The daily gazette., 1876-09-26
Where to Strike the Blow.

In the last state campaign there was
great public agitation over some extrava-
CANT expenditures Of the party in power.
1t could not be denied that in its general
characteristics the democratic administra-
ton had been economical. The canal,
chunder.republicana had
been sink hole ofexpenditure, had been
made paying institution. The credit
OF the state never stood so high, and tax
alton was light. But various isolated
cases of misconduct and extravaganza
were seized upon and held up to public
attention and the canvass was character
lied by unusual vehemence and excite
ment.
We do not desire to condemn or to be-
little this censorious temper in the public
mind. Eternal vigilance is not merely
the price of liberty, but of good govern
ment itself. But we wish to point out to
our local reformers that the entire cost of
the state government is much less than
the burden of federal taxation, and that
If local corruption and extravaganza
should engage tEeir attention, with how
much greater force should the abOmin-
able misrlle and oppression of the fed
eral government call for their energetic
remonstrance and opposition.
The total cost of the state government
for the year ending September 30, 1873,
was $2.436,075 As. For the year ending
June 30, 1876, federal taxation in the
state Of Maryland amounted to $2,576,379
for internal revenve alone, leaving alto
gether out of the account the vast indirect
tax levied by the tariff. Maryland is a
small state, and ranks in point OF size,
wealth and population below most of the
other states, and yet the federal taxation
imposed upon it far exceeds that upon al
most any one of the rich northern states.
Maryland pays more than double the
taxes of all the New England states COM
bined, with the exception of Massacbu-
sets.
The aggregate internal revenue tax
paid by Maine, New Hampshire, Ver-
mont, Connecticut and Rhode Island was
! only $1,27S,S27, as against Maryland's
S2,577,579. By the census of 1870 the
aggregate population of the New England
states named was 2 2,030, ,573; the aggregate
wealth 81, 25,579,6S9; while Maryland
has population of only 7S0,S94 and a
property valuation of $423, ,S34,91S; so
that, while it has only about one third
| the wealth and population OF these New
England states, its taxation is double.
| When we look to other Southern states
we find that the legislation of the Repub-
| lican party has been so directed as to shift
the burden of federal taxation from the
| North to the South. According to the
report Of a committee of Congress in 1870
the direct loss to the eleven southern
states by the war was S., ,262, ,303, ,554. The
cotton tax levied upon the South as vim
dictiye war damages aggregated $6S, S,0S1,-
o54 up to the time it was abolished. The
Southern states already ruined and pros
'trate, We're given over to carpet bag spoil
alton, and meanwhile the incidence of
federal taxation was steadily shifted from
the rich and populous North to the inn
poverished South. The internal revenue
taxation of the New England states has
declined from S46.9S5, ,S29 AZ in 1867, to
Sl,031 ,044 in 1876. During the same
pToid the taxation ofMaryland, Virginia,
West Virginia, North Carolina and Ken
trcky has increased from SIG, 1880 65
II $21 ,5S6,531 ~. The disparity is start
ling in the case of Virginia. While, as
We have shown, the taxation of all the
New England states is forty two millions
ltss in 1876 than in 1867, the taxation of
Virginia is S7,3l4,303 in 1876, as against
Sl,96G,722 in 1867.
Let our local reformers consider these
hcts, and in their fight for good govern
| nent let them not expend upon small
; things the force that should be used in the
great struggle with national corruption.
The great object of every true refOrmer
should be to overthrow the ring that now
controls the government of the country
baltimore Gazette.