Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-02
1.-THE ESD.l
Ajax ON BACHELORS.
And in Territory, Too, that Has 5000
Moro Men than Women.

A bill has been introduced in the Wyo-
ming Legislature imposing an annual tax
Of $3.50 on every unmarried man over 80
wears of age.
Here Is food for serious reflection, says
tho New York Commercial AdcertiSer. NyO-
ming is the one Territory IN the Union IN
which woman suffrage prevails. students
of political history who are themselves op-
posed to this innovation generally concede
that IL Is fast gaining ground and threatens
to become universal. Il is time for us TO
count the cost. Those of us who are not
prepared to see the realization OF Walter
Besant's dream of o new era IN which " the
reign Of the higher intellect" shall super
sode "the reign # brute force" and
women shall rule instead Of men, will do
well to initiate revolt OF man" before
the threatened despotism is established.
DespOtism Is not 10 too strong term.
In Massachusetts, where there are 10000
more unmarried women than men, law
like that proposed in Wyoming would have
measure Of justice. BachelOrhood IN
Massachusetts implies sinking OF duties
aud q blindness to privileges winch merit
the penalties of the law. But III Wyoming,
where the last census showed II 600 men as
against G 900 women. the taxation Of bache-
lors is tyranny. Wyoming bachelors are OK
all men the most TO be pltled. u IS the
splusters Of tho Territory 0Ao ought 10 nc
taxed. The proposed act means nothing
less than a boycott directed against theun
fortunate men who are not able TO enter
into the marital union.
1t is true that such an act as that pro-
posed in Wyoming is not novelty IN eco
nomic history. During the decline OF the
Roman empire. when the institution of
marriage was breaking down, Legislation
against bachelors was frequent and severe,
vet thoroughly justlfiable. In the middle
ages it disappeared. 1t Is true that hnes
were sometimes exacted from Jews for re-
naming bachelors, but then license-fees
equally costly We're imposed uron them
for marrying. 1t was taxation Tor revenue
only.
With the riso Of the absolute monarchy
and the subsequent regarding OF all state
questions from the standpoint OF In
creasine the size Of the armies, II became
the custom in Europe, not indeed 10 tax
bachelors, but TO grant bounues to large
families. Up TO a recent period IN ing
| land father could claim for his sixth OF
seventh child support from the State liz
Germany to-day the tax system claims tc
take into account the size OF families
| tightening the public burdens where the
private burdens are heaviest
In our country the encouragement OF
marriage was once an object which claimed
| the serious attention of statesmen. 1t Will
perhaps be remembered that Benjamin
Franklin left fund of 1000, which was
| to be loaned to young married couples II
sums not TO exceed eco. Franklin cal
culated that at the end of q century
| il would amount 10 E13l,OOO. Of
which he directed that Gjl,0 should
| be expended for municipal improvements
and the remaining 100000 should bt
| loaned to Young married couples for an
| other century, at the end OF which he
! thought the sum would amount to $4,000,
900. IL was then TO be divided between
| State and city. This franklin fund now
amounts to $4,000.
Along the line Of Franklin's philanthropy
was an act of the colonial Legislature IL
| MARYLAND almost identical with that pro.
posed in Wyoming. In Mary land the age
| ut which bachelOrdOm became a mlsde.
meanor was twenty-five instead Of thirty.
| five.
But these ideas have passed away before
| the rising tide of Malthuslanlsm. MARYLAND
went TO the opposite extreme. In 1886 the
! State collected revenue OF -24,226 from 9
marriage-hcense fee of ! 80 on each couple
This tarii was rightly regarded as unjust
oppressive. and restraint upon marriage.
and has been reduced 10 81. ii. however
! one had to choose between the Maryland
systom oftaxing marriage and the Wyoming
system Of taxing bachelors he could not fol
a moment hesitate. The Maryland concep
ton il that marriage is "a privilege to bC
priced. The Wyoming conception Is thai
/ it is burden TO be imposed. If the womeI
of the Territory support 1t they Will de.
monstIate that Paul Bert's famous aphor
ism. that 1.-THE French code never
mentions woman except 10 aim blow at
her is soon to be reversed In the com
ing despotism of " the higher intellect i.
| is man who will not be mentioned except
TO aim blow at him.