Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1892-02-06

at the expense of the taxpayers.
They, or many of them, are fed and
clothed by them. They have every
benefit of the law free, if one is i'm
posed upon in any matter; they
throng our halls of justice, walk and
ride our highways, vote for men to
hold Office and levy taxes upon other
peoples property, and pay none
themselves. And what does the gen.
tleman's $500 contribute? Anything?
Yes, somethingl The items for ex-
penditures. That is about all.
Nothing said by me here is intend
ed to cast any reflection or odium-,
upon any honest and worthy poor
man. Poverty is no crime. tits sim
ply misfortune; in some instances
brought about by ones own acts, as
well as by causes which it is unneces-
sary to discuss here. 1t is enough to
say that the condition exists to 40
extent that is alarming to any man
who has heart in him. But as
much as 1 may sympathize with
struggling poverty; as much as may !
deplore the conditions that bring it
about in our midst, / cannot shut my
eyes to the fact that in a government
like ours, "Of the people and for the
people, every man has a duty to
perform and q burden to bear, which
should be performed according to
his strength. Anything less than
this would not be right; would not
be Justice to others"
Those who read can now form their
opinions as to the truth of the mans
charges, or not. Evidently, that ito
the Jaundiced eyed, all things are
green,n has been fully exemplified in
this writer's TRADE. Further on in
his piece, he gets off another self
satisfying and brilliant piece of
rhetoric, which withal contains a
bit of information, to the most of us.
I tell you we never know what is in q
bag until we shake it. This bag has
been shaken and lol out dropped the
fact hitherto unknown, or even un-
dreamt of, "that the delinquent tax
payers stand as shield between the
property holders of Accomac and di-
rect federal taxation.n For instance,
says he, if the tariff taxes were not
paid, then the general government
would impose direct taxes on all our /
property sc. So it appears then that
his delinquents, unbeknown to any
one but themselves, and their titled
champion, have been paying our
tariff taxes all along for us. / did
not believe before that they had so
much money. 1 had thought accord
ing to the opening part of his little !
farce, that it took about all of their !
money for whiskey, tobacco and the |.
license tax. but am glad to learn it |
is otherwise, and that we have a gal
lent band of delinquents who sur
round a still more gallant leader.
''who stand us shield between the
property holders of Accomac and di-
rect federal taxation. Hip! hip! hur-
rah! Long live the leader and his
now, thrice noble wards, who stand
between us and direct federal taxa
ton. This is an item of news, indeed.
The Herald would pay a hundred
dollars q word for it. When they
hear it, Cleveland, Mills and Spring
er, will yield up the ghost, toss up
the sponge, for the delinquents of
Accomac have solved the tariff prob
lem, have stolen their thunder. Away !
with the tariff question, it is of no |
interest to us.
A dulcet lutte, and cooling voice are !
next heard. In plaintiff strain an
old song greets our ears. Its words
are about as follows: My traduced /
wards, most of you, all who can !
ought to pay your capitation tax. 1t
is sacred duty you owe to the child I
rem of the county and State, etc. /
You should pay fair share also Of .
the road taxa change has recently :
come over the spirit of his dreams
for you all will be benefited by good
roads," We herewith tender our con- /;
gratulations-and humbly accept !
even these grains of concession-and
SO the voice goes on.
The time and situation is for a |
champion, and leader of strong
contingent, an extremely ludicrous !,
one. 1t reminds me-in connection !.
with the peculiar surroundings of a !.
free negro trying to doctor an ex- I,
ceedingly sick, but vicious mule. He /
would like for him to take the medi-
cine, but is afraid of his heels; so this !:
man would, it seems, now like for his |
contingent to take his medicine, but
is afraid to speak too harshly, is
afraid to say emphaticallY that it is !
their bounden duty as participators !
in every blessing of government, to i
help support it. His leadership might |
be imperiled, were he to do so. 1t is :
useless at present to pursue this
game further, the carcass would not
be worth the powder. / have made !
but little effort to treat this mans.
piece with any degree of seriousness, !
it is not worthy of it. but have made !
a;slight effort to treat him as every /
man deserves to be treated, who de- !!
MES his own record in this discussion |.
and who nersists in misrepresenta /