The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-02-26


our revenue laws so generally conceded,
that the lower House passed it almost
unanimously. When it reached the Senate,
Il at once encountered bitter and relent-
less opposition. All the adroitncss and
means that aggregated capital could devise
were brought 10 bear against IL and defeat
IL The ordinary channels of legislation
were obstructed and its consideration
baflled aud delayed. The friends of the
bill relying upon the iustness of the
measure and the necessity for its enact
ment into n law, were active and Vigilant
Our people petitioned, urged and demand
ed its passage All was done that possibly
could be to secure il fair consideration
and final success. So closely were the
lines drawn and so persistent were its
advocates, that IL only failed on account of
sickness and unavoidable absence of
several of its friends and the periidy of
others who proiessed friendship for the
measure by single vote. We were
baflled but not defeated! Like Banquo's
Ghost, it will up. The principle still lives,
and our people are anxious to renew tho
struggle and fight it out on that line"
AS the prudent military leader, when
approaching strongly foI titled, and, il
necessary, divides his forces for the pur-
pose of distracting the beleaguered, so we
have been advancing our IDEAS upon
this subject ON seperate lines. Whilst
the general bill was not successful, we
have been securing increased appropriat-
ions to Common Schools, and thus lessen
ing local burdens. Three years ago half
million of dollars in excess of former years
! was appropriated, and last Winter an
additional half million was set apart for
the same purpose, making a total of two
millions of dollars annually, for which we
are mainly indebted to Bro. Taggart and
| other Patrons who stood bravely in the
front and secured his measure of relief.
] AS an atonement for their bad faith in
defeating our Tax Bill and smitten with
remorse for turning their backs upon it,
the opponents agreed to create a COM
mission to revise the aevenue laws and
organization is invited to be represented
upon said commission.
EQUALIZATION OF TAXATION
is one of the greatest living issues of the
day. Equality before the law-equal
burdens, privileges and advantages-are
fundamental principles in free govern
ment and cannot be to earnestly maintain
ed. Justice is represented with closed
ewes holding the scales. No favored class
no combination however powerful under
her stern rule can sway her decision or
our organization has no opinions which it
wishes to conceal. In our Declaration of
Purposes-trom our platforms-we declare
our willingness to bear our full proportion
and impose no burdens on others we
! would not bear ourselves, Under this
broad seal we have labored for the relief
of our class. Oar Tax Bill was drafted in
this light. 1t proposes to place all species
of property, real, personal and coperate,
upon the same basis, and impose upon
each the same rate of taxation. On this
| platform wa propose to stanJ, and appeal
ing TO that august tribunal-Public
Opinion-wait the result. Compare, if
you will, the principles of justice and
equality which pervades and underlies
this system of taxation with the miserable
hypothesis of
THE SINGLE TAX
idea, advocated by Henry George, DIR. Nc
Glynn, and others, which proposes TO inn
pose all taxes upon land. Hence the term
single tax. Absolutely remitting all other
taxes, with all duties, leaving the Govern
ment to derive its whole income from this
tax or rental of lands. The result of such
a measure would be to render our high
and noble pursuit a serfdom, and crush
, out every vestige of independence. And
yet we are told the views of these revolu-
tionary schemers ''are attracting much at
tention in this country and abroad" No
wonder we have communism and anarch-
} ism in these latter times. The alarming
depreciation of our real estate and the cor.
responding depreciation in the value o
, our annual productions is Just cause foi
serious reflection. Whilst our people are
e industrious, intelligent and economical
they are depressed and discouraged. AL
thoughtful persons must admit our class
has suffered more seriously than any Other
, during the last decade. Various theories
are suggested as the cause of this unfor'
a tunate condition of the agriculturist. Some
attribute it to over production (Which We
g cannot admit), others that the foreign de
!, mands for our cereals has fallen off, etc
= The real cause in our Judgment is to b'
> found in our pernicious legislation
. Trusts and combines manipulate our pro
ductions and reap the reward justly be
. longing to the farmer. Unjust revenue
laws filch millions of dollars from oul
: class which should be paid by others
o Transportation companies eXtort exorbi
tant rates for carrying our products t
+ market. Tariff laws protect the manufac
turer, whose prod uctions we must pur
chase, whilst our productions are compar
q atively unprotected, and we are compelled
to compete with the cheapest labor in the
o world. Wall street, State street and ThirC
street, dictate our financial policy and reg
ulate the volume of currency to suit thei
own interests. An abundance of money
means low rates of interest and vice versa
When money is abundant all kinds O.
: business prosper, The hum of machinery
Is heard in all manufacturing districts
Labor is in demand and receives jus
reward. Strikes and lock-outs are un
known. The products of our farms com
sl mand remunerative prices, and genera
Q prosperity is the result. In 1892 Congress
/
silver and gold. During the decade tha
3 followed, agriculture and commerce pros
I pered. a prudent. careful farmer was en-
1 abled under the impetus given to trade Il
purchase home and pay for it largel.
from the proceeds of the soil. How wOul,
he succeed now? During lS63-64-65 an,
q &C, there was in circulation $40 or $50 pc
n capita, an average currency of over
" thousand millions of dollars. Although
70 just emerging from sanguinary conhic
= which had paralyzed our productive ener
ir gies, business Immediately began to re
4 vive. The farmer realized enhance
ii prices for his productions, and the grea
II arteries of commerce swelled to their ut
10 most. In 1872 the coinage of silver, b.
NJ fraud or accident was restricted to eXpoI
4 demand, and in 1873 the circulating me
,o dium reduced to less than S735, 100000. L
~ 1877 the amount per capita contracted uI
til we had only about Sl6 or Sl7, and no'
much less. Against the protests and SUP
er plications of every active business and N