Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-05-04
DIRECT TAX LAWS SHOULD BE
REPEALED.

The Democratic statesmen and press
Of the country, ARE gagged at the pres
ent time in dcnouncing the Republicans
for a failure, or a disinoliuiioa upon their
pat to repeal laws which permit the COL
lection of war taxes The only laws
which remain upon the statute books to-
day aud which eau justly be styled laws
which permit the collection Of war taxes
are the internal revenue laws. by those
laws. vast sums Of money are paid into
the Treasure Of The United States year
ly. which were they repealed. would
greatly reduce the surplus Of which
general complaint is made, aud woull
dispense with lot Of hangers on, in
the shape of sleek well paid government
officials. Tobacco, tho staple Of Sou h
ern Maryland, is the only product Of
farms Of this country which is compelled
to pay direct tax to she government
The Republican party during the war
was compelled to resort to extraordinary
means by which to raise sufficient rcve-
Due To. carry to successful termination
the gigantic war which under its FIRST
administration it was compelled to fight.
This internal revenue system was one Of
The means adopted by which such sums
could be secured In previous wars this
manner Of raising the amounts necessary
had been resortcd to, but as soon there
after as was possible, the systeA Of d.
rect tax was abandoned. 1t may be
asked. why the Republican party when
N pc yer, did not repeal the internal
revenue laws! In answer We would say
that it must be borne in mind that all
revenue legislation must originate in the
House of Representatives and that body
has for fourteen years, with possibly
single session been in the hands of the !
Democratic party who did not desire the
repeal. and during that short interval
SO much bad Legislation which had pre-
viously been enacted by that party had
TO be corrected, aud also believing that
they could do this at the subse .luent ses-
sion, this important work was postponed
when unfortunately for the good Of the
the democrats were again placed
in control of the lower House of Con
sress. And now alas, the strongest op-
1Dnents Of the internal revenue laws in
he days gone by, declare in opposition
70 their repeal To be consistent the
Democratic party should also add to the
list of farm products taxed by this meas
are, which when enacted was absolutely
necessary for the life Of the nation, that
of cotton, wheat. pigs. butter. hemp.
sugar aud all other farm products. OF
course they will not do this, but it is as
just and fair to DO so as it is to continue the
internal tax on thi3 one crop, tobacco.
The farmers of Southern Maryland con-
'inued in power by their votes. year af-
ter year set Of officials who favored a
system of State laws imperfcc.ly drawn,
and entirely unjust, which prevented
them from disposing of their staple in but
one market. And now with equal blind
ness they continue to vote for the same
party which not only permits. but at
tempts to prevent the removal of the tax
upon their staple. How long will it be
before our people will cease to woe on
"reminiscences, and cast their votes only
Sor those who are pledged to stand by
their best and truest interests?