The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-01-28
MEMPHIS APPEAL.
THURSDAY, JANUARY rs, 1856.
rAx.pAYERs AND rAx.EATKRs.

LAO va 0StW0oA eofAseA eAAN AeSSe
grows in magnitude with each sue.
ceeding day. Capital, armed and
equipped, moves steadily on in its az
gressions and expressions. Labor is
organizing for the fight, and soon two
hostile armies win be confronting
each other, animated by as much
hate as once lsubsisted between the
North and South. Terrible will be the
conflict, for starving labor will fight
with the desperation Of despair and
capital is intrenched behind breast
works which. can only be taken by
storm, This conflict threatens the
permanency OF our institutions. But
the patriot and the philanthropist
does not despair Of the republic. The
statesmanship which has guided the
ship Of state through 30 many tenn
pestuous seas will surely.prove itself
adequate 10 the task Of adjusting the
difficulties between the hostile forces.
The war between capital and labor has
been supplemented by another, which,
II not so portentious Of dire 'conse-
quences, will be managed with equal
determination. We allude to the con-
test between the taxpayers and the
tax-eaten. In every part Of the coun-
try the tax-eaters are entrenched be-
hind their impregnable bulwarks and
the taxpayers are organizing for re-
distance. The tax-eaters ruled and
ruined Memphis. Forbearance finally
ceased TO be virtue and the Taxpayers
rose in their majesty and rescued the
|city from the robbers and plunderers.
There are cities in every State Of the
Union going through the same ordeal
|from which Memphis triumphanily
emerged. The people OF the be-
lesgured cities are holding meetings
and organizing, not only for protec-
tion, but to exterminate the tax
batting robbers. After years Of patient
endurance they are demanding re-
form and devising new systems OF
municipal government. The success
bi Memphis, which by taking the city
bu. o.. the hands Of the tax-eaters and
placing II under the management OF
he taxpayers Of the Taxing District,
hereby enabling II to emerge from
bankruptcy into the new sunlight OF
prosperity, has attracted the attention
4 the whole country, and almost
very dag there are applications from
ther cities for the law chartering the
axing District. A better form OF
Government could not be devised. The
eople Of Pittsburg, Pa, are preparing
b fight the organized tax-eaters. The
ital question Of honest municipal
overnmsnt has aroused the people OF
Evansville, Ind, and even the literary
ub Of that city is discussing
be matter in able and learned
ssays. Everywhere the issue
broadly made and we'll
efned. The taxpayer believes
lst he should pay taxes to support
be city government, and the tax
aters believe that the government
hould support them. There seems
be a prevailing determination in all
Q cities plundered by the tax-eaters
create general law and fix at
Irtain definite and reasonable rate
lie amount Of taxation beyond which
o city council should not be allowed
20 under any pretext whatever,
nder no consideration should a sur
us be created in the treasury, for q
-plus always attracts the tax eaters,
! ct as the carcass draws the vulturee.
every section and in every State Of
q Union death struggle has been
augurated between the Taxpayers
ID the tsx-esters, and II is safe to
edict that the plunderers will be
uted, just as they were in Memphis.