Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-12-08

AN INTELLIGENT FARMERS WINS
ABOUT PAYING IN CoUPoNs.-Nr. George
Chrisman, one of the most intelligent and
progressive farmers of Rockingham county,
publishes sensible communication in the
last Spirit o the Valley on the vital ques-
ton Of the payment of taxes IN coupons,
from which we extract the concluding por-
ton as follows:-
SIT is certainly plain to every man that
if the revenue of the State is taken up with
coupons that the wheels of government
must stop, our charitable institutions and
public schools be closed, or eur taxes raised
to meet the deficiency caused by the pay
ment of interest in the shape of coupons.
alton without great suffering, for there is
nothing except the light of day. the air we
breathe, and the water we drink on which
we are not taxed now. The monopolies tax
US unjustly on our wheat, corn, oats eight
cents bushel and $25 per car on our live
stock; the politicians and office holders
twice as much for their support as we ought
to be taxed, and the general government
still keeps up her same rate Of taxes on us
that she did in the flush times after the war,
when we got two dollars for our wheat,
ten cents live weight for pork, seven, eight,
and nine cents for beef, and it takes all the
money she does not need and locks it up in
the vaults Of the Treasury, thus every year
curtailing the circulating medium Of the
country and making money closer and
| tighter. Under these circumstances can
the farmers for very slight present gain
afford to do anything that will open up this
whole debt question? It has been settled
by tho Riddleberger Bill SO far as we are
concerned and agreed to by all parties,
Bourbon Funders, Readjusters, Democrats,
and Republicans, and let US all stand by it
like men. 1t is the only way see through
this trouble, and greatly fear, my brother
farmers, it will be sad day to us II We
permit the present settlement Of the debt
to be set aside. If we do our taxes must
be greatly increased, for we are rs per cent,
of the populations and must bear the bur-
then. We have always let the other % per
cent, the nom producing class-rule us as
they chose, and judging the future by the
past we will continue to do it. We are sat-
isf1ed with the present settlement. Only
the bond-holders and few ousted politi-
clans and party leaders who want to get
back and few who have not been in and
want to get there and who are assisting the
bondholders that are dissatisfied. Shall we
let these gentlemen unsettle this debt ques.
ton and have our land torn to pieces again
by political issues and more taxes laid upon
us, Just that the bondholders may have
greater power to Cypress us, and that these
; political aspirants may have new issues to
ride into Office on? I tell you that the
whole question for US to decide is are we
willing to give the bondholders the oppor-
tunity to fleece more money out of us that
these clever party leaders may have new is
sues to ride into office on? Who is it that
is flooding the country with these PROPOSE.
lions of the bondholders to us to pay on,
taxes in coupons? Is it not the men who
/ expect to be their paid attorneys and the
part;zan leaders? Are they doing this fo1
the taxpayers interests or their own? My
J farmer brethren, you better keep the sand
out Of your eyes and look we'll at what you
are doing before you pay your taxes in cou
pons. Whenever see man whose inter
est it is to fleece me being so exceedingly
anxious about my interests and taking sc
much trouble to protect me, as the bond.
holders are doing for US just now, always
look out for cat in the meal bag; and il
we pay out taxes in coupons and thus open
up this debt settlement he will surely jump
out before we get to the bottom of the sacl
and scratch US sorely.
The time at which the bond holders have
sown their circulars broadcast over our lane
is sure sign that they are trying to dupt
the taxpayers before they can investigate
the matter. Farmers, beware, beware O.
the coupons. GEORGE CHRIsMAN."