Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-06-20
Wilmington Messenger.

Things a-e getting tang led up in
this country. The fact is common
man don't know exactly whether he
has got any party or any policy. He
can say he is democrat or republic
can or an allanceman, or that lie is
for protection or against it, but the
old lines are so broken up that he
can't tell where he belongs. He is
like the soldier who went home be-
cause he coulden't find his company.
We are ell just waiting for some
thing to turn up and settle down.
The farmers are upheaving things
powerfully but they are tangled up
too. The Kansas farmers through
the alliance, have sent their memOri-
al to congress to demand more silver
coinage, and more pension money.
Their cardinal principles are to fight
railroads and punish rebels. The
Illinois farmers have sent tueir me
mortal and demand q tax upon in
come-a scaling tax that will make
the miIlionaires support the govern
ment, and leave no excuse for tax
ing The nccessaries or the comfort OF
life. But, of course, they want
some things protected; such as wool,
for instance, it would never do for
foreign wool Or come IN free, for it
would bring the price down SO low
that q sheep killing dog would quit
his mbusiness. l like that scaling
tax on incomes. ] don't believe
man ought to be allowed to accu.
mulate more than five or ten million
dollars in this republican country,
Not because L am enViOus of his
wealth, but because / am afraid Of
his power. If man has accumula-
ted a million his income would hard
~ be less than $4,000, and the gov
ernment S., 600 for the protection lie
gets-protection to life ana liberty
and property in peaceful in war.
If he was worth 2 millions he ought
to pay fifteen per cent on the 2Dd
fifty thousand in addition to ten per
cent on the first. And the tax ought
to go on increasing as his wealth
increased and when he had got to
twenty million the tax on the last
million ought to take all Of its in
come. But he would still have a
quarter Of million Of income left.
That's enough Ireckon The wealth
Of the country is concentrating too
fast. 1t is not idle. Most of it is
used for good purposes, but it gives
too much power. The love Of domin-
ion is as strong passion IS the love
Of money, and we common folks
don't want any body to have domin-
ion over US or over our children after
we are gone. That's what's the
matter. We don't envy the million
aries. | don'S,I know, | have as
good clothes as he has-at least thew
suit me as we'll. | have as good eat
ing at my house, for there is nothing
better than homemade spring chick
ems, and wax beans and peas, and
onions, all from your own garden.
Then there are strawberries and
7aspberries that [ pick every day,
and il makes me so calm and serene
to bring them in to Mrs. Arp, and
listen to her grateful surprise. Jay
Gould knows nothing about the like
Of that.
But where are we all ANYHOW?
Are the two great parties now divid-
ed on the line of protection or no
protection? Is the issue made up
between manufactures and the con-
sumers, or is the party bigger thing
than any issue? Maybe the issue is
going to be made by the farmers
against congress and they are going
to call for a new deal and turn the
rascalS out. All the rascals, demo-
Gratis and republicans. for all seem