The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-03-21
WHY WE sIrFFER.

1t is a part of the game played by
the designing to hide under a con-
fused mass of technicalities and pro-
tossed learning the real cause of our
financial distress. The sufferers are
met at every turn by masses Of heavy
figures columned under unknown
Terms by the charlatans whose inter
est lies in keeping.o obscure the cause
of our trouble. Messrs. Kelley and
Garfield discuss. They are both re-
tanned by the same interest and APP
pear for the same class, and let eth
err gain the advantage of the argu-
ment the people learn nothing. To
appreciate this let US keep in mind
two facts not to be denied:
The first is, that we are IN debt.
The second, that labor pays all.
Now the man who owes more than
he can pay is a slave to his creditor.
Let us see, then, what our obligation
is. The national debt is -, 15O, 00O,-
900; the State debts are estimated to
be $35O,0O0.O 900; the debts owed by
one hundred and thirty town corpor-
ations are estimated to be $6l4,OOO,
900; the debts of other cities and
towns at 1914, 600, 900; while the
country debts, as far as estimated,
amount 10 $500, OO0, 900, making a
total of 1894 900, 000-more than
one fourth of the entire taxable
wealth of the country, or a mortgage
of one dollar upon every four dollars
worth of the property of the nation.
Now, to this we must add the
debts owed by corporations, and
these alone amount to that OF the
General Government. The railroads
owe enough to rebuild and restock
the entire net work covering the land.
We owe the national banks all that
supports them and pays a profit to
the stockholders. Without return
ing a cert of real value for the bene
fit conferred, they cost US as much
as did our entire Government prev
tious to the late civil war. They live
on this Indebtedness, their entire
business being the use of the Gov
eminent credit and the loaning out
of other peoples money.
Again, to these fearful figures we
add what we owe to the General and
State and local governments for the
support of an idle navy, an idle army
and the civil service. 1t is estimat-
ed that the annual national taxes
collected are $500. 000, 0G0 State tax
es, 500, 900, 600; county taxes $S5,-
600, 900, city and town taxes, $2l2,,
00o, 900, and school taxes, $4,000,
LOCO. Total, 1880 Co., 900, taxes col
lected per annum for all purposes
Estimating the population at $40.
600, 900, it is $3.50 for each man,
woman and child, $92,50 for each
averag e family of five persons. Now
!, supposing the property of the Uni
ted States responsible for this indebt
edness, which it is not, is not the
property pledged to its fell value fol
the redemption of what, were it re
| deemed, ould not add q cent TO th'
wealth of the country?
But the property, by which WI
mean the dead accumulation OF pas
7 labor in the hands of its holders, pay
!, nothing. Human ingenuity has BEEF
$ taxed for thousands of years to fint
some process through which proper
" may be forced to pay its share O
S the burden, and taxed i'll vain. La
bor-that which digs from the har'
earth all that makes earth endurabi
e pays all. Every grain of wheat, eve
S ry ounce of coal or iron, ever strok
# of a tool in the hands of a mechanic
is taxed to pay the interest on hi
y indebtedness, that has accumulate
unit! its final liquidation is admittc
to be hopeless.
d Need we 90 further to-ind why
n is that trade is paralyzed and labc
d suffers? Why is it that we hay
Y millions out of employment, an
y thousands threatened with stary:
it ton.
In sixteen years w have passc
'e from a prosperous, happy people,
n a nation made up of idlers and slave
drones and laborers. That equalit
lie of property which made it necessal
for all to work has changed to IL
IS same condition as hat in Europ
y, where the few riot in luxury. viii
At the many starve. OF what goo
1T then, are the measures affecting OF
t. currency? Let the Eoney be che;
lie or dear, abundant or scarce, TIL
t. great wall of debt faces us on 6
it sides, shutting us from Gods ST
$ and green earth, which II maste
l. live only to enjoy. That which pr
&c duces everything enjoys nothing.
l. Washington Capital.
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