St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-12
WHERE IT'S STRENGTH LIES.

The GLOBE opposes the income tax
because 1t wants to see step taken in
the right instead of the wrong direction.
1t believes that the present is as good a
time as any to take that step, and it
does not believe in lodging duty be-,
cause it may be unpleasant or may run
against mass of stupid prejuoiees.
We ought as party realize that we
have been fighting stupid prejudices for
years, and have only won because
we have fought them: and we will lose
and deserve to when we begin to coddle
and caress instead Of shifting them,
But this conviction does not prevent a
comprehension of the strength and the
rough justice that underlie the movement