The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-23
The Address.

sI@TlI1ll.s --.. -u .. ..... - : - 4 . f>Y3n
. 1@5 .. co">.." Tho Address ~ '& =,
Of the Anh. Monopoly State Central
rf#2 COMMITTEE Of Minnesota:
We Rave received, through the
kindness Of Henry Heys, Esq, a
printed copy OF this address, and
find it an ably prepared document;a
but, as it advocates no principle nor
expresses any sentiment other than
those which have been constantly
urged and reiterated in the GRANGE
ADVANCE during the past six months,
we do not deem it necessary to re-
publish it entire. It starts out by
declaring that the industrial interests
Of the country will not be properly
cared for by either the republican
or democratic parties, and that,
therefore, a new party is essential to
the future welfare of the great mass
of the population Of this country.
1t next alludes to the financial
condition of the country, quoting
from Gov. Tilden's message to show
that, from a total Of $S3,ooo,ooo for
all federal, State, county, city and
town taxes, imposed in this country
in 1850, the increase has been to
$154,196,S58, in 1860, and to $780,
591,521 in 1870; or, in other words
that the tax has increased during the
intervals stated at the rate per CAPT
ia of population from 1857 in 1850
to $500 in 1860 and 1891 in 1870.
1t is hardly fair, however, to omit
the reasons for large share Of this
increase, unless the committee in.
tend their address for a mere cleo
pioneering document, rather than a
means Of imparting correct informa-
ton to the people. We find that
from 1850 to 1860 taxation increased
at the rate Of $1.53 per inhabltant.
Of this sum the increase in federal
taxes was 81 cents and in. other
taxes about 60 cents. A large pro-
portion of the former resulted from
expenditures for public buildings,
not only in Washington, but in sew
eral other of our large cities, and
still another considerable share was
consumed in improvements Of rivers
and harbors. We have no doubt,
either, that the democratic officials
Of that day did their share Of steal
ing. We think it altogether likely.
The 60 cents per head increase
of State and county taxes is due in
considerable degree, no doubt, to
State subsidies to railroads. If we
remember Alright it was not ali tin
common thing, in those days, for
States to lend their money and CRED
it with a free hand to railroad COM
panies and other corporations, and
as they generally had the bonds to
pay, it is no wonder that taxes in
creased fearfully. But we believe
that it is frequent boast of demo-
Gratis that their party was then in
power, and that those were the good
old times Of democratic supremacy.
The amount of tax for 1870 is
given in currency. Let us deduct
one-seventh of this for the ID per
cent. difference in value between
that and gold, and $14o,ooo,ooo
more for the interest on the war
debt and we have the true aggre-
gate for fair comparison, viz:
$3.50, 221,3o4. OF this amount $245,-
714,22S is chargeable to federal and
$24o,5o1o16 to other taxes. The
increase for the ten years per inhab-
liant, then, instead of being 1910
for federal and $4.34 for other taxes,
equaling $14.1o, gold value, as is
stated in the address, is really only
$6.53 for federal and &c. for 9TH
er taxes, equalling an aggregate of