Daily Republican., 1884-03-21
Why Your Taxes are 50 High.

why Your V0xeS are 50 Hlkn.
The taxes of taxpayers of New Castle
County are gradually increasing, and
the people are informed by the party in
power that the building of the new
county almshouse is the cause of it. |
Naturally, at first sight, the people be- |
lieve this report because they know that
such buildings cannot be built without
money, and they, as naturally, conclude
that they must contribute to build
them. This is honest, square dealing
on their part, but if they investigate
the subject a little closer they will find
that it is not so honest and square on
the part of the other party, who mis-
lead them by Misrepresentation. The
real cause for an increase in county
taxes is part of the political ma
chinery of the Democratic party to keep
Delaware under Democratic rule. 1t
may be matter of surprise to the hon
est taxpayers of New Castle County TO
know that they are compelled every
year to pay stipend of taxes for politi-
cal purposes, but they actually do it,
and if they will take time to investigate
the matter they can easily see how they
do it.
1t is a well-known fact that the pres
ent ass, sslnent laws and laws govern
ing the collection of the taxes are IL
series of political measures, made so for
the purpose of depriving Republicans
IF hai 1,Hy,, oil co.
them to get assessed by Democratic
assessors, and difficult for them to pay
their taxes after they are assessed to
Democratic tax collectors. Democratic
politicians come before the people, and
blandly tell them that the laws bear
equally upon all, and that if Republ-
cans do nol get assessed and pay their
taxes the fault is theirs.
There is no honesty whatever in these
specious pretences, and those who
make these tiippant assertions know
that they are deceving the people. Be
fore these laws were changed there
Were but few errors allowed by the
Levy Court. Tax collectors then were
compelled to call time after time upon
the poorest taxpayers, and gave them
no rest until they contributed their
quota of money, small though it was,
to bear the expenses of the county. If
these rules We're carried out now the
tax rate would be as low asst was when
everybody was compelled to pay their
taxes.
But the color'd people were cntran-
ChiSed. Some six thousand colored vo-
tiers under the amended constitution
were added to 'hc voting population of
the State. As IA matter of course, these
colored people, grateful for what the
Republican party had done for them,
adhered to that party. They would
have been very foolish, besides being
very ungratelul, had they not done so.
Such an addition to the Republican
ranks under ordinary circumstances,
would have made thar party invincible
for the time, but instead, it became a
source of weakness. Willard Sauls.
bury, then United States Senator, raised
the cry Of "a white man ; party" and
a Democratic Legislature came to the
assistance Of that party by passing the
present tax laws, never intended for
anything else than to render voting SO
difficult and unpleasant for colorcd vo-
tiers that thousands Of them would
annually be cheated ont Of their votes.
How such laws worked has been
practically illustrated through "A long
series Of years. Thousands Of voters
have been annually disfranchiscd, and
by such di>t'ranchiseuent the Demo
cratic party has been kept i'll power but
it is done al the expense of the people
of the county who own real estate and
taxable personal property and who are
additionally taxed to make up the de-
ticiency caused by the dislranchsement
of thousands Of cOlored and white Re
publcans. The county must have Just
50 much money, no matter whether il
is collected from many or few tax-pay-
ers. fall are made to pay prppor-
tiOnatc share then the taxes are light.
If one fourth or one-third of the people
are disfranchised for political purposes,
not disfranchised must make up the de-
fciency.
This, we think, is so perfectly plain
as to need no further illustration. IL il
said that there will be higher taxes this
year then last year, simply because
there are more disfranchised this year
than last year. The returns made by
the Collectors to the Levy Court show
alarming lists ofdelinquents who will
be deprived ola vote at the election
next November. These delnquents
have never been asked once to pay their
taxes. The shadow of a tax collector
has never once darkened their doors. Tho
County needs their taxes, but theDemo-
cratic party would be defeated if their
taxes were collected. In this dilemma
the Democrats choose rather the dis
franchSement Of these voters, and the
Crowding Of additional taxes upon tn"
property owners Of the county.
This is why taxes are growing more
oncrOuS every year. Is there an honest
Democrat, ont side Of politicians and Of
fee holders. who will dare say that the
picture We have drawn is too highly
cOlOrrd " Honest Democrats Of New
Castle County, ar" You in favor Of u
continuation of this state Of affairs If
you are, just keep on voting for Demo
Gratis and paying increased taxes, One
follows the other just rs surely as night
follows day.