The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-08-10

lengthy article advises all honest voters TO
bolt the nomination Of every person who
has refused to give in bis tax list under the
new tax law We quote below some OF the
reasons given by the Herald but dc not
quite like ito conclusions, These reasons,
ia our judgement, are strong enough to
warrant the refusal 10 nominate such a
man for legislative Office, but II, after
knowing the facts in the case majority of
the people think II best TO nominate him
then according TO the principal that ma
jorities should rule We see no valid reason
why such man should be bolted. We
think the new tax law is a good one and
would be IN favor Of electing senators and
representatives who will support it, but If
majority Of the people in this town or
country think differently we can stand it,
especially since it is evident that very
large majority IN the next Legislature will
be in favor OF continuing the law with,
perhaps, a few needed alterations. II also
happens that not every man who neglects
or refuses TO give in his tax list is tax
dodger. His circumstances may be such
that he chooses to have his list doubled
rather than to give all the information cal.
led for although his taxes may be greatly
Increased by the means. The law is
necessarily very strict in regard to giving
information and making such returns
may sometimes be greatly detrimental to
the individual In such cases We do not
see wherein the individual should be
blamed for his refusal or neglect, proved
ed he actually pays taxes on enough to
cover bis property.
We quote from the HerdlFs article: Le-
bally man can disobey the tax law and
be taxed on double the value Of his visible
property, but morally he is no more re-
spectacle than If he broke any other law
aud submitted to the penalty. The law
SAYS you must not sweep the lake OF its
fish with nets aud other illegal contriv-
ances; that il you do, and are detected,
/ Won shall be punished by the loss of your
fishing gear and by the imposition of q fine
for every fish illegally captured. Suppose
you fluid you can catch SO many fish and
dispose OF them so quickly at large pro.
tit that your annual losses by fines and
/ confiscated fishing gear represent but
small fraction of your profits, are You moi
still as contemplate and disreputable o
citizen as successful smuggler or any
other creature that finds out that disobedi
ence TO the laws shows handsome margin
Of profit Morally there is no difference
between defiance aud disobedience OF the
tax law aud discrediting by your contum
: acious action any other law OF the State
b You eau 20 to the courts and test the con
, rtitutional validity Of the law, II yor
doubt it, or you can 60 before the Legs
lnture and plead for its repeal or reform
: hut Won cannot IN moral honor defy ano
i ,lisobey the law and then claim that be
A cause Won have elected TO suffer the penal
/. ~ OF non. compliance YOU are AZ uprigh
an, iightoncd citlztn as your neighbo
Who sWore IN his full list. lon might a
well ask the world to admire aud trust yol
!, because, not liking the law against uSnf.
!, you dlrnbey il aud WAS mnlctsd without
murmur When caught, simply becans
= your illegal losses through penalty an'
forfeiture No mau who discredlis la.
* ls open disobedience and defiance Is II
d person morally with whom to trust th
I. respousibilii, oflrpislet on for the creates
IN good OF the grea;e.t number. No man =
d. sordd and selfish As 10 feel no moral prid
I. ia his good example as a Law abiding clt
u 1en can be impartial legislator. Suril
y lBan cuuld not refrain, II elected to u
Il, Legislature from unfairly seeking to ema'
y enlate the tax Law under the cunning pre-
~ teuce Of adding TO is efficiency or perfect
Z. lag is expression. Men sho discredii III
ne tax law by open disntrdience, have
G business ii tide Legislature dis year, an
Il. We hope there will be pluck enough anon
the people Of both parties to unite IN q
effort TO defeat all lax law delinquents VII
a have secured OF may vet secure legislaiis
nominations EVENT. party lines have TO !
obliieraied to secure their defeat. ~
- honest Republicans aud Democrats po'
y ~ i.sHcs on this point and scratch,
!. .'cul aud bolt all candidates OF this XII
ney. /, is sound public morals TO rehI
.nch buflesques on good citizenship an
y il is sound public policy not to send "a
81 dodgers TO the Legislature to tinker u
4 tai Law