Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-13

The Republicans, being subject to the
same confusion of ideas which besets all
politicians when they undertake to discuss
scientific questions, seem to have thought
that there would be way Of juggling out
of the meaning of the Few Constitution,
when it came TO applying the instrument.
Thousands of well-meaning people indeed
probably voted for it under the misty no.
ton that though it was very objectionable
in many respects, it could somehow be
amended by legislation. So little do peo-
pie generally appreciate the finality of any
thing that the fight againstdouble taxation
has been carried on as eagerly during this
session as though the organic law was still
in embryo, and high officials have declared
their opposition to the principle as though
we were not all living under a Constitu-
ton which ordains that very thing in the
plainest and most comprehensive way.
But it is useless longer to shut our eyes to
the facts, and, moreover, the prospect Of
relief from the worst errors of the new or
ganic law depends greatly upon the
fidelity with which it is operated now.
There is no way of securing the re-
peal of bad laws so swift and sure
as to carry them fully into effect. Many
If not most people are incapable of being
convinced save through actual experience.
Arguments rarely persuade those who are
preiudiced by what they imagine self-inter-
est. Thus the California farmers, who
have the most to lose by taxation of mort
cages, voted quite generally for the meas
ure, believing, in spite of the plainest dem
onstration, that they would be benefited
by law which can only make it harder
and costier for them to borrow money
They refused to believe the representations
made to them, because they had poisoned
their own minds by a prejudice to the eff
feet that their wisest and frankest counsel
lers wore somehow laying a snare for them.
They could not answer the arguments
against the taxation OF mortgages, but
they could, and did, vote for the new Con-
stitution. Presently they viii find out for
themselves that taxation of mortgages
Injuries instead of helps them, and
then they will reconsider their unjust sua-
picions of their trues5 advisers. But they
must haye the results of actual expert
ment before them ere they viii acknowl-
edge their mistake, and so it is with the
question of double taxation. The Constitu-
ton makes that unavoidable, and therefore
it must be put in operation. 1t IS useless to
talk as though any political party could be
held accountable for the results OF laws
passed to give force to the Constitution.
The answer to all representations of this
kind is that no party could ignore the pro-
visions Of the Constitution. Double taxa
ton is there, and therefore it must also be
in the revenue laws. The people have In
dorsed the principle, and they may as well
prepare to enjoy its application. There
Is no possibility of evading it, and it would
be altogether uniustifable to attempt any
evasion Of it. Whatever responsibility
exists IN this connection rests upon those
who, in shameless defiance of the facts, in
brazen contempt of the plainest meaning of
the plainest English, obstinately contended
that no double taxation was possible under
the Constitution, and so deceived the
weak-minded and credulous into refusing
to accept the evidence of their own eyes.
None but the advocates of the abominabie.
stupid. unjust and mischievous revenue
system embodied in the new Constitution