The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-07-13
For the Times.
r. r. Subscription VS.. Democracy.

Will nave learned the result OF an election heio
in Goudeysvillo township, for Subscription, or
no subscription to the U. g. & II. railroad. L
nm n private citizen, Mr.. Editor, with no aspi
rations TO Office, politics, or Iotoricty. Ny
greatest ambition has been tv peacefully follcw
my vocation, chcerfully contribute my tithes,
and merit the confidence aud respect of my
neighbors and parry leaders. plead guilty. to
my share Of the "ignorance" attributed to this
section, and ask yonr f,roearance, Us nm some
what removed frJn ''railroads' or ..centers''
distributing !inowledge. have always voted
with the democ ats, believing that party was
honest in its intentions and right in principle,
but have been impressed with the striking
| similarity of the creeds and claims, between the
democratic party and the republican party.
Viewed from their different plato. ms they arc
very nearly the same. The most characteristic
and distinguishing feature between the two par
ties exists, conceive, on this very subject Of
taxation. The one party (Iep.) unhesitatngly
| levying duties and imposts tor the benefit of the
majority the other party (Dem. ever jealous
of the rights of minorties and even individuals,
lis opposed to taxation for the benefit of ma.
joritics, corporations, in lvdual enterprises or
o'hcr purposes, eNceptHS III u moucrate ueSree
! only, fer tho purposes of good government
Now, we have been to the polls We heard
the shoddy arguments of the advocates for sub
script:on. We bore with the Insulting cant
| and rcproach of some of the emissnres for
| their cause. We saw scenes that recalled those
enacted in the days of GS and 70, by the .dril,
masters and "trickstcrs' Of the radical party
We thought we knew many of the advocates for
the road We asked ourself, are not some of these
the standard bearers the democratic ranks,
lisutenantI in our ''cubs ?" Yes, and there
are others WHOM. we have been taught to rever-
ence us the '.chief priests who conduct the
service in the democratic temple. What does
this mean We are astonisked. We are con-
fused, and we have been trying to reflect.
"Let me have word with you my colored
friend" said one. "vote my ticket for subscrip-
tion. Railroads, you krow, make things lively.
You can then get dollar a day for work. As to
the taxes, why that all comes off the land holder
watermelon will pay oil you will be taxed on
it. Here take this ticket and put il in. Don't
| let 'e!n say anything to you. They are only
| afraid they wrn'. get their lands worked" We
| should have called that dcluded mans attention
| TO the back of his ticket. Like our tax receipts
| palcly, but it will become quito legiblc before
| sixteen years. Yet, with good light and close
| scrutiny, We can make il out. 1t reads: The
laboring pays this taxi" Yes. if the land
| owners broad acres are not titled he cannot
have thewhere wtiall to pay. Ie does not
raise single product, not even "a watermel"n,'
| from which he realizes dime to pay anything
| lie will say to the laborer: Il had hoped |
| could offer you better inducements in rents this
| year, but my guano and provision bill must be
paid. and taxes are high, especially on those rail
roads, They do me no good but onlthe contrary
| they have advanced the assessed valuation for
tax ON my land from So to $40 per acre. You
must work hard and live sparingly. | can give
TO orders to stores or elsewhere. will try to
| furnish you the hare necessaries of life but
comforts are not to be thought Of Now by
collnsion with his provision merchant, or by
| "time prices" the landlord charges up n big per
cent. TO pay taxes with. On settlement day
The tenant hears the stcreotyped expression
| "Oh you have come out behind | tried to hold
you back, but your meat and bread over runs
your crop.
Discouraged, defrauded and despiscd, he
| takes advantage of the ..free homes and trans.
porintion" offered emigran,s to go West, by
| those landed X. IL. corporations. lie jumps on
board the pet hobby of his damnaton and gets
his first and last free ride. He is transferred
| hence, to spend the remainder of his miserable
| life, eking out scanty subsistence, and produ-
cling ma, erials that 60 somewhere to pay the
cOnn,ry's taxes.
S25 ,0O0subscribed by Goudeysville township :.
That sounds like progress Let US look at
| that n little. How is this subscription made
available? 1t is IN order, we mny say, from
the legislature or State on Q, b, c, d, ETC., her
tax payers, saying, pay to the holders of the
bonds attached to this order S25, 600, with in
terest. in sixteen to % years, whereupou, our
taxes to that extent shall be abated." Now;
these bonds or coupons, may represent each
| 500 or $500, or other value. may be agreed
/ upon, which are called stock or shares. These
| will be put upon the market ut home or abroad
| and capitalists asked to bid, and give us what
ready money they will that we may commence
work on our road. Now what do you think a
moneyed man wonld risk for that kidd of scrip,
| with its wait for ever payments, when H. is fur.
ther impaird by the standing threat and expec.
| tation that the court Will some day declare the
act invalid and unconstitutional? Will he take
them at a discount Of so per cent? We hazard
| the opinion tha: 33 cents for dollar would be
n fair average. This would realize to the rond
about $4,000 That won't build much Will
| thcse who want il and who will be most beno-
fitted by it, put their hands in their pockets and
pay what is needed. Not much. They have
| the privilege and power TO levy more tax, and
will do it rather than lose what has been cxpen-
| ded
We know nothing of the progress or prcten-
| sions Of this Ashevile road, on which we have
been paying taxes. We have not, however,
gotten our "chickens. eggs and butter, fresh
| from the mountains for breakfast" nor has our
Mule had a feed Of that "cheap corn" Please
inform us, Mr.. Editor, why it is that that road
is not completed and by oil means tell where
and by whom our country bonds for subscription
| to that road are held and what was realized
! on the dollar for the same.
We believe the charter granting power TO the
| U. G. G. s. Il. railroad Co., to take stock by
county or township subscription, is based on
some act passed by the radical ia'O ,aakers and
left on the statutes, which ought to have been
| raDealpl this Wc cannot think damn-