The Evening critic., 1882-06-27
The Internal Revenue Tax.


The Internal Star had one OF its usual infer-
nal editorials on saturday in favor OF the
internal revenue tax. AS usual, II says that
nobody is demanding the repeal of the tax
except few OF the manufacturers of whisky
beer, tobacco and cigars. These articles are
luNuries and the consumers do not complain"
with more of the same flrstclass rot. Now, see
how a few facts viii put down the Internal
Star. Nothing on earth has ever come up to
the misfortune of tho stimulants named, for
when the appetite is once acquired, nothing
but death can eradicate 1t. And the star
knows 1t If 1t would tell the truth. Are those
articles luxuries, which, when tho appetite
for their consumption is once acquired, n man
Will deprive himself, his wife and children, OF
the absolute necessaries of life to obtain
Luxuries are dear articles, generally con-
sumed by the rich, which may be wholly dis
pensed with, or other lesscostly articles sub
stituted therefor. Now, whisky, beer, tobacco
anu cigars, without tax, are cheap articles.
Tihey pimS are GSasSme by the masses ninety
dispensed with when the appetite is once
acquired and there are absolutely no substl-
tutes. Therefore, they are not luxuries in any
sense, and the Stdi knows IL.
The excise tax was invented by the monarch.
lists OF Europe to tax the poor for the benefit OF
the rich, and was imported to this country to
help pay the cost of the rebellion. But in Eu-
rope there is heavy income tax which strikes
the rich also, and there was here until tho Star
and other organs of the rich clamored for and
at last secured Its repeal. This tax struck the
Star Company and the rich generally, and
hence 1t must be repealed, but the informal
revenue upon the poor was retained. The star
says that the consumers OF whisky, beer, to-
bacco and cigars do not complain. Does Crosby
S. Noyes suppose that the consumers OF these
articles are generally fools? They were fool
tsll 10 acquire the appetite, and lay themselves
liable 20 be ouirageouSly taxed, with the thou
sand and one other evils of incompetence, but
even with this they yet have some sense. For
instance, they know that previous TO this tax,
whisky sold for 3 and cents per glass, or 6
cents per pint, which now sells mt 10 and 10
cents per glass, and 80 cents per pint. To-
Ol Ia nNs1 coll nt . &c
ounce now sells for >, and 10 cents per
ounce. Beer and cigars have Increased in
about the same ratio.
And the consumers also know that while the
tax is but small part of the Increase, this
enormous difference in price is put on by the
retail dealers, by reason of the tax, and under
It's cover. Let the tax be repealed and the
price would Instantly drop TO the old price.
For instance, 1t is Justly estimated by temper
ance advocates that full S1,000,000000, 81 or
one.third OF the $3,000,000,000 annual pro-
duet of the country, Is drunk down the throats
of men In whisky and beer, and spit out or
puffed out In tobacco and cigars. This Is
horrible, but 1t Is a fact. And yet OF this
81 900 100000 the Government will get this
year only about $780, 100000. Now IL the tax
was repealed, the consumers would not have
TO pay more than $500, 100000 for the ann ual
consumption, and would thus save S7O0,O0o,-
600 each year. Does the Sadr see 1t Docs
not the str see that this $700000000 an
nually tllched from the pockets of the masses,
who are generally poor, deprives them OF this
amount of food, clothing, shelter, fire and
other necessaries of life. And yet the informal
star says "they do not complain, that these
articles are luXuries, and nobody complains
but few manufacturers" What mean, con.
temptible fraud is the star.
Does not the star see, with all the other in
fernal organs and advocates Of this iufeEnal
tax, that II II was repealed the S700,0O0,0 ,000
annual 1llching through this tax would be
used by the me 5ses and the poor TO buy more
and better food, clothing, houses, fre, medi
cine for the sick and other absolute necessarles
OF life Has the Std1 and the lawmakers nc
bowels of compassion, no sympathy for the
poor and unfortunate The consumers OF
whisky, beer, tobacco and cigars are not all
criminalAthoughi intemperance makes most
of the crime; they are simply unfortunate in
having foolishly acquired the habit. This tax
is @ filching of the poor for the benefit
of the rich, the unfortunate for the bene
1T of the fortunate and n tax upon poverty In
place OF property. The fortunate anu rich
ought 10 be thankful that they have property
10 be taxed, and not put 1t upon the unfortu
nate and poor who have no property. But the
star says that "the consumers do notcomplain
and the tax Is upon luxuries." Now, suppose
that all the consumers OF these articles in this
city should conclude that the Star had been g
costly luxury for years; that all its sympathles
were with the rich and against the poor, and
they should dispense with It and take the
CRITIC, the organ OF the masses, as many arc
doing the star would then soon understand
the difference between luxury and a neces
sity.
The fact is that this Internal revenue tax Is
1mpoyerishiDg the masses In Europe aud
America. II is a burden too great % be borne
much longer. IL Is filling the two continents
with beggaf5, 1t causes fmpOyerlshment In
Europe and sends millions TO America with
but slight improvement here. 1t causes the
strikes, and ifnot repealed In both Europe and
America, will cause a bloody revolution. The
rich had better see to its repeal at once before
aworse calamity overtakes mankind. Does the
star see II? INTERNAL,
WashinptOn d. n lima oG 1880