Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-20
The Tobacco Tax.

The total abolition OF the tax on tobacco
would do mare tos;repgiben the Democratic
party 10 Virginia next fall than would any
change that We can thisk Of in the arih.
The tax Is an odiOuS one 1t operates to the
injury OF rising Young men who have only
small capital, but wbo have business tact aud
talent and who would 20 into the business
OF manufacturing tobacco II that business re-
CURED no more money. for its successful
prosecution than Il used TO cost before the
war between the states took place.
The whole internal revende system ought
10 be abolished. our Federal Lawmakers
ought TO hold internal taxes in reserve for
extraordinary emergencies. We do not now
need the money rsised by these taxes. When
q war comes on it Will be good policy 10
levy them again. But in these piping times
OF peace we ought 10 content ourselves with
The revenues that csme from other sources.
The country woull feel stronger IL
there were such source OF financial
strength kept ready for the Government TO
use whenever war should come. A wise
6nancier or banker always keep, reserve
fund. The InterHsl taxes ought TO be held
as a reserve fund. 30 TO speak. We ought
not to make demand upon all our resources
except In extraordinary emergencies.
In time OF war patriotism has full posses.
sion OF the breasts OF the people, and makes
them willing to do aud suffer for the good Of
the country much more thin they are willing
60 suffer at other times. An income tax OF =
per cent. was patiently submitted TO for
several years, even after the war between tue
States had ended. So was a tax OF two dol
lars per gallon upon whlskey, as well as one
OF forty cents per pound upon tobacco. But
It was not very long after the war ended be-
fore the people began 10 ssitate for the assli'
ton or reduction OF these taxes. The In
come tax was soon done away with, though
Nm income tax is the f,irest OF all
taxes. IL was abolished by the Republicans
because almost al OF II was collected in the
northern States. Under the law Massachu-
sets and New York paid due share OF the
expenses Of the Government. They pay
now not mseh more than hall the amount
they ought to paw for that purpose. The in.
ternal taxes abolished by the Republican
party were taxes that were paid by the rich.
The tax on tobacco is a tax upon the poor.
1t comes out OF tue pockets OF the working
men. Ii is odious because 1t adds TO the cost
OF the only innocent luxury which poor
man can indulge in.
As the whiskey- makers are opposed to the
abolition OF the tax on whisky, so some OF
the largest manufacturers OF tobacco iD the
land are opposed TO the abolition OF the tax
on tobacco. Why? Because they know
that they would have TO meet the compete
ton OF thousands Of enterprising young
men who cannot become their rivals so long
as they have to pay a tax OF more than
hundred dollars upon every hOgshead Of to-
bacco which they Use.
The tobacco planters must know that their
Interests cannot be the ne rs the interests
OF the huge monopoli'ts alluded to; and
they ought never to cease agitation until the
ssx on tobacco IL removed The spies, ln-
formers, aus plunderers ought to he dis
missed from Government employment aud
put TO work IN some honest calling.