The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-16
"The InfernaI-Revenue Laws


"The InfernaI-Revenue Laws
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The longer we live the more convinced
we are that the northern people are the
smartest folks on the face OF the earth-sO
far as money is concerned. They do love
muchly for the South and West to produce
the stuff which is exported (lnd has been
since the wary that brings real good money
to the United States. But for such eXpor-
tations no man can tell when the Govern
ment OF the United States could have ever
returned to 4 specie basis. There would
have been without such prOductS) next to
nothing TO have prevented the gold and sill
yer in the country from being shipped
to pay for goods purchased abroad.
How long, think you, that the shipping Of
gold and silver TO England and Europe
from the United States to pay for imports
could have gone on without knocking the
United States currency rs high as kite {;
and what, then, would have been the state
OF things in the North and East: Things
are tending day by day to further enrich
the North and East, and especially to add
/ to the already Over0rown wealth OF her rich
men. Just see how smart such men arc in
saddling on the comparative poor OF the
country an undue amount OF taxation
to support the Government. Take as
an illustration the internal.revenue taxes
on whiskey and tobacco-articles which, it
is well known, are consumed mainly by the
comparatively poor. Right or wrong, men
are found everywhere who, in spite OF the
teachings of NJ. DIS and ID. DIS, will
drink some sort Of liquor. Now, is there
any sort OF fairness i'm making poor man
pay towards supporting the Government
90 cents per gallon tax on whiskey, which
without such tax could be bought for 30
cents by the single gallon? Is 1t fair to
make still poorer man pay cents per
/ pound tax on the meaneSt Virginia (Or
westerly tobacco that can be put up!
| To such a man smoke or chew
| is oitentimes not only comfort, but to
him an absolute necessity. To enable
some men to take about three smokes or
some half-dozen chews day. they will 20
without full meal to accomplish that pur-
pose. Is it possible that rich men think it
is all right in them TO indulge freely in fine
wines and smoke Ito an Unlimited eXtent)
the finest brands OF Havana cigars. and yet
poor man ought not to be permitted to
indulge in a dram OF common whiskey and
Il smoke Of very common tobacco Goth OF
which he enjoys as much rs the rich enjoy
their fine wines and cIgars), unless he pays
the United States Government most out
rageous tax for the privilege? No doubt
some people wonder why those who do
drink whiskeY and chew and smoke to-
bacco 1.-THE growth OF Virginia or Ken
tucky), constituting, as they do, such vast
number OF the voters of the United States,
al, Nl,ot Il
the reason why the northern and eastern
States are so bent on keeping up the high
tax on the two articles named, we will try
and explain. 1t has become apparent
for years back that money has more to do
with the passing of laws by Congress than
right or justice that the common people,
having no organization nor any money to
pay lobbyists to bride congressman, that
they in some sections have concluded it
useless to agitate and demand Just reform.
Some OF our politicians seem to think the
best way to keep down the agitation OF
matters greatly affecting the interests OF
our own working people is to get such
people greatly interested in agitatng mat
tiers connected with the condition OF the
people of Ireland. 1t may be by doing
that they keep our laboring people in some
sections SO occupied with the injustice that
Ireland Git may beg has to submit to that
they lose sight OF the Injustice they them
selves are submitting to from day to day.
| OF course that is Il game eminently salts
factory to the rich people OF the North,
who are con.ented when they see the South
and West furnishing from year to yeal
the basis on which our present cur
rency is sustained. and when they also
see that it is perfectly plain that
under our present internal-reyeuue laws
the comparatively poor men OF the coun'
try are paying an undue portion OF the
taxes to support the Government OF the
United States. No man OF sense who has
| any regard for truth will, we think. deny
the fact that the rich of the United States
don't begin to pay, in proportion to theiI
wealth, anything like the amount OF taxes
to support the Government that laboring-
men do. Ought this state OF things ia
: continue! For years back the wealth IN
many northern and eastern States has con-
trolled legislation in such States, and con-
trollcd il. too, so as to shift the paying OF O
just portion OF taxes TO support the Gov
ernment from the shoulders OF its ricl
men and 10 put an undue portion on Tho
comparatively poor men throughout the
1T ltNtuuC law ~ Out vi ths
! laws which does this very thing, and hence
, it Is useless to look for much help from
those sections Of country TO have that in
7 famous Eyes, that is the world law repealed
J The tendency OF the Government ever since
the war has been to build up monopolists
, and so Of course 70 build. up moneyet
aristocracy. This is glaringly shown in The
, workings OF the internalreyenue laws
To keep down competition you find thu
: large, rich manufacturers Of tobacco (pu
up to be sold IN the United States) and The
, large undergraduates OF the countr,
! oftentimes fayoring the present unjust ta'
: on tobacco and wniskey. The law keep
, ont poor men from entering into the bust
: ness and so keeps down eompetitlon-th
I thing our present rich manufacturers gene
! rally like. How long the great bulk OF tn
people win stand by and permit such legis
} lation to remain (when il Is apparent 4
them thai by the free use Of money monopo
lists can get almost any sort Of bill passe'