of its manifest
Justice; because it places limit upon av
arice. 1t compels avarice to stop some
,chere, and allow others the opportunity to
acquire reasonable competence. Because
its tendency is ever towards redistribution.
because land, the, foundation of all wealth,
would forever cease to be monopolized.-
Because mans ambition in the race for
,cedHh acould be satisfied by his limit, and
his efforts would naturally turn to chan
nels of usefulness, in aiding to build up a
true order of Christian society, instead of,
as now, to withhold his wealth, adding
house to house, and field to field, only to
Cypress and make wretched-in word, to
commence to realize the Christian idea in
everyday life of "Do ye anto Others as ye
could hare others do unto you."
Are there precedents for limiting the
amount of business of an individual or cor
poration? To an extent there have been
very many, and, although local in charac-
ter, they have an important bearing upon
the question. Every fort in the direction
| of limit to the selfishness and cupidity oil
man has been salutary and healthtul in its
, result. Instance the local limit placed upon
ca1tmen in the city of New York.
: Again, instance the Brooklyn Ferry COM
: pany. Why has that company the best
ferries in the world, the safest and most
! commodious boats, and the cheapest fare
! for the people +? Simply because oul
State Legislature, in granting the franchise,
wisely limited them to o profit of ten pei
cent. upon their earnings, and compelled
4 them to redistrbute the surplus earnings
' among the people in splendid iron ferry
!. wharves, magnificent boats" and cheap
/, transit. On other ferries contiguous
: where no limit prevails, and self has full
sway, we have the opposite result-doublt
Y fare, dirty, condemned, and dangerous
S boats, and miserable accommodation
II Again, the Legislature says to railways
and street-cars, We must limit your rates
= of fare and freight, or your avarice vii
l. lead you to Cypress and take advantage 0
n the peoples necessities. -a
= Wherever zoe see limit upon duorice
the results prone aoise and bengfcezt
= Therefore, let us extend its salutary ad
vantages until they shall spread their pro
D tecting arms over the whole people.
# Are there any precedents in Legislation
for special taxation? Yes. The nationo
- government tao on incomes is in measure
= graduated tax, and purposely favored mel
y of small means and moderate salaries
g while its demands upon the wealthy appa
" rently bore heavily. Yet, through it
q wise provisions, the nation was enabled t.
III raise tens and hundreds Of millions to carr.
is on giant war without impoverishing tn
e taxpayer. Could moiety Of such tax
. levied upon the whole taxable wealth o
" the states, be applied to the elevation AM
10 general advancement of society, how muc
s. more salutary and Christian would be it
ts effects! Who could estimate its blessings
70 Then, truly, would industry and capital G
20 hand in hand, to fulfil their glorious dest
e, ny.-"Peace on earth, good ,ciH to men.
IN N. B.-All persons who favor the view
I'd herein indicated, and approve Of the pet
70 ton, will esteem it duty to immediatel
~ send to the secretary for the petitions, an
Us have them largely circulated by petitioner
u in every State of the Union. Especial
should all labor organizations study an
g. act upon the suggestions of the appea
- The way is open to your enfranchisemen
1t Will you act to-day? Three years of O
gained agitation, and the battle may
won. Capital and labor aciH stand on +
U. plane Of equality and fraternity. God spec
the day