The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-08-02
NUMBER 81

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interests too often in disregard Of the riohts
and interests of the people. Ii has under the
false plea OF protecting American labor. taxed
/ ali industries 10 secure enormous gains for
/ ltseH. Il mas, Tor the purposes Of speculation.
depressed or enhanced prices at its will II
has controlled elections, debating who shall
sit IN the high places of public trust II owns
and controls influential newspapers Ii has
the ablest and most distinguished advocates 10
plead It's cause before the Committees of Con.
gress and the State Legislatures, and exercises
large influence on Legislation, both State aud
| National IL has forgotten that being the
creature of society and owing its safety and
preservation TO Government il is a servant
and not a master.
/ The American people mean TO protect and
secure capital as a necessary element Of pro-
/ gress and even of civilization, but they reject
| its pretensions to domination. They do not
mean that this shall be q nation OF lordly
millionaires and servile and obedient paupers.
They mean to encourage labor, SKILL and en-
terprIse by securing 10 every one his own gains
whether coming from his own exertions or
those of his ancestors; but they mean also
| that every citizen in this broad land shall
have the fair opportunity by his own eXer-
tions of securing such share of the worlds
goods as NAV be necessary for his comfortable
existence. They mean that the blessings of
government, its fostering care and protection
shall come to all equally. They mean that the
burdens of government shall also be borne by
all equally; that the rich shall have their
wealth as the result of legitimate enterprise
and labor not by governmental donations or
tavors, and that the poor shall be poor from
their own fault or misfortunes, and not from
governmental exactions. Whoever shall seek
for more than this will be resisted and de-
stroyed; whoever is content to receive less
has sold his birthright and already forfeited
his title 10 American citizenship
This bill seems TO have been expressly
framed in tie interest of capital and against
the interest of the great mass of our people.
The taxes 1t proposes to repeal are in the
main taxes on capital. 1t relieves banks and
those who have money to deposit in banks, I
1t relieves men who have patented for their l
own profit, or keep a secret from the world /
remedies or pretended remedies for sickness 1
and disease, speculators in the misfortunes /
and ills of the human race. 1t relieves the fops .
and coxcombs of society whose delicate and es-
thetic natures are shocked if bu. plain labor
er shall come between the wind and their no
biHty, by furnishing them free of tax the la
vendors, perfumes and cosmetics, the use of
which is at once the sign, the cause, and the
effect OF the decay of a vigorous manhood.
The only boon held out to the laborer is the
repeal of the tax on lucifer Matches tax so
small SO inappreciable in its effect on prices
as to be incapable of expression in any coin in
use IN this country, as was well shown the
)ther day by theSenator from Delaware 1Mr
3ayard.l have wondered, sir, why this tax
vas disturbed. As was demonstrated by the [
senator from Delaware, there is no economic or
inaucial reason for its repeal, and so far as /
IAN see there IS no reason connected with hu-
nan affairs, none pertaining to the interests of
his world, which could have inspired it. ]
Possibly it may be that the true reason was :
lrovident wish to hasten the entire consump- !
ion aud destruction of sulphur, a materi6l {
opposed by some TO have an important agency c
n the world TO come in making uncomfortable .
hose who have oppressed or plundered the .
'oor in this. /
The bill gives no relief to the farmers or to !
he laborers of the country. On the contrary,
t increases their already too heavy burdens. /
The title OF the bill IAN Act to reduce inter. e
al taxes, is a sham and a false pretense in I
very thing except in its relief from lust taxa /
on of those most able to bear it, while leaving u
Il others TO that lOng-delayed and contin. g
ent relief to come if ii ever comes, in the re-
tote hereafter, when no one shall have an in .
crest in further opposing it.
Mr.. President shall vote against this bill L
) it passed the House, ana as amended by the Il
)mmittee of the Senate. | see in it a favor .
ism and subservience to capital and a disre- "
ard and contempt of all other interests. We W
e promised relief 10 other interests here q
terG but. sir, | am not willing to accent >.
