The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1889-11-08
HISTORIC LEssoSs

a---.-~
iIl-tory shows ns chat almost ever,
government that has be5n oyerihrowti has
owed its downfall 10 the dIsrontent excit
eli by nyeriaxatioi. Il also shows ss tha
almost every insurrection and civil war hal
been due 10 ibe same cause. And II hai
mado no difference whether The taxes
arisen from the hardships produoed BY
ovcrtnxaiIop. II IL, therefore, greni
misfortune TO nur country that rur people
allow themselves to he 20 iuidsn.d; "a
deludsd that ihey are Indifferent to the
cost OF maintaining the government and
hushed Into The belief that II makes no
difference how many millions Of dollars
are waited unneeessarils 20 long as these
millions are scattered ameng The people.
We hear Il said on every aide. even by
those who should know better, that Il
makes no diffsrenee about ourespsudiiures
- long ne the cash Il spent among our.
selves. A man might jus. as well sag
OF his own extray agances ssfi does not
matter. ispend !. on my self and family"
But Il ought never 10 be forgotten that
every dollar OF national expense must be
paid by The people--the laboring people
chiefly And the people who are. 20 very
poor that they never pay out one dollar In
taxes directly. and who have no property 70
be assessed. do never the less pay most Of
this tax not in money, but 10 ALTERING
In word, In enduflng increased priyaiion
en- account Of enormous indirect taxation.
Human genius has never yet been able to
devise any form Of taxation that does not
weigh mest heavily on the toliiug masses
except light tax on Injuries and on In
comes. But even this tax must be very
carefully adjusted or el.e the rich " ilIc
sade i by some system OF chIeanery. The
enormous &c senues rsised BY the goycIn-
ment 10 deiray its exirsvagant expendi-
lures are procured by the most eunningiy
devised seheme Of A~Indiing the poor that
has ever been invenisd. Under II the mil
iionaire 10 his palace pays lees tar than
does the poor drayman In his bovel. for II |
comes of the neeessafies OF life. bad a. q |
is. Il ls made ten iimcs worse BY It's effect
10 needlcssly increase the cost Of the nee
essaFiea Of the poor. How IL |. that II 10 /
maintained without a standing arm 10
keep dswn lnsurrce,ioni For two reaeons:
ss@@rst as Rolinbroks said long ago." pee
pie VIII endure vastly more of oppressIcn
from their own government than any
other; Second, the vast expanse Of new
cheap lands serve ~ an outlet ever which
the oppressed many may sIi.perse. But
for these preventives We must long ago
have had insutrseiion- -uprislngs that eaa
end only In military control and despos-
lam. Slavery was no. tho only thing the
American people are capable OF cutting
each others throats about Let some great
general labor strike interfere with the con.
tinental traffic long enough 10 force gov
ernment 10 draft farmers TO shoot rioters
and We may End ourselves In the throes
OF great civil waras suddenly as In 1861
Causes OF great dIssailsiae,Ion arc pfepar.
Ing u without our knowledge and are
pointing to results as clearly as the KAN
sas troubles pols,edio their faller develop
men. In 1861.
cLAIss IRVINE.
SAN FsAsctseo. Oct ss,h 1859.