Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-10
aInnLr MIR SrkkLY.

| The Taxing from SUNNI :"
Others VIII ase FULLY Hehiizod'
N. Y. Times.
II the people of this country can once
he made fully 10 realize that all their
substance is necessarily the product OF
their own labor aud rightly belongs to
those who produce it in the proportion
OF their share in the processes OF pro.
duction, they will enforce o radical
change in the action of the government,
which now deyotes itself 30 largely to IN
terfering with the distribution OF the
product of the peoples labor. Az an
abstract principle it may be asserted that
no government has the moral right to
take from one citizen or GLASS OF citizens
to give to another, and no right to take
from the people for its own use more
than in needed for legitimate public pur-
noses. OF course il cannot do so with
ont the nominal consent OF the people
themselves, secuted by enc means or an
other, but when the people clearly under
stand their own interests this policy OF
''robbing Peter to pay Paul" will no
longer be permitted.
Every dollar that goel into the National
/ Treasury is drawn from the production
Of the people, is part Of what they have
prodnceSAby their labor aud tho excuse
for taking it is the necessity for maintain
lug the government for the protection OF
.ae people and their interests. In so far
as it is used for purposes which are not
I for tLe common benefit and general vel
fare it is waste OF hepeople's substance
and the taking Of It is without justifica.
4 tion. No citizen is exempt from paying
his share to the public revenue and under
our system OF Indirect taxation no man
can escape tie exacilOn and every man Is
entitled TO feel the assurance that what
be contributes il as much for his own
benefit as that of any ons else. One OF
the ways in which money is taken by
the government from some persons for
the benefit OF others is In appropriations
for pensions, which now amount 10
about $50 0OO, 900 year, drawn wholly
from the product Of labor within
the country and paid by the whole peopls,
rich and poor. Nobody objects TO the
payment of reasonable pension to those
who have been disabled by service to the
country from supporting themselves. But
the present pension policy, and much
more that which is persistently urged by
many public men, proposes to htstow the
peoples money upon those who served
the nation in war without reference t6
disability. The recipients who suffered
no disability wonld be precisely az well
able TO support themselves as those who
were compelled to contribute to theil
tupput& s HnLl3 hg euRt gHf IN ii.
So NTH A..
t.as ard re yards, Aaq on the AZ sfbg.
would DO bet'er of, Uosause they are Of 3
class who have more than the average
capacity. The pension policy proposed
and to some Extent already adopted IL
simply policy Of usiug the taxing powe.
OF tho government TO take from souio The
products Ct their labor to bestow them
upon others who are no worse of thar
themselves,
But this is by no means the worst abuse
Of tho taxing power. 1t is used indirectly
( 70 u tremendous extent for the tnere pur
I pose of increasing the profits OF capita
employed in certain special industries
II this increase of profit were direott,
4 produced by taxl,ion tho only oomt,lsint
that could be made would he that snch {
bsnetleent power is not used for the ben
en- OF oil alike. But taxation can pro.
dnea nothing. Il can only take away
from that which has been produced by
lahor, and whom ii takes from one OF
rom many TO give to another or 10 a few
an injustice u done. The ersatest,wronV
4 done when il takes froul the great mans
" WORKERS, whose toll only sutli SOS TO,
tupslsteroe, to give 10 favored fsw, who
thetsby accumulate inordinate wealth al
tne general txpenae. When once the
people inlly understand the character and
eta2' 81 this use of the power OF tie gov.
ethmeht It Is hardly conceivable that ,hey
VIII permit Il tog 80 on.
but ASIDE from the iojustice at thia
pohcy y IS frsught with distinct laupet
y Guy institutions Tie mon who prof,
W !. billS all their wealth, their skitI,
ana their power TO beat fer thu Iaainteu.
ahce ~ tue policy, for the control o.
lFRlh,euoh 10 thet end, for the aid of thc
pah leai party that consents 10 supp,rt
" sed iof the defeat Of any effort OF tbr
people TO Change it. All their resources
money ard skin ia management will
ne n4ed 70 aslnae, mislead, even to ooerct
VIC corrupt tha people that they nav
EeNAlh 'he advantage which the govern.
insNs Ri9ta them. The vost weight Of
private peaunlNry interest will be power
~ ~, tehtar n POLITICS and in eoye!nmen,
WlsSa oaFht TO rest upon equality O,
tiss4ta and Interests. How long will il bf
oeSaie pa ollgaEchy Of wealth and o.
vea'tI money interest practically takes
~ fttGe o. government by the people i
LIZ only safety for our institutions il Il
.lsi.a lhei the power OF legislation and d
,9kAaoh shail not be used for the promo,
.ion o. any private or claes interest 10,
W. oeaeht Of one part OF the people a
tl9 sApense of another, TO take fsoni aom,
~ siys TO othsra. l. is the policy of !
despetlsln end net of free republie