Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-03
wiLMINGroN. THURSDAY. ocT. 3.



The same old song.
For a dozen years past some OF the
Republican politicians OF Wilmington
have been trying to make the people be-
lieve that the refusal to issue poll-tax re-
ceipts 10 blocks to any agent or repre-.
sentative OF the party who tenders the
cash to pay for them is O public griey-
ance. They have not made much head.
way for the reason that the motive for
deairing the custody of these recsipts ia
&C transparent. II they did not represent
vouchers OF voters--ii they only repre-
scented SO much money paid into the
county treasury, and carried with them
no value that could be turned to political
use-the agent or employer would be no
more eager to pay his constituent. or en-
ploye's poll.tax than he would be to pay
the same mans dog.tax or water reat
We presume no Que will dispute this.
Therefore, this being SO, any oonsidera-
tion Of concern for the public revenue
that may be advanced in connection with
this demand, may be at once dismissed as
hypocritical and irrelevant. Theae poll
ticians are not interested at all in replen-
ishing the county treasury; they arc
cunning for votes and nothing else.
Now this is q legitimate object il they
go about it in the right way. And that
right way is as simple as a. B. Q; and
has beside the sanction OF law and rsa-
son; it is for each taxable to go up to tho
collectors office, plank down his money
and get his own tax receipt. This pro-
ceeding involves no particular hardship;
it is as fair 20 one man as to another;
and it makes every man, what the law
designs him 20 be--the independent Gus
todisn of his own voucher as to his pos.
session-not to Mr., AS or Mr.. BIS vicar
ious possession in his stead but to his
own personal possessiop-of the evidence
OF his right, other qualifications existing,t to
exercise this elective franchise. And, as
the GAZETTE has said before, the man
who lacks the public spirit to do SO little
as this to secure himself in that right, is
not fit to be voter.
The GAZETTE has shown no hest
fancy in oondemning tax collectors when
they have done wrong, as all its readers
know, and it has fairly earned the right
to defend them from unjust abuse with.
out having Its motives misrepresented or
misunderstood. In the case of Collector
MeKes's refusal to honor the demands OF
Messrs. Bush and Warner, it printed the
collectors own reasons for his course;
course not only upheld by the ruling of
a Federal court in the Republican
city OF Philadelphia but backed by
convincing argument the soundness of
which no attempt has been made
to assail. Instead, the replies
which have been brought out are rich in
innuendo, evasion, and such misstate-
ments as "the refusal to accept the
money thus offered was a mere trick,
&C., and such misleading headlines as
Is it crime to pay taxes?" question
which has been answered, argument
aside, to the satisfaction of every reason
able man by Collector McKee's showing,
that to issue poll-tax receipts in blocks
on demand has been adjudged illegal by
competent and disinterested tribunal.
Let us suppose case OF Democratic
business man or manufacturer who has
SO Republicans in his employ-and to
make the case still stronger, we will sup
pose that these employees are uneducated
oolored men with all the shiftlsssness,
indifference to and unfamiliarity with
fitness of mon and measures for the ad-
ministration Of public Affairs that no one
will deny is characteristic of consider.
able Sportion of colored men engaged
10 rough lsboring work. Suppose that
Democratic employer, either with or
without consulting his workmen, (out
implied interrogatory Ms to whether it il
usual with Republican employers to cen
suit their workmen in like cases remains
unanswered should go up to the county
tax Office, plank down the cash and de,
msnd and receive the poll.tax receipts
for these so negroes in his employ. How
long would 1t be before the Republican
newspapers Of this city would be de
nouncing as Infamous a syatem which
thug made o Democrat tine custodian OF
tbs evidences OF the right to vote CT 81
Republicans VINO were in position to Dt
influenced by him in casting their bal
lots And why is not sauce for thu
Democratic goose equally sauce FOR the
Republican gander?
The GAZETTE has not said tina
Msssis. Bush and Warner were sctuatet
by any Improper motive in Offering to
hay the taxes and collect the vouchers
thouL in their employ, It has not sslt
to 30. ny Republican employer ia vii
hIizes IN Roald DO inspired by other tina!
iAopportunity nsei1ah and philsnthropic in
,tolratch men, waking a similar offer. Tn
most IoAu racS1ll-tax receipts in block
ives in -s repreheusihle in pin
ing OF PIE Park W'mitted that every Il,
ID be just &2 stro stStsn party worker WI
g II it were q Park Cautiously 10 be mad
lican employer orr Departm, mems voucher
hi apply thas vicSA dad given given character ar
custodian OF other COMPANY snow. 81
a as immaculate in Syesident " one, ho
pose as the newly fallany mat ~ t ~
Sc, il the door be opened to, that the r,lion
YOU going to close it to anoNqby, also VII
h demands OF upright RepuSa1 t a,an StS q
ployers and unimpeachable RepnS
ward workers ere tn be granted, hts
similar demands from unprincipledN o
employers and uuconscien- 90
us Democratic party bosaes to % w