The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-03-07
TIE FINANCIAL CONFLICT.
The Rich are exempt from Taxes; the
lahoreY paYs Them.

UAlNg Cno OASIS Oh society Und0 EnaL Oh
perfect equality of taxation.
"Taxes are the proportionate con
tributiOn of person and property lev
led by the state for the support OF
government Montesquin says
''they are a portion which each person
gives of his property that he may en-
JOY the remainder. They are the
measure of every man S duty in sup
port of public burdens"
- long as the power to tax IS fairly
exercised. it is a salutary power; bnt
1t is dangerous power, for there
does not seem to be any exact limit to
its exercise. 1t is one of the highest
prerogatiyes of sovereignty; legisla-
tive caution is it limit.
England asserted the right to tax
the colonies without giving them any
voice in the legislation establishing
the right or its exercise. 1t was not
claimed that the tax es levied were OPP
pressive or unequal, but it was claim
ed that the right to tax without rep
resentation was arbitrary, unjust, and
liable to great abuse. The colonies
would not submit to it. They REBEL
ed. Liberty followed.
Since the battle Of Yorktown, es-
pecially since the heroic abnegations
Of the night of the 18th of August.
1889, when absolute equality of bur-
dens were to be measured by absolute
comparative ability to meet them,
there has not been single constitu-
ton formed. state Or national, that
has not recognized, and, either di-
Tectly or indirectly, announced as
principle, that uniformity and equali-
ty in leyying staXes was to be consid-
cred as fundamental and undeniable.
And yet, in defiance of this axiomat-
ic rule of all civilization, the govern
ment of the, United States states,
counties, and tOwns-to win tempo
rary supposed advantage, have ex-
empted bonds absorbing Il large pro-
portion Of the wealth of the people
from taxation. They have said to
capitalists; Invest your money in
my bonds, and to that extent you
shall be exempt from taxes"
The law authorizing the exemption
is not a law; it 10 IN outrage. It was
not created by legislature legislating
= for the nation. Its conception was
fraud The cradle that rocked it into
quiet was made up OF subsidies, and
threats, and wrongs. What right has
any legislator to say that A. living in
the same city, same street, in a house
exactly like that of Il. shall pay BIS
taxes
1t is an outrage, and yet it Is a fact.
1t is supported by congressional
enact ments, but is none the less an
infamy-none the less a wrong. A
higher law than any congressional
mandate imposed upon the people by
the greed and presumption of capital,
denouneeS it as opposed to every prin-
ciple of equality, to the spirit of every
constitution, state and national, as it
is opposed to common sense and TO
the common rights of every citizen
not directly benefited by it.
~ No sophistry can gloss it into the
semblance of justice. The excuse is,
that the more attractive the bonds
could he made, the higher the price
they would bring and that the whole
community was benefited by this to
an extent more than equal TO the bur
den it imposed. Well, these bonds
were so attractive that they were sold
at from ~ To ~ cents on the dollar.
and the poor purchaser not only gets
100 cents for that which he paid AZ
for, but he gets gold interest on the
par sum, aud makes his neighbor pay
his taxes.
Gloss ii as YOU viii, it is infamous,
aud yet the whole subsidized press is
In lamentations lest the poor bond
holder should be obliged to take part
OF his pay inSilverl
Let us see whore the principle leads
us. There is to-day at least So, 00o.-
600. 900 Of bopds-United States, state
and municip9l-now in the hands of
capitalists bearing this exemption.
More than one-half of this is in United
states honds-say,- 81 500, 900 900.
The aggregate OF cur wealth will not
exceed $50, 900, zoo, 900. So that one
tenth of the whole wealth of the IA.
tion is exempt from taxation; and
probably one half of the personal
property of the nation-that is, of
bonds, mortgages, notes and securi-
tias--are exempt from taxes.
Thousands who live 10 bheas every
body but themselves money
bags, uSurerSswhoSe souls are as hard
as their hArd-money theories-own
ne laua AMI have all their property in
bonds exempt from taxation. There
are at least one hundred thousand of
these money vampires nj the United
States, whose taxes the poor men pay.
one OF he most fruitful causes of
The French revolution of i7se was
that the people had to pay the taxes
&c the nobility and clergy. United
tae. numbered $4,000. Like our
NondnolderS, they were men of means;
ike our national bank stakeholder
they lived and l6Cded it over tho REQ.
PIE Nv yAtue of the subsidies and
privileges bestowed upon them.
These patents Of nobility some dated
from the conquest, some from money
grants, bur al from favor. Our aat-
entS Of exemption dated from the
time when oar bonds sold at - cents.
We have 10000 patents. The French
nobility had bat lS1.0sAl
Take an example: Two uaen reside
IN the city ot New York. one has
Ss0u.0sV IN United States bonds ard
beArls sc the Il. Nicholas without
business Of ans Kind. The osher il ID