The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-06-10
Iowa Correspondence.
CARL, Iowa. May 81, 1876.

events have asitated eur community
and been followed by some hasty exc
buses. But as the PRESS is not 10 tn
habit of detailing these reeky event
wherein free love fslly and pithles
piety are mosaiced side by side in poi
sonous witchery, we will direct tn
attention of your readers to somethin.
of importance to those of them VIII,
may own land in Iowa. To them
say-be sure and keep ysur taxes paid
A tax deed in this State is the bes
title that can be held. 1t cuts eff al
mortgages. judgments and leins; ant
there is no legal recourse for re
demption. Thousands of acres nay,
been lost to both resident and non
resident owners, through delinquency
in paying taxes. And do net trust toe
much to agents, as some have done tt
their sorrow. Never rest secure unit
yeu have your tax receipt in youl
hands and have examined your mum
bers. But is it net incompatible with
Justice and paIpably a violation of eq
uity to sell the whole. of tract of land
worth = thousand dollars for tax o.
from So to $40, mithost possibilit,
OF recovery? But it is law thai
was concocted and passed in the inter.
est of sharpers, by Republican House
and Senate, and is now being enforced
by the decisions of a Republican Ju.
dietary. And it is in harmony with
vast deal of the legislation that has
distinguished that party for direct and
implex dishonesty. Perhaps they have
forgotten what went Of the large es-
tates of the lawmak ers and oppressors
of France in times Of the Revolution.
But as eruditisn and craftsmanship
are not Synonymous in Republican
parlance, possibly they may be isno-
rant of what they may be doing for
posterity. 1t is certainly an unrigh-
teous and hard law, and should be re-
pealed. 1t has deprived many poor
men of their hard earned homes, and
many others have been numerically
bled by the rich extertioners, who
have lain in wait to catch them in their
ignorance or carelesness. The owner
caught mapping gets no equivalent for
what his land is worth in excess Of his
taxes. mention this to show how
that party in this State has grown de-
praved by the prevalence of corrupt
principles and practices, and to show
how the voice of justice has become
stifed by the multitude of voices on
the side Of selfishness and spoils.-
There is a crying demand for the re-
peal of this law. We have sadly de-
parted from the rule of early days in
State and national legislation, when
honesty and capacity were the requi-
sites for public positions. The fact
that plundering and corruption exist
so universally prove that there is an
imperitive demand that there should
be change in our rulers. The thefts
in the p. o. department., the Indian
department, the Army and Navy de-
and the recent whisky
frauds in which government officials
are so basely aud extensively involved,
all cry for a change. And nothing
short of a change, a complete and
thorough cleaning of the Augean
stables, can remove the reproach of
frsm the national character.
Frauds and defalcations are becoming
Of such frequent occurrence that the
people seem to have grown in a meas
nre Indifferent to them by reason of
their very repetition. The national
character will be stopped in this down.
ward tendency only when the sagaci-
y of the masses is fully awakened to
is demoralizing and dangerous infls-
.nce, and when they shall drive from
power intrigue and corruption, and
'eplace it by the best talent and virtue
If the nation. Look at the present
tatist! Men in Congress four, years
IN salary of 5000 agyear. retiring
With fortunes of from $4,000 to $780,
'OO. This accounts for our land-steal-
nS taX-law and other onerous taxes |
We are carrying. The legitimate emol-
Iments attached to official stations,
without counting the honors, are quite
nouyh to place them above the need
f plunder and robbery. What is still
aore to be deplored, those oft repeat.
d examples of official corruption is
eing felt in the general demoraliza-
ion it is producing in private, bust
ess. Integrity and trust are gradual
r giving place to the code which pre-
ails in Republican circles. 1t is to be
oped, therefore, by every one inter-
sted i'll the ascendency Of Justice and
onesty, that these matters will con-
nue to be vehenenuy agitated by
nc press and people until the desired
nd shall be reached, and official in
,grity and capacity shall haye re-
laced partizan demagogues and polit-
al tricksters. 1t is the bounden duty
OSCiy AAtCiiiSChC VOtCT W use MS
,fluence in controlling public opinion
II the right, and in disseminating cor
sct principles Of action; for the best {
lterests OF all will be promoted by
a honest administration Of official
usts. glt
To show that your correspondent
DOws of what he writes, I will state ,
lat tax deed was given on one of
is most cherished 40 acres, for a tax
ft unpaid before he purchased it. ,
he sale was not indexed in the Coun-
: Records. consequently it did not
opear in his abstract of title. He
aid 81 1000 for the 40 acres, and the
x for which it was seld was Sc 75.
luckily the man of whom he pur-
lased was worth the $1,000 and in ,
rest. But that was only shifting the