Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-05-03

according to their pleasure, and plum.
der it for their profit, ought to be i'm.
mediately checked, that the oxtorton
of unreasonable tolls, taxes and freights
by railroad companies, and the grossly
unjust determinations between parties
whose rights are exactly equal, have
never been authorized by any law, are
now expressly forbidden by the consti'
tuition, and therefore, should be eiIectu.
ally stopped that the seventeenth arti.
cle Of the constitution being designed
merely TO make the railroad corpora.
tions honest, and hold them like other
public servants to the performance OF
their plain duty, it should be enforced
and carried into full effect, and that the
wilful failure of the legislature, or mem.
bers thereof, to enforce the constitution
by appropriate legislation, is direct
breach of their oaths, and ineTcusabIe
on the score Of common morality
3. The relations between capital and
labor are at present more unsatisfactory
than ever before on this subject also,
we have occasion to honor the wisdom
and integrity Of our governor. If hi,
recommendations were properly second.
ed, every laborcr would be assured Of
fair days wages for fair days work,
and his right thereto would be legally
enforceable without the necessity of
sudden and irregular strikes, which in
jure him as well rs hi, employer, and
endanEer the peace OF the country at
the same time.
T. our present system Of taxation for
state, county and school purposes, is
grossly unjust because il is grossly IN.
equal in its operation. Land and labor
pay the great bulk Of the public taxes
while capital invested in other pursuits
much more productive il almost entire.
" exempt The democratic idea of
GOV. Patti-on- admnistratjon would
make al classes equal, relieve the farm
cr- Of unjust burdens and impose only
a fair share on other.
3. APPRECIATION or blame Of our rep.
rc'cntatiyes in the Legislature would be
promaturcat this period Of their session.
But he who fears to put the curb on
corporate rapacity he who willingly
sees labor oppressed and starved or. he
who refuses to cqualizc taxation can
hardly expect TO be counted among the
faithful. lie that is not for us is against
us.
6. We are able to congratulate our
fellow citizens OF al political parties on
the near prospect Of reform in the M.
tioral government. The existing al.
ministration-lh oifspring Of accident,
and the heir Of fraud--can rally no
formidable force to oppose the march Of
liberty and Justice. The di.cordaut
material Of Its body, not loss than It's
weak and incompetent head make i,s
early dissolution a natural necessity
and with it will perish the power OF the
greedy rings that have robbed us Of our
public domain, pluudercd our treasury
and cheated us out of our votes.
+. The fundamental principle Of a
true democracy Is expressed in the
Jeiiersoniau maxim Equal aud cxa ct
Justice to MI men special fayors to
none and this mus, bc especially
observed in the exercise of the taxing
power, not only in the stalc,,but the
nation. We demand, therefore. the
repeal Of the internal taxes ne being
unnecessary, oppressive, injurious to
particular rlasses, end attended with
corruption. We are in favor Of taxing
foreign imp orts, for the purpose author
lzed by the constitution, namely: to
raise revenue sufficient for the lec.tj-
mate needs of the treasury, with Incl
dental protection, encouragement and
reward, equal and just, to nlI classes OF
men, and all kinds of lawful business.
including manu- !aclurcz, agriculture and
commerce in all their branches.