The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-03-02
Foop FOR A LITTLE REFLECTION.

-
4 great deal of complaint has been
made in some quarters Of the State about
Democratic extravaganza, aud il may be
of some interest to compare this extrava-
gance with what may be termed Repub.
lican economy, using the term in Pick
wickian sense. The present tax levy by
the Democratic party for the State,
County aud School fund in Anderson
County is Q! mills. The tax levied for
these purposes by the Mackey House at
the time when it, was on its best behavior
was 10 mills. Now take of the County
tax, 3 mills, and the Constitutional
School tax, mills, and We have for State
purposes 10 mills under the Republicans
70. State purposes. Then take the Coun-
ty tax, q mills, and the Constitutional
School, tax, mills, from the Democratic
levy aud you have 42 mills for all State
purposes. Then it will Ec seen that the
Republicans required tax Of 10 mills to
run the departments of the State govern
ment which the Democrats only levy Al
mills TO run. Now this is less than half
the amount taken by the Republicans,
and the government is better admins
tered and more protection and encour-
agemcnt given to the people of the State
than was given by the Republicans. We
have had no Combahee or Cainhoy or
Ellenton riots, and the lives and proper
ty of our people have been given greater
protection and security. This is grand
record for any political party TO achieve
in six years OF administration, but under
the foregoing comparison all Of the ad-
vantages Of Democracy over Republican.
ism do not fully appear.
We have shown that the Republican
State tax was 10 mills, while the Demo.
cratic State tax is only Al mills. Now
it will be remembered that it takes a tax
Of 81 mills TO pay the interest on the
State debt. The Democrats did not cre-
ate this debt. 1t was largely the creation
of Republican frauds, and therefore the
responsibility for its existence rests on
the Republicans. 1t is charge upon
the State, and must be paid by any party
which may control tho State. Therefore
it should be taken Off Of both the Rcpub-
lican and the Democratic leyics. This
leaves 64 mills levied by the Republicans
to run all of the departments Of the
State government except the interest on
the public debt, and only l. mills levied
by the Democrats to run all Of the de-
partmcnts of the State government ex.
cert interest on the public debt. Then
comes the incontcstible fact that the Re.
publicans lowed and collected Gl mills to
run the very departments Of the State
government which the Democrats are
now running on II mills. Bring this to
a money basis and we will get better
idea of the amount involved. Under
Republican administration the asscss-
ment was higher than II is now, and
mill then raised about $l45,OOO, while
it only raises 100000 now. Therefore,
the Republican levy of 63 mills raised
$9+2,600, while the Democratic levy of
II mills only raises $4,000. Think Of
it then the Republicans required s702,-
500 year more in taxes from the people
to run the State government outside of
the interest on the public debt than The
Democrats did. We nre now saving by
Democratic government over three.quar-
ters Of million do ars every year by
Democratic government. If this is cx-
travagance, VIC think the people will ap-
prove extravaganza. or course, there
are grumblers who will try TO put them.
selves in power by criticising Democracy,
but letevery one bear IL in mind that the
defeat of the Democrats means n return
of the Republicans to power. Those
who wish % indulge the luxury Of pay
Ing such taxes as the Republicans col.
lected, instead of the taxes collected by
the Democrats, should help to break up
The Democratic party, but those who
want to retain good government should
continue their allegiance to the party
which has made the reforms we have
shown. These reforms by the Demo.
Gratis should certainly cause people to
hesitate u long time before they run off
after new gods,