The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-07-06

threshing machine in the Country. All
these contribute SO the convenience and
wealth of the communities in which they are
operated, in as great a degree in proportion
to the amount invested as do the special
pets of our legislature. IF exemptions are
to be made for the sake of encouraging in.
vestments in useful enterprises, for the
reason that such enterprises increase
the value of property, where would
they stop Would We not be forced BY
such o precedent as this to exempt every
man's laud upon which good good house
was built, or new ground cleared, or q
worn out field reclaimed Where would
exemptions end ? Who would pay the
taxes? From such premise the eonclu-
sion is :ccssarily absurd
1t is cl.ss legislation\ To say that in
vcstmcnts in these enterprises mey be made
by anybody, the poor as we'll rs the rich,
does not avoid the charge, for whoovo does
invest in them, whether rich OF poor, be-
comes at once one of tho favored class, and
the balance of the people, whether rich or
poor, are compelled to pay their taxes. 1t
would be just as reasonable and as lcg,l
and we think as wise, if the Legislature
would exempt from taxation the land of
every farmer who increases the value OF
his farm by skill and industry, or the
property of every man who builds new gin
house, or new mill. Why discriminate in
favor Of cotton, iron, woolen aud paper fac
tories ? Whence their royal right to exclu.
sve privileges aud peculiar protection
do not wish to be understood as oppos-
ing the establishment of cotton, or other
manufactures. l believe they are Of ines.
timable benefit to the country, and would
so as far as any one to promote their
prosperity, either by individual effort, or
by Legitimate constitutional legislation, but
| Can sec no reason why the Legislature
sho aid protect an already prosperous class
at the expcns, IF those who have not tho
means or the opportunity of making such
investments.
The democratic party are pledged to op-
pose protective tariff. The argument is
that such tariff builds up the fortunes
of the few at the expense of the mary. 1t
is an unjust discrimination in favor of a
few manufacturers, and against the great
mass of consumers who uHst pay the pro-
teclive duty, In what does the act in
question differ from protective tariff? The
people pay the taxes which these corpora
tons are exempt from aging. In fact this
law operates as au additional protection tc
the tariff established by the United States
so that South Carolina manufacturer o!
cotton, iron, or paper, may congratulate
himself that he is the favorite of both the
State and National governments, and of
both the great political parties. The re-
publcans protectect him at Washington and
the Democrats at Columbia.
If mistake not the signs Of the times, the
people arc beginning to understand their
rights in these matters. They have been
made the subjects of Legislative oppression
long enough and bclive will soon demand
the repeal Of this and every other law
which pampers a moueyed power, from the
hard earnings Of the honest laborer. l have
no objection to the accumulation Of capital
to any extent, by fair and legitimate means,
but it becomes dangerous when acquir-
cd at the expense Of others. or when used
for purposes of oppression.
1t can never be right, in free country,
where each individual is entitled to equal
rights and privileges, TO SO lcgisate that one
is required to bear the burdens of another
1t can never be right to openly violate, or
cunningly cvade the fundamental principles
Of republican government, as declared in
the constitution for the sake of temporary
expcdlcncy. Let us stick to the old con-
stitutional landmark. Every departure
is dangcrous.-EDN III. BoBo, in he
Spartan.
THOROUGH VENTILATI ON-Ifit is essen
tlal that court houses, school houses and
o. her public buildings be thoroughly ven.
tilated, how much more important that our
dwelling houses should have perfect and
thOrouU oh yentilntinn