The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-10-31

the burden. After them the farmer |
would naturally follow because of |
the appropriateness of his pursuit |
hence, the next to feel the burden
of taxation, debt. and livelihood, |
too great to be borne.
All over the country the labor |
reform movement is one and the
same with our own, and wherever
cooperation is possible it should be
sought. Waving for q time the
main question, let US not forget that
part of this reform should take
place among ourselves. All that
part relating to the growth of
crops; the improvement of stock
increasing our Intelligence these
are part of the work which must
be looked 10 among ourselves. But
these failings we are all acquainted
with. as well as the remedy. and
therefore they need not be dwelt
upon here.
The great question before us to-.
day is, how shall we preserve iudi-
vidual rights, against oppressive
corporate aud moneyed power.
Ii is the duty ola republican form
OF government like our own, to
guarantee equal rights to all, for it
basis itself upon the declaration that
call men are born free and equal"
The past has proven that very slight
| changes in the times, or some modi-
fication of our tax and tariff lave,
may very materis lily increase the
privileges of one class, while
they weigh the more heavily
upon those of another. Such
is the case at present. The
tariff laws of the general gov
eminent have greatly benefited GER
tain classes, while they have, on the
other hand, proven injurious to
others. They make the burden of the
national debt unequal, by compeLl-
ing the weaker to bear an equal
proportion with the stronger.
Were we put in great struggle
for the life of the nation, and such
laws were necessity 10 preserve
it, then they ought to be tolerated
/ 80 long as tie necessity existed. or
as it was possible to bear them, but
no such necessity exists nor can
exist. During our late war the bur-
den was more evenly distributed
than at present. Now the burdens
of some have been in part removed,
while others, in consequence, have
theirs increased. Those whose oc-
equations or means of livelihood
are inadequate, are waking up all
over the country, aud the inquiry
now is. Whence comes this Why
cannot Industry and economy save
us? Why are we gradually sinking
helpless INTO the grasp of the strong2
We propose to inquire into the
causes of our difficulty, that we
may know the remedy
One great cause is the unlawful
use of much of the wealth of the
nation. Against wealth per Sc we
should have no quarrel, and TO con-
denim one because he is wealthy Is
foolish. Nor should we condemn
any who lawfully combine to pro-
tect their lawful interests. On the
other hand if they were not careful
and judicious, their failure might
work greater injury to us, than I'M
lust measures against us could. But
It is the abuse of wealth for unjust
and tyrnnical purposes, that we
should condemn. When it seeks to
enrich itself by unfair and unlaw-
full means; when by bribefies, il
corrupts legislation, or by combi-
nation it wrings from the farmer
his crops for less than cost of pro-
ducing them, or procures labor for
less than just compensation; 1t is
capital thus employed that we con-
denim. and it is this mighty mill
stone upon the necks of the labor
ing classes which is fast sinking
them TO the depths offfnapeial ruin.
Now, careful estimates prove that
two-thifds of the wealth of this ma
ton is owned by one fifth of our
people, hence the heads of 5000, 900
of our population, according to our
taxable valuation, own twelve bill
lions, while the heads of 30 100000
but six billions of dollars.
This concentrated wealth must
give the few great advantages over
the many in country, and under q
government like ours. CoInbina-
tons, corporations, and rings, are
formed by which they are enabled TO
dictate their own terms to their de-
pendents. Besides, every availabie
department of the government.
| whether executive, legislative, or
judicial, is purchased by them,
and they are to-day revelipg in the
spoiIs of unrequeitcd toll, Every
yard of calico, every pond of iron,
in short every dimes worth of the
articles of revenue you buy, must
help to enrich them, though done
under the name ofproetctiVe tariff.
Take close view of our revenue
| laws, and we will see that they
could hardly be framed to faYSr
capital more, and labor less. The
revenue is all paid by the con-
sumner and regardless of wealth !;
hence the poor man who consumes
the same amount of each of the arti-
cles from which revenue is collect
ed as a. 7. Stewart does, pays as
much revenue Us he. Now l ask is
this just. Is not this close approach
to France previous 10 her first revo-
luton, when she collected all her
revenues from the poorer classes,
while the nobility and the clergy
were exempt; also to England, who
| previous to the times of Adam.
Smith, exempted her clergy and
nobility.
| A reform here however cannot be
effected without direct taxation,
and this has always beon UNI
| popular among the wealthy,
and hence they have used
their wealth and influences to
repeal the tax upon incomes, and
to reduce it to the present system,
which is grinding the life out Of
| those engaged in the more unprcfi-
table pursuits. We would not be
| understood to mean thai the labor
ing poor should be entirely exempt
| from tax 10 support the general gov
erament. But let him be taxed only
! for Injuries, and for his tobacco and
whisky if he use them; but do not
place him on an equal footing with
| A. L. Stewart, Cornelius Wander
bilt, and others of princely fortune.
Nothing could favor wealth more,
unless it would be entire exemption
from taxation. l ask again is it right
| for the government to compel the
| poor man TO pay in proportion to
/ his consumption and the size of his
family each year, and to require the
| millionaire to do no more. What
| has brought this about The mon
led power have been at work in our
| Congress, and hence the result.
Hence this united uprising north,
south, east and west. All over the
land the inquiry comes, how
shall we save ourselves from the i'm
pending doom? Various measures
are being resorted ito, to avert it.
Some are seeking to save themselves
by means of politics Others by estab
lisning stores at which to purchase
the necessaries of life cheaper, and
to dispose of their pl Oduce to bet
ter advantage. Some By these
means, and others by those. Suf-
fee it to say that one fruitful source
of all his uprising l.. the present
national debt, and the present tariff
sy stem. Look at the figures and