Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-01
THE APPEAL AND STATE TAXA.
TTOH

ana ~ ANA ~ - -
TTOH.
The APPEAL hss never advocated q
high rate Of taxation, ncr has it eUeT sd-
vocAted reputation of the JUS and
honest obligations of the State. 1t did
think that many of the bonds Issued by
Cove rnors Brownlew sni Senter should
undergo thorough investigation before
they were either recognized or paid.
Bot when q legislature, composed Of
such men as Dorsey B. Thomas, voted
to recognize and pay these bonds, anc,
when, in fact, through the legislation Of
such men they. were paid, then We
thought there was no justice in refusing
to acknowledge and pay, 80 far as we
might be able, the debts contracted be-
fore the war, which ali sensihle well.in-
formed men admitted to be just and
valid. We believed that this could be
done with forty cents tax. In an edi-
torial, published In the APPEAL, June
Sth, we said:
While We admit that a forty cents tax will
not Immediately pay the sccrued and accru-
Ing interest yet we think that II continued 1t
Will, on account of the increased wealth of
the State and consequent increase of revenue
arising therefrom, be sufficient to pay the
whole debt, principal and interest, within the
next twenty years.
In the same number of the APPEAL
we said:
The Independent ticket in this county In
1874, composed OF Radicals and Independents,
advocated q reduction OF the State taxes,
which was virtual reputation. Even now
combination is shout to be formed between
the Radicals in this county and the advocates
Of the non payment of the State
debt. There may be some DEM
Gratis who viii 60 with them, but
the main body, 80 far as we have been
able TO learn, Of those opposed to the payment
OF the State debt, are enemies Of the Demo-
cratic party. We have no hesitation in saying
that II the Democratic party in the August
convention should favor reputation
or either the national or of the
State debt, it would not only des-
troy all hopes of our success in the national
contest, but would endsnger success in the
State elections. We must insist that the
Democratic party shall not be held responsible
for the acts of its most bitter, though secret,
and avowed foes.
On the thirteenth of July we pub
Iished an article in which we said that
sin 1874 we opposed any Reputation Of
the State debt, and the Democratic con-
vention Endorsed our course. We
opposed any increase in taxation, and
the convention agreed with US in opin-
ion." In May we published an article
showing that If our back taxes were
collected we could meet our interest.
Those men who have failed or refused to
pay any taxes since 1865 should not be
permitted to escape the payment of
what they justly owe, whilst thousands OF
poor men have paid, and are paying
their taxes promptly. 1t is these delin-
quent taxpayers, many Of whom are
men Of large wealth and ample means,
who, by refusing to pay their taxes,
make the burden heavy upon others Of
less means and less ability. Collect
taxes from all, we say, or collect from
none. Do not make fowl of one and
fsh Of another. II we collect, as we
should, all solvent back taxes, even in
the past due Indebtedness of the State,
we win have no difficulty in arranging |
our financial matters without burdeniDg |
the people. The APPEAL has been, and
is, opposed to Reputation and to an in.
crease of taxation, ecsuse it is not ne
csssary and the people are not in a con-
Hilton to bear 1t at the present time, and
We think 1t will never be necessary.