The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-04-15

IL 4o'o.- OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 30, Sd8
Since 1891 the revenues have never
been as large save in the years given.
From 1871 TO 1925 the greatest
amount collected from the people In
any one year was in 1915, when the
collections were $47,OOO,OOO. From
1920 to 1868 the greatest amount col
lected in any one year was in 1855,
when it amounted to $4,000, 900,
and the average expenditures from
1920 to 1868 amounted to about $4O,-
0OO,O00 yearly.
For the first seventy-tive years Of
our government there was collected
from the people for government pur.
poses about So, $50, 100000. Remem-
Der, that brings us to the close of the
war.
From 1866 to 1889 the amount
collected has been $8,5OO,OOO, 900.
From 1880 to 1889 there was taken
from the people So, 642,OOO,OOO for
the government.
want you to find out where this
vast sum has gone. If 1t has been
wisely expended, then your servants
deserve your confidence; if not, "turn
the rascals out"
! At the close of the war the debt
was $2,68O,OOO,OOO, a few millions
more than had been collected from
the foundation Of the government to
the close of the war, but since then
there has been enough collected from
the people to pay the entire debt three
times and have $50O,OOO,OOO to spare.
Suppose we say that we have paid
since 1865, 5000, 900, 900 in interest,
there would yet have to be accounted
for $3,5OO,OOO,OOO, and the ordinary
expenditures do not run up to that
amount.
But who received the SIS, 900, 900, ,Oo0
if that much has been paid in interest
and principle? If that amount has
not been paid, then the other horn of
the dilema grows uglier, and we
would want to know where the differ
ence has gone. want you to tell
each other where this money has
gone. One thing you do know, you
have done your best, you have helped
to pay it and have not got any OF it.
I said the revenue for the year
1889 was $387,OOO,OOO. Who paid
this sum in to the government The
special pets, the banks paid in about
one and one half millions. The Pacific
Railroad bonds are largely owned by
the bankers, and they owe the govern
ment about $65, 100000. You would
expect that they paid in some; on the
contrary, the government pays the in
terest. You have paid up to date
$50, 100000 in interest on the railroad
bonds of the Pacific Railroad The
railroad bankers paid in SI,536, O87
as tax, and got back $50, ,486, 557 in
terest on their own road.
It reminds me of an old Arkansas
wood choppers description Of the first
circular saw mill he ever saw. He
said "the burned thing cut goin' and
wentin." That's the way the banker
has his legislation so that he gets the
ducats "goin' and wentin"
The tariff brought in s223, 882, ~
| Public lands s........................ S,O38,651
saws, etc .e.............?..... 10, 1856 264
Total. ...... ....... .............. &s72, ,9Is1ao
Now figure out at the next Alliance
meeting how great a'per cent. of that
the farmer and laborer paid.
The government has received from
tariff since 1880 $2,O5O, 1000, 900 and
rom the internal revenue S2,275,-
100000. This vast sum has been
collected from the people in ten years.
Have you been benefited to that
amount? If you have, vote to con-
tinue 1t; if you have paid TOO dear for
the whistle, don't buy any more at