Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-14
FRIDAY. ......AUGUST IA. 1891.
Let Xirpinia Speak.

Let Virginia Speak.
The State Convention Of the Farmers
Alliance Of Maryland. ut ITS session OF
Wednesday endorsed and reaffirmed for
itself the principles md demands OF the
national order as set forth in the Ocala
platform. 1t also declared that no tax
law which provides for the exemption OF
any property of any kind can either be OK
pcdient or Just" This latter declaration
covers the case of property belonging to
churches aud to charitable and beneticent
organizations but il is possible that the
Maryland Alliance men did not intend
that their language should have such n
construction put upon 1t. However, TINS
may or NAV not be the case. Mary land -
a State Nu g,r,ris. or rather her population
Is "A peculiar ono. She il southern
State bnt has large, rich, and III
fuential class Of citizens who are
sincerely AZ achcd 10 a northern church.
MARYLAND has. too. another highly intel
hgent aud wealthy portion Of her popula-
ton owning much church property. 1t ~
lust possible therefore. that exemption
from taxation finds SO many benetciarlcs
IN Maryland that the Alliance voters have
come TO the conclusion stated iii the Balti-
more resolutions Of overwhelmingly.
that the burden Of all taxation ought To
be imposed equally and lmpartlally on
all property OF whatsoever kind, real or per-
sonnl. without distinction or dscrimna-
ton, every exemption from taxation being
equivalent 10 a direct Appropriation for
the benefit of the owner Of the exempted
property and on increased tax on the pro-
perry taxed. "No law. no contract. no
device which by any means directly or IN
directly. imposes tho payment Of any part
Of any tax upon any man not the bona p'e
owner of that property ought to he toIe-
rated" That is 10 SAY. the exemption OF
rhurch property causes property-owners
having no interest in church property 10
pay more taxes than they would have q
pay IN the absence Of such exemption.
We W re ct one time Of the opinion thai
churches ought To be- taxed hut when we
reflected that churches have no money
value SO long ~ they continue 10 be
churchos hut are on the contrary tax
upon thor owners. we came 10 tho con-
clusion that IN such cases there was no.
thing 10 Dee taxed. To tax a house which
u costs TN, owner annually q good sum of
money 10 keep up. though he does not oc-
cupy II. is To- tax "A minus quantity. 1t re-
verses all ideas Of justice 10 tax sO-called
properly winch not only fails TO yield
revenue To- us nominal owners but actually
j.. "a tax upon them and a drain upon their
lur,cs.
The Nar,llud Alliance men demand the
taxation 81 mortgages. Also. the protec-
tion Of then oyster-heds
Hu, the Maryland Convention also re-
affirmed fer itself" the Oclla platform.
We cannot too often Jet our readers see
tn. Platforms demands so long as these
demands Gre seconded by so important
oud influential body Of men a. the Mary
land Convention If Alliances. Can it be
possible that the Alliance Convention of
Virginia Will mount that platform? We
give II in full:
- We demand the abolition Of national
banks: W. demand that the Government shall
establish sul-ir,asurics or repositories in the
r-yoral States. which shall loan money direct 10
TIE people at Il low rate Of interest, not 10 ey-
ccei " per cent per annnm ON nou-pcrishahlc
farm products. and also upon real estate, with
utoucr limitations upon the quantity 81 land and
amount of money: We demand that the amount
al the circulating moium be- speedily increased
tonoi less than $50 per capita.
49,. We demand that Congress shall pass such
laws a. shall cfcctuaily prevent the dealing In
,1iuroe Ia all agricultural ami mechanical pro
auctions: preserving a stringent system of pro
ccdurc In trials such as shall secure the prompt
conviction and imposition Of such penalties ~
shall secure tho most perfect compliance with
The law.
30. We donouncc the silver bill recently
passcd 10y Congress, aud demand in lieu Thereof
the free and unlimited coinage of silver.
-. Wedcmani the pa sage Of laws prohibiting
alien ownership Of laui, and That Congress tab q
prompt action 10 obtain all lands now owned 10y
aliens and foreign syndicatcs, aud that all lands
now held by railroad and other corporations In
excess q such IA are actually uscd and needed
ny thcm. be reclaimed by tho Government aud
held for actual settlers only.
"5. Believing In the doctrine OF equal rights
60 all aud special privileges to none, We demand
that our national iog station shall De 80 framed
ia the future as not 10 build up one Industry at
tho expense Of another. We further demand a
removal q the existing heavy tariH tax on the
nocessarics Of life that the poor OF our land must
have. We further demand y just and equitable
system Of graduated tax ON incomes. We believe
that the money Of the country shoaid be- Kept as
much a. possible ia The hands Of the people, and
hence We demand that all national and state
revenues shan BE- limited TO the necessary cx-
pcuscs Of the Government economically and
honestly Administered.
80. We demand the most rigid, honest, and
just State and national governmental control
aud supervision 81 the methods Of public CON-
municsiion aud transportation, aud if this con-
troll and supervision 10 not remove the abuses
now existing We demand the Government owner
ship OF such means OF communication and trans
portatiOn.'
There are good features and bad ones in
this platform. A few days hence We shall
learn how many and which Of these fea-
lures are acceptable to tho Virginia Ala.
snces.