Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-06
TAXATION.


Instead of limiting the tribute drawn from our
citizens to the necessities of its economical adj
miniStration, the government persists in eXacting
from the substance of the people, millions which
uIrapphed and lie dormant in its treasury.
This fragrant injustice, and this breach of faith
and obligation add to extorton the danger at
tending the diversion OF the currency of the cOun
try from the legitimate channels of business.
Under the same laws by which these results are
produced the government permits many millions
more to be added to the cost Of living of our peo-
pie and to be taken from our consumers which I'M
reasonably swell the profits Of small but power
full minority. The people must still be taxed for
support of the government under the operation of
tariff laws. But to the extent that the Of our
citizens are Unfortunately burdened beyond any use
ful public purpose, and for the benefit of favor
ed few
The government under pretext of an exercise of
ats taxing power enters gratuitousy into partner
ship with these favorites to their advantage and
TO the injury of vast majority of our people.
This is not equality before the law The existing
situation is injurious to the health OF our entire
body polite 1t STILES in those all patriotic love of
country, and substitutes in its place. selfish greed
and grasping ayarice. Devotion to American citi-
Zenship for its own sake and for what 1t should
accomplish as a motive to our nations advance
ment and the happiness of all our people is dis
placed by the assumption that the government IN
stead of being the embodiment of equality, is but
an instrumentality through which especial and
individual advantages are to be gainedl
The arrogance of this assumption is unconcealed.
1T appears in the sOrdd disregard of all but per-
Sonal interests; in the refusal to abate for the
benefit of others one iota of selfish advantage and
through efforts to control legislation and imprOp-
perly influence the Suffrages of the people. The
grievance of those not included within the circle
of these benpfciaries, when fully realized will
surely cause irritation and discomfort. Our farm
ers, long suffering and patient, struggling in the
race of life with the hardest and most unremittng
toll will not fail to see in spite of msrepresenta.
tons and misleading iallacies, that they obliged
TO accept such prices for their products as are
fixed in foreign markets where they compete with
the farmers of the world. That their lands are
declining in value while their debts increase and
that without compromising favor they are forced
by the action of the government to pay fer the
benefit of others, such enhanced prices for the
things they need that Scanty returns of their labor
fail TO furnish their support or leave no margin 10:
accumulation Our workingmen, enfranchiSed
from all decisions and no longer frightened by the
CRY that their wages are endangered by n Just re-
vision OF our tariff laws, will reasonably demand
Through such revision Steadler employment
cheaper means of living in their homes, freedom
for themselves and their children from the doom
of perpetual Seryltude, and an open door 10 thelr
advancement beyond the limits of a labOrlng
class. Others of our citizens whose comforts and
expenditures are measured by moderate salaries
and fixed incomes will insist upon the fairness and
Justice of chpapenIng the cost OF neceSSarleS Tor
themselves and their families.
When to the SelfiShneSS of the beneiiciarieS of
unjust discrimination under our laws, there shall
he added the discomfort who suffer from such
discrimination we will realize the fact that the
benefC6nt purposes Ot our government, dependent
Gpon the patriotism and contentment OF our PEG
pie are endangered. Communism is a hateful
thing and a menace TO peace and organized gov
eminent. But the communism of combined wealth
and capital is the outgrowth of over weening
cupidity and SelfshneSs which inSidiouSly under
mines the justice and integrity of free inStitu-
tionS is not less dangerous than the communism
of oppressed poverty and toll, which eXaS-
With wild disorder the citadel of rule
He moclls the people who proposes that the gov
eminent shall protect the rich and that they, in
turn, will care for the laboring poor. Any inter
mediary between the people and their government,
or the least delegation of the care and protection
the government owes to the humbleSt citizen In
the land, makes the boast of free institutions
gittering delusion, and the pretended boon of
American citizenship shameless imposition.
LORD sAckvILLE.
Near the close of the month Of October last oc-
currences of a deeply regretable nature were
brought to my knowledge, which made it my
painful, but imperative duty to obtain with lit
lie delay as possible, a new personal channel OF
diplomatic intercourse in this country with the
government of Great Britain; the correspondence
in relation to this incident viii in due course be
laid before court and viii disclose the unpardon-
able conduct of the official referred IL his inter
ference by advice and counsel with the SuffrageS
of American citizens, in The Tery crises of the
presidential election, then near at hand and also
IN his subsequent public declarations to Justify
his action superaddng impingnment of the ex-
ecutive and senate OF the United States, in con-
nection with important questions now pending in
controversy between the two governments.
The ofense thus committed was most grave,
involving disastrous possibilities to the good rela-
tions of the United States and Great Britain con
shutting gross breach of diplomatic privilege
and an invasion of the purity of domestic affairs
to which the envoy was accredited. Having
first fulfilled the just demands of interna-
tonal comfy by affordng full opportunity
for her majeSty's government to act in relief of
the situation, considered prolongation of discus
sion to be unwarranted, and thereupon declined
to further recognize the diplomatic character of
the person whose continuance in such function
would destroy that mutual confidence which is
essential to the good understanding of the two
governments and was inconsistent with the wei
fare and selfrespect Of the government of the
United States The usual Interchange of COM
,rx,In hnC cir nnrtn nod ntrrrh har
majesty legation in this city.