Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-12-25
Stanton Speftator
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 25. 1889.
Our Future Prospects.

The Lynchburg AdUamce takes issue
with Governor Lees conclusions as set
forth in his last annual message wherein
he discusses the financial resources of the
State. In closing the comments referred
to, the Aduance says: "People who own
and do not cultivate land and maFe it
productive ought to be taxed higher than
those who till the soil and make grass
grow by the sweat of their brows. -
Without due thought the above might
be accepted by many as correct, but in
reality it declares the widest doctrines in
that it would justify government in insti-
tuting an inquisition for the purpose OF
Furnishing the innocent and helpless. Then,
who are the arbiters to settle the question
of the duties of the citizen and landowner
and to render such amenable to an unequal
law which would fall at it's first test before
the Courts, because of its unconstitution-
atty.
We maintain that the statement of the
AdUdace, that there are large districts or
bodies of land owned by individuals who
willingly refuse to cultivate them or not
disposed to sell them, if valuable for any
purpose, either as they might prove prof.
table if devoted to agriculture, or mineral,
or other development, is unwarranted. No
matter from what cause the owner has
been rendered helpless Tor stocking and
cultivating them, the sweeping edict OF
tyranical law singles out this class for
prescription. 1t lis unnecessary for them to
plead that the desolations of war left them
penniless save some unmarkatebe lands
that if willing to mortgage them for the
outfits and necessaries to push them up to
filth, the crops would not meet the e1-
pense of the efforts, and in many cases
leave them stranded far short of meeting
the cost of labor.
1t is truth that, in many localities
thirty years ago, good farming was pro-
crossing upon lands, which could not now
be mortgaged for sufficient capital to meet
the cost of outfit and one year of culture,
and every farmer knows that any other
than the rotation system of culture will
not restore Impoverished lands.
Nor is it true of them, as class, that
the landowners, having more acres OF
arabic land than they can work, are un-
willing to sell a portion of their posses
sions. If that is one of the conclusions of
the AdvQnce, how does it reconcile its
premises and the assertion of delinquency
in that particular? What means all the
long catalogue of farming and other lands
advertised to the world for sale through
the opportunities worked out by the Com
miss;one1s of agriculture and immigration,
and the hundreds of real estate agencies
existing in Virginia. This is brief, but
correct view of the situation, and yet, even
with pleadipgs and opportunities to those
proposing to invest, not one-tenth OF the
acres offered are annually sold. Certainly
no unjust discrimination should be en-
doing more than all others to revive our
agriculture and to replenish the treasury
of our Old Commonwealth. The AdUance
surely cannot mean that it would desire to
see enforced such laws as its language i'm
plies should be enacted.
If the Adodnce proposes discriminating
legislation and the making of the posses
sion OF unproductive farming lands-though
the owners have diligently endeavored to
render them otherwise,-a crime for
which they ere to pay penalties in the
shape of higher and unequal taxation, then
it should not stop in its crusade at the door
of the country landowners. Will not its
theory apply to towns and cities as well
Are there no vacant lots, or others with
old and wornout buildings on them, which,
if elegant structures were to rise where
there are none, or supplant the dilapdated,
would add to the revenues? Iu this way
the revenues of the State could be increased
by carrying out the theory on more
extended basis than the one the AdUanct
recommends. If the landowners of the
country are to be required to accomplish
what they cannot, or to be placed between
the upper and neither millstones, and ses
their possessions sold for unequal, anG
therefore unjust taxation" the injustice
and the tyranny of so-called Republican
government will have made its rule more
hateful in the eyes of the people, than op
prsssive and tyrannieal despotism is to it
subjects who would. but cannot. strike
fatal blows in return.