The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-06-26

Now what il 10 te done when The
inexOrable tax C 81. ctor makes his de-
man6F a anY rate, what is the
farmer to ii, I HIS capital has returned
him no interest, his labor has received
no pay, his next yeaI's support must
be gone in debt for, aud this years ex-
penses are already debt that he is
unable u lift. And yet it is upon the
farms OF the State that our govern
ment largely depends for the tax
money with which To Iu1 its machin-
cry and keep It's credit sh I4t. 81 it is
question OF equal sign. icance TO the
people who must pay, and u she GOV
eminent, that mus; have the taxes,
where they are 10 come from. Add
this brings US 10 one OF the most diff
cult questions 10 political economy
tue proper base of taxation. have
strong convictions upon this matter,
and that cover wider grounds than I
propose 20 touch upon in this letter, for
now / propose ask your attention to
but 4 single point, that 81 the poll tax,
aud upon tb y inr, for one reason or
other, however j. n4y a1e been the
legisls r., iegI-l4,.ye acIinn has ways
eliminated Ia error. BIT, " h the
| country and indIviduals alike OF
pressed with au overs helm ng burden
! of debts, with a general stag0StiOa OF
business, with failure OF crops All q
consequent accumulation of lIabil rs
upon the farming Continuity tnat
makes the collect on of taxes. assessed
upon the old basis. simply matter Of
I landed COZ fsc I on aAd ruin 10 all real
estate Interests, mas not The time come
when iutellg ut conviction and legi,-
latiYe act ~ should be euterely coinci-
dem!
Reason, justice, prudence, wise
provision against our growing munich
pal extravagaDces, everything that
ought TO il IL renee prudent lawmakers
in State IKE Texas demand that %
largely increased poll tax be brought
to the rescue of the people and the
State. And why noil The primary
reasons for taxttIon are but two. The
protection of life, liberty aud personal
eDj )yment is one, and the protection
of property Ia the other. OF these, the
l
erty tax the sec end, aud the tundameI :
tai idea underlying the tax system ls
that all men shall gay In ju prepor-
ton to Whatever of these they have L
Ell " and so to he protece ed in. Such
is Tue idea of taxation, but by no means
is it the precticsl working of the sys-
TEN. And what is more unaccnuntaole
than that, what is held infinitely the
most precious goes nearly scot free in
the payment for its protection. For
In .nce, the safety of myself and fami-
ly and our protection in all cue politl-
cal, religious and social enj pyments are
beyond all price. 10 them am blessed
by the protection of my county and
State above the possibilities of any
amount of mere wealth. Yot for them
| pay pol tax of two dollars per u ar.
But because | have piece OF po,T laul
valued at one thousand dollars, and
which | W, III see swallowed up IN he
sea rather than have a single one of my
political, religious or 8 ciIl rights de-
MED me, am made TO pay twelve dol
lars, Two for all my personal rIghts and
liabilities ana ten for pr, 'ctioa In my
land.
Again, that may be protected IN the
family, in TIE church, at the polls
that l may think, believe, worship,
vote as | please, that may not be
crippled, manned nor murdered, and
that my family may he under the like
protct on | am KID two dollars, but
lest somebody break my fence, il are
my acre of corn or 50 Ia. on my land,
valued It 5000, | pay ten dollars PEI
year.
But, in brief, there is but one way
out of tut overwhelming burdens.
They must be "a lsl 2 d.. Property
alone cam paw for ali classes OF pro-
lection. Tue personal tax must pay in
some reasonable proportion Tor personal
protection. And no nun must he a :
lowed to Ell 3 heuetits for which he
makes no Ieturn, nor to impose bur-
dens that he does not help 10 bear.
When the poll tax shall nave been
brought into "a liranle relations to the
property tax, ani when no man shall
be voter until he IL II taxpayer, tAt
tax question and the question of S,al &
debts will have been solved justly and
wisely and Lev>r IN il then. -, /
B. A. T..