Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-07-21

yexed By the talk of demagogues and
Of strange political COM
binations. 1t was measure designed
in the interest Of good government and
sound conservatism. lis wisdom and
its business is not, and can not, be
assaulted in the forum Of argument or
reason, but the engineers ola new po-
litical movement In our midst find the
law slight barrier to the full success OF
demagogism and political clap trap, and
hence are determined to band together
all discordant elements for its repeal
The platform of the National Demo-
cratic party docs not suit their peculiar
views, and they accordingly uncere-
moniously cast it aside, and substitute
therefor string Of unmeaning nom
sense, with a plank pledging them
selves to change the Constitution of the
State, in order that men who refuse to
pay so much as a paltry dollar into the
revenues of the Stale, may yet desig-
nate the legislators who are to fix our
taxes and assess upon our proper ~ the
burdens Of government.
Are sthe taxpayers and property
holders OF the Valley prepared to &C.
cept this first step toward the increase
OF taxation?
When the managers of the new party
have played this card for cslored votes,
will they not, by the very force OF
events, be compelled to take another
step forward to hold their colored
allies in hand for new achievements
and for new victories over the tax
payers and property-holders Does
any man believe that these managers
would hesitate to favor an increase OF
the school tax, Yby so doing they could
rally to their support the colored votes
necessary 10 their election to Congress ?
The present Constitution Of the State
allows the Legislature to tax for school
purposes the property of the State as
high as SOC. on the the hundred dollars
worth Of property, and the present rate
of taxation is fixed BY the Legislature
for school purposes at l0c. on the hun
dred dollars. Now, if the managers
desire still further to conciliate their
line 10 get up the cry that the free
schools are languishing and that the
taxes ought to be raised for the purpose
of making them more efficient?
Politicians trading on the cOlored
vote are standing danger to the tax
payers and property holders Of this
Commonwealth. Our people are all
willing 10 pay the present rate OF tax
alton for school purposes, but they are
also unanimous in their purpose not TO
increase the rate. Now, the rate Of loc.
is sufficient to carry on the free schools,
If properly administered ; but suppose
the colored voters require it to be adj
vanced 10 the maximum of 50c., will
the managers concede It to them III
necessary 10 secure their votes? If so,
our taxes in Virginia will be 00c. on
the hundred dolars-a burden far more
than our people are willing to bear.
Those who remember that the adj
vocates Of the repeal OF the capitaton-
tax qualification for voting were only q
short time ago openly intriguing with
Republicans for 1.-THE nomination Of
Grant, and as openly resisting and die.
suading Democrats lfrom all .partlcipa-
ton in the National Democratic Con-
vention at Cincinnati, may well hest
tate to repose much confidence in men
so inconsiderate Of the public good, and
so eager to drum up all sorts Of votes
for their own selfish purposes.