Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-11-29
PUBLIC ROADS AND TAXATION.

Ublt0 ttVHuo HUu tNAAtIUV.
The State in reality is but a re-
presentation Of its people through
the mediam of its representatives
an organization for their mutual pro-
lection and government
La It's Law making. the State
through its representatives should
always look TO the greatest amount
OF good, to the greatest number of
people.
The State must look to the people
for Its financial supcrt in proportion
10 the wealth of each OF its members.
The person of great sealtb has more
for The State to protect III its laws,
and therefore be is responsible to
the State for more. The man pos
sessed OF but little capital caunot
and is not able to pay as much or
more in proportion, than the man
with his millions.
The true and fundamental princi.
pie of au honest, free, liberty loving
and prosperous government is equal
protection and equal taxation.
Do you think for moment that
the Divine law demands of every
one, rich and poor, the same support
for the Gospel, to gain them equal
blessing in Heaven I In the support
of Church or State, the man with
worldly goods can, but he who has
none cannot do much in its temper
al aid. Since he cannot. should he
be denied the same benefits of the
law and the blessings of Heaven :
All things being equal, would that
be right under a government of
Christian and Democratic principles?
Equal rights in everything and
equal taxation in all things, is the
only true principle of a government
of the people, for the people aud by
the people. On that, and that alone,
depends the prosperity Of a State or
nation. Its good government is
shown, its prosperity is increased,
and its people most happy, the near
er it gets to equal protection and
equal taxation on all its property
for all its wants.
The farmer today bears two-thirds
OF the taxation OF the State in pro.
portion to capital.
The farmer or real estate owner
should have at least an allowance
in his favor OF the ,notgage or .iudg.
ment, for he should not be liable for
more tax than he is the owner of
property.
The laws of the State are made by
class of men that do not have the
far mer's interest at heart, but legis.
late IN favor of the capitalist. They
are. as rule, elected by capital,
and of course capital must be taken
care of.
The State is continually making
laws in the interest of the corpora.
lions and great monied interest
monled men as a rule in vest in such
enterprises in preference to real
estate and private enterprises, for
the reason that their money is bet.
ter proteced at less rate of taxa.
ton. The State seems to take an
interest in affording channels
through which capital eau flow, in
dependent of the interest of agricul,
ture and at much less expense.
The farmers are the true. sinews
OF this great nation under a Demo.
cratic government which you all
know is or should be by the people,
not for and by few,
To hold any legislative position,
either National or State, costs more
by many times than the emoluments
of this Office produce. Is it for the
interest of their constituents, that
they shend their time and money, or
is it for the self-aggrandizement. or
for the interes of capitali
Why not tax all property for all
purposes ? Why eau a man invest
in stocks, bonds, judgments aud
mortgages, and be taxed but three
mills, and another who invests in
real estate must be taxed at least
three and in many districts four and
five times the same ratei The
capitalist needs as much potection
from the law for his investment as the
farmer does for bis farm. Then,
why exonerate the capitalist of the
greater portion of the expense to
procure the same protection as the
farmer.
The man investing in farm has
his all at the mercy of the capitalist.
Why do capitalists refuse to invest
in real estate Ask him, and he
will tell you that farming does not
pay, you can barely realize 8 per
cent. and often less, but he can
realize by lending his money from 8
to 6 per cent, and pay a much less
rate of taxation. Monied men will
tell yoa that they must live aud
keep their families out Of their pro-
ceeds, does not the farmer and his
family need the decent necessaries
OF lite alsof
The man investing in stocks. bonds,
mortgages, judgments or any man.
ner of investments whatever that