Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-02-27
To Tax Payers.
1O LUZ
For the DEMOCRAT.

10 4dA oyO1cs
For the DEMoCRAr.
The Hon. Mr.. Tax Payer of last
weeks DEMOCRAT is permeated with
very lofty ideas of Christ and christian
ethics. am surprised that he has not
been exalted to the position of Sunday
school Superintendent, where he might
teach the coming generation the noble
principles set forth in his letter to the
w. C. T. U. He is almost as pure and
lofty in his conceptions of duty as the
S. of V. were in their testimony last
week. ~Mr. Tax Payer" would have
the christian citizens warning criminals
of their danger and shielding them
from the penalties of asviolated law.
According to such ideas the christian
would be a dangerous citizen in any
government and would deserve the
severest punishment. We admit that
all good people should try to get men
to turn from their evil ways but we
believe, also, that they should be the
first to enforce the law against it's
violaters in order to stop them.
Whenever these people, like Zaccheus,
will give up their illegal and immoral
business and make proper restitution
for the past, the ladies of the w. c. T..
o., like the Savior, will do all they can
to help them live better lives; but until
they bring forth fruits meet for re-
pentence neither Christ or his followers
can help them, though they may desire
to do so ever so much. Christ wept
over Jerusalem but could not save them
because they would not; and rather
think it is hard for the son of man to
save saloon keepers and jointists while
they persistently engage in their
diabolical business. 1 would like to ask
TAX Payer is it more Christ like to
encourage joints and violation of law,
or to enforce the law and close the
joints? Is one more able to stand
because he is in sympathy with saloons,
or by trying to overthrow the evil and
deadly business? Which is the wicked
who enforces it? Is man because of
his poverty entitled to carry on bust
ness in violation of law, and corrupt
and ruin our young men? According
to such reasoning you would justify all
crime and lawlessness. 1t appears to
me, that it TAX Payer" had given
more attention to his bible since he left
his mothers knee, ard appreciated the
duties of true christian citizen in a
republic, that instead of sympathizing
with the violaters of law, he would be
aiding the w. c. T. O., in their efforts
to close every joint in our fair city; and
instead of complaining of the taxes, he
would put his hand in his pocket and
help pay the expenses. No man
whether he is a christian or not, should
cause wrong to a large majority of
inhabitants, for any purpose, but l
never knew before that taxes to main
tain law was wrong. If the w. G. T.
U. will pay the taxes, then ''Mr. Tax
Payer" will have nothing to say. Poor
ShylOck! No difference TO him who
suffers so he does not have to pay for
it. Wonderful benevolence, rather
than pay few dollars of taxes he
would allow the law to be violated
with impunity, and wives and children
to untold agony. To pay taxes or not
to pay taxes is the question: taxes out
weigh law and order and are of more
value than morality or christianity.
go man, forget not thou earth's honored priest.
Its tongue, its SOUL its ife its pulse, its heart,
In earth's great chorus to sustain thy part;
Chiefest Of guests at loves ungrudging feast.
Play not the nigsaTd. spurn thy native clod,
And self disown;
Live to thy neighbor; live unto thy God;
Not to thyself alone"