The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-14

i''lNlNA makes case lof Gazing III q
requsltlon the inalienablo right Of self
defense.
Every possible effort has been made to
mollily the asperities of inherited hostility
10 our new industries among that class of
people whose distlvor finds a resting place
IN imaginary political dogmas. The hos
llllly Inns been so reasonable, and in truth
so unnatural, that people who had en-
parked in mining and manufacturing have
with some confidence waited Tor u rcac-
ton.
Charters arc not favors bcstowcd-thcy
are matters OF right and equally inaccessible
to ALL People who have taken the risk
OF new business in the South and gone
TO mining or manufacturing are conscious
that their charters give them no exclusive
privileges, but they are doing what all
Others may do. And they are conscious,
Also that others who follow only the long
established pursuits take little or no risks,
Will their business, being new and UNI
tried, Is very risky, even with friendly
legislation.
In the South they are not forming
trusts or making unlawful combines, but
they are investing money and trying TO
work out new problems for the South
problems which they believe, though they
may he mistaken, will be promo,iye Of the
general good.
These problems, II is we'll known, can
not I've worked out and solved except
through corporations charters - which
any five citizens may obtain
Al each succeeding General Assembly
in Tennessee, instead Of being Modified
tho aspcritics Of inherited hostility TO all
new industries seem TO bc sharpencd, until
at last the most numerous branch of the
General Assembly makes its every step
with unmistakable purpose TO load them
with burdens which are unequal and un-
Just, IN q taxing sense, and which 1t is
manifest they cannot bear.
The refusal of the House TO even con.
slider the Sanatc's proposition TO look at
the property, and then the income, the
bonds, the stock and the franchise of cor
poralions rs evidence, and taking all into
consideration let the assessor who assesses
all other property also ass,iss the property
OF corporations, and then tho refusal oi
the House, until the alternative. was no M.
sassment and perhaps no appropriation
bill, TO give credit on the main assessment
for property assessed in other counties,
Nl'titt"AaNN WIN RAftAA ANAAN Wv
already made, that we have reached
point when self defense il the nghtiul II
not the only remedy.
the encouragement given 10 mining and
manufacturing interests In the States
around Ms painfully enhance the conscious
ness OF our own hostile legislation.
After stating these facts | make no apol.
ogy Tor suggesting the mode and manner
the capital invested.
The time has not arrived for considering
new party affiliations; but the time has
come when the people who have invested
money In mining and manufacturing aud
the laborcrs who find employment hy
these Investments shall haVg some definite
understanding with the dominant party IN
Tennessee.
The people whose investments are put
In property. and whose lawful business IL
assailed by party leaders with u pcr,istcncy
u not a malignity, which inherited prciu
dice only can account for ~ q rule, belong
10 the dominant party, aud their past hiss
tory In connection with the party iustihcs
them in meeting iacc 10 face with lhoso
who propose 10 Use party power 10 crush
them aud destroy their lawful business
NNN W Mlhh ~ hNlNA NNANNNlNAN llNi INNMNN
OF organized Democracy In made available
for crushing out the lawful business oi any
class Of citizens, and, moreover TO demand
in convention ri the hands Of the party
whose interests they have served In the
main far dealing in the future.
In other words, when Democratic "sl T.
vcntion Is called next year, one thing
must be- donc-donc boldly aud icarlcsslv
and that is 10 have the party in a formal
way solcmnly decide, aud make record
OF ~ whether the doctrine Of the Demo
cratic House Of Representatives In fixing
one rule for taxing money invested In
mining and manufacturing aud another
for taxing money In all other pursuits h
Democratic doctrine; whether the Lcgisla.
turc shall assess, 10y fixed and opprcss-
i've rule, money thus invested while nll
other Investments shall be- made by an ~.
SCISSOR on his best judgment.
| write thus plainly because tho bin Il q
discrimination. by the Legislature, ayninst
corporate interests which will greatly Grip.
pie them, aud because the bill, M il passed
the House, would have DESTROYED. or
pnulyzpd into slow death, all the corpora.
lions IN the State, and credit this hostile
legislation 90 the dominant party, simply
because the dominant party j. responsible
for H. Legislation that pfcscfibrs raj,
for taxing citizens. or their money invested
in mining or manufacturing. who arr using
charters, which nll the citizens oi the State
may usr-which rule Is arbitrary aud OPP
prcssiyc. taking away from the Assessor
that discretion which he exercises ~ ~ MI
other citizens aud their properly should
be met hy tho people whose property h
thus singled out Tor hostile and oppressive
taxation with n bold and manly protest
10 be read In iho councils oi the party.
The legislature not only Disseminated
Ia the mode Of taxation, against people
who have embarked In the now Industries,
but Il put on foot q system 81 rcasicssmcnt
against corporations, giving enormous
premiums IN the way Oi commissions a.
attorneys 10 be- appointed 10 institute bar.
as,ing law suits, aud already several " the
mrmbou who elected the Comptroller,
created the offices. and then passed the
law giving him the power 90 mako the ap-
ppinlmcni. are holding out their hands 10
the Comptroller whom they elected Tor the
offices which they themselves created, aud
this all In the atmosphere iclid with
rumou Of bargain and Intrigue.
Besides being oppressive. unjus, and
hlrassing 10 lac people aud their interests.
assuilod by tho Legislature, Il u most
unsiyory dish and must be- rcbukc1 In nm.
mIslakablo terms by the dominant party
Of tie State.
The oppressive system OF double taxa.
ton. undcr the guiss Of rc-asscumcnis, II
already being manipulated by iu bcno-
bciaries, aud the indications point uncrr-
ingly IN uncqnalcd haffassmcni during the
next two years for all who have money la