The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-02-06
EDITORS COLUMBIAN:

EDITORS COLUMBIAN:
The farmers see from the correspon-
dence of Harrisburg that transporta-
tion and transmission companies which
include railroad, canal, telegraph and
pipe line companies will not favor, but
naturally oppose the Revenue Com
mission Bill" SO far as relates to be
taxed for local purposes, on the ground
that they are not of a local character
Then they must be "a privilege Of
character" subject to no local author
ity, and yet existing and operating in
every local community, occupying
space and land within the territor-
ial limits of every township and county
of the Commonwealth, many thousand
times enhanced in valuation previous
to occupancy when every inch Of
land was taxed for local purposes to
the extent Of full valuation This is
the farmers opportunity. They were
for many years, robbed by grossly un-
just inequality of taxation and any in
terest that now declines to take its
fair share Of the public burden is not
worthy the name of an exstance, and
should be branded as highway rob-
Der.
The farmers wrath is smol iering in
their bosom and will be kindled to in
dlgnation against any and all who may
assist the "artiicial individual to
"gobble up" the natural. Every ryinter-
est should have its equal rights and
the farmer is bound to have his along
with the rest Any interest that can
not exist by bearing its equal share of
the public burden, let it go to the wall,
where the farmer is. The agricultural
industry is as necessary and important
as any other industry, but it has been
robbed and defrauded that all other
interests might thrive, and "By the
eternal such highway robbing will not
be very peaceably submitted to by
the farmers in the future. eternal
vigilance is the price Of liberty and
knowing our rights we soH obtain
them
1t is agreed that the business de-
preston and destitution among farm
ers is mainly due to extravaganza and
indulgence in fineries and home enter
tainment by means Of instrumental
music whose sweet and melodious
strains burst forth in charming volume
from the piano or organ which the
farmers family enjoys with as great a
relish as the families Of professionals
or officials. That he should deny him
self of these great blessings in order
to exc out a miserable existance is the
idea of the farmers lot by many who
are favored with more remunerative
employment. 1t would seem that
other classes delight to see the farmer
ground down and confined to the light
fare of mush, and milk and molasses
with an occasional change of '.rick
meal speck and saurkraut" and his
family clad in blue drilling, that they
might fry all the fat out of the fruits of
his labor. Be it understood once for
all, that the farmer has as good a right
to the good things of this life as any
class, and his aspirations for the cul-
ture of his children by placing within
their reach all refining influences are
enobling and praiseworthy All classes
are dependent upon the farmer for
their living as much as his own family.
If the farmer is not enabled to keep
abreast with the times along with his
neighbors of the professions and other
occupations by reason OF hard times
and depressions, there is something
radically wrong and unjust in the dis
trlbution of pucuniary advantages,
which, when the farmer discovers he
will rectify with vengeance. OF all
classes, the farmer sohuld be front and
formost in improvement and easy cir
cumstances. The reverse being true
only proves that taxes, charges, fees
and salaries of other classes prey up
on his means that rob him to the ex-
tent of absolute destitution. His
credulity has been tested to the point
OF eruption, and patience with the
farmer has ceased to be a virtue.