'omses of relief for the farmers and laborers y
the country in exchange for the performance u
ade in behalf of the fav0rites of this bill We al
e told, sir it is too late in the session TO 90 I
to the investigation and discussion necessary =
is bill. .;
Sir, if it be necessary, in order to do the pub IL
business, in order to pass q measure which a.
all do equal justice to all the great interests u
this country, let the session be prolonged un- SO
December. 1 am unwilling to go home and h,
aet my constituents with the plea that my 4:
Sc or convenience or privateafairs prevented IL
: from enacting laws necessary for their til
slfare and prosperity. Besides, sir, the peo- 10
e are not responsible for the introduction of =,
is bill at this late day. 1t is fault or 81
ther the fault of the House of Representatives W
at this bill has not been sent here earlier. I'll
G are not at liberty by any rule known to me
plead our own negligence, our want of fidelity ,
the high trusts imposed on us in excuse for he
urther and premeditated derelictio of duty. w
le people viii accept no such excuse, and n
ey ought not to aeceptit.
Mr. President, l have another serious OBJ Kf
tion TO the passage of this bill in its present he
ape The bill is so manifestly in the inter A
IS OF the money power of the country thatits
ssage by the American Congress will tend m
eatly to increase the antagOnism between
)or and capital and to encourage a spirit of IN
as the only remedy for oppressed y
Dor think the antagonism is too great now nj
ear sir it threatens serious danger in the he
ar future. -
Dur free institutions are based upon the ~
cory of the equality of all citizens before the m
Y. equality in civil and political privileges, is
IalitY in the burdens and benefactions of ON
VerTment This equality, as the American a.
ople understand II and mean to have ii un- III
rs.ood and acted on by their servants, must lie;
actual, not theoretical merely-a living I'm
ing, operating principle, originating, guild -.
:, and controlling all legislation and all I'
Vernmental action. 1t recognizes inequali-
5 in the conditions of men arising from
Ference in natural endowments, in the en-
,ies, in the activities and self f-denial of
n. 1t does not ignore that the gifts of for
le are frequently but the acquisition of
1erior ability, greater exertions and more
npleto self-denial and that the misfortunes tic
life are too often traceable to the faults or
stakes ofthe unfortunate. But sir, it re-
res so far as the action ofgovernment is con- VIC
ned that every citizen shall be treated ex-
iy alike that every one shall be secured in
fair and equal opportunity to work out his fol
n destiny, to gain for himself that compe-
ce and independence necessary for his
1piness. oo
he best security for capital, therefore, in a oo
e country having universal suffrage, is
that just and fair operation Of the laws by -
ich the great mass Of the people shall either "
ssess or have the fair opportunity of possess
g for themselves by their own exertions so
eh of capital as may be necessary to make We
comfortable and to furnish security against
Mt in old age. Whoever is thus situated is
'essarily friend Of property. Commun- Of
is not natural sentiment; il is the out
with bf unjust and unequal laws. By ma
6 every human being is endowed with that mn
fshness which makes him desire to be the
ner Of property himself-to be its master
controller even as against his own chill 49,
n. CT
'rcpeFty Is not only Comfort and independ-
e, bat it is power. Men love all these
noe, sir, the strong conservative force no
lch protects property even when possessed
used in the most Objectionable and offen-
e manner. ne
iut, sir, the contrary results from opposite
misses. Let the great mass of the peOpls be
hout property and without hope of obtain on
property; let them be without comfort in
ir homes, and without homes even. except
miserable lodgings Of the poor +, for
great cities; let their utmost exertions ~
expended in procuring a scanty
mean subsistence let them he with
nope Of bettering their condition and du
hout aspirations for themselves or their I
dren; let them sees sir. that their unhappy
may be attributed to the injustice Of their vel
ernment-you then have, sir, the condi. !
IS which produce communism.
he wretohed victims Of such a state of tel
irs embrace despairingly their inevitable
N. They feel no interest in society which
5 treats them. They compare their miser- mil
condition with The more happy lot Of the
perty-boldeT and seek-nadly it may be, I
they nevertheless seek-an aIleyiation Of H.