Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-03-24
COMMUNICATED.

TsSTMENT-THE WANT OF 1T RUiNooe
THE PROSPERITY, HAPPINESS AND LiDh''
TIES OF FREE PEOPLE.
inequality of taxation, by the result Oh
sad experience we are taught, ehriehes
1be few while it paralyzes the industry OF
the many, and by almost imperceptlpie
GEORGES makes every kind Of labor triou-
tarv TO the wealth OF those whose hanps
are like the lily, and never knew soiiins'
our own State and our own people are
now an illustrious example OF the ABUSE
of this power; 1 mean the laborins' 'ne
mechanical, and the agricultural Glasses,
and the latter, of all others, the victims Oh
tho chief burden. "Tbe ruin or the pros
perity of a State depends SO much upon
the administration of its government th"'
to be acquainted with the merits Oh us
rulers we need only observe the condllon
Of the people. If we see them ooedent
to the laws, prosperous in their industry
united at home and respected abroad, we
NAV reasonably presume that their ahairs
are conducted by men of experience aDii-
;tv and virtue. If, ON the contrary, We
zee universal spirit Of distrust and dis
satisfaction, rapid decay OF trade, ais-
sension in all parts of the country, anu
total want of respect in the eyes OF foreign
powers, we may pronounce without hesi-
tation that the government Of that country
is weak, distracted and corrupt" How
far this quotation applies to the present
unhappy condition Of the great majority
of the oppressed laboring, mechanical ana
agricultural classes of our country, Will
leave to the unbiased Judgment OF those
who can reason with understanding and
decide without prejudice. Does not the
present condition of the people OF this
country call for some check or restraint
upon our government, both State ana
Federal? In our State government, as 70
the equal distribution of the burden OF
taxation, and in the Federal government
as to the enormous amount Of money an
nually extorted from labor in the way oil
internal revenue and oppressive duties
imposed on articles consumed principally
by the poorer classes. Is it not noto-
rious fact that great amount OF the
money wrung from the hard earnings OF
the people has been diverted from its
proper channel and dissipated and squan-
dered in corrupting the representatives
and servants of the people? If any doubt
should be entertained upon this point, let
the trials now in progress in the federal
courts for frauds i'll the Post Office De-
partment, to say nothing of the wretched
and profligate squanGering in the Navy
and other departments, attest the truth OF
this allegation. Is not the very few labor
strikes and riots in the country, under
such aggravating extortion and oppres-
sion, with the bold and shameless efiront-
cry with which the funds so extorted
have been misappled, striking example
of the yirtuous forbearance of truly pa
triotic and law-abiding people? But
there is point at which forbearance
ceases to be virtue. Have we not already
arrived at that point, or shall we re-
main inactive until the Jloated natobs
of the country, the Incorporated monop-
olies. and the favored swells Of the gov
eminent have bound US hand and foot;
until they seize what little yet remains OF
the popular liberty and the public domain,
and until they have made the people
slaves to the will Of a centralized govern
ment? "Both liberty and property are
precarioIs, unless their posscssors have
sense and spirit enough to defend them"
| The only way to correct this evil is for
the people in every precinct of the coun-
! ty, and in every county of the State, and
in every State of the Union, in which
labor and industry is respected, to hold
FREQUENT and repeated public meet
ings; to calmly and dispassionately
discuss and to expose TO the pop
ular gaze the gross abuses under
which we have so long Travelled and SO
patiently endured. Will the people apply
the remedy and remove the evil? Let us
begin by endeavoring to correct the long
continued abuse in our own State, grow
ing out Of an oppressive system of in
equality Of taxation which has reduced
labor almost to pauperism, and aSricul.
ture to 4 mere subsistence, while those
who have thus far escaped all equal share
of the burden of taxation and support Of
the government that protects them are
becoming wealthy from the products Of
the labor they have SO long oppressed
Jefferson County, with all the natural adj
vantages for agriculture that heaven in
the profusion Of her bounty could shower
upon that much territory, with an intel
ligent, economical and an industrious
population-her annual products cqualing
if not surprising that Of an equal area Of
any other county or State-has the morti-
ficatiol. to-day Of presenting to the world
the humiliating spectacle of her citizens
growing poorer day by day under the
! present administration of her govern
ment. All have right to inquire into
this unhappy condition of the people.
Every individual, no matter how humble
J in the walks Of life, has an equal inherit
ance in the constitution and the laws Of
his country with the proudest magnate,
and az lie is equally called upon to lend
generous contribution in support Of them,
he has an equal claim to their projection,
and should demand it. -f
Has our failure to require equality in
taxation anything to do with the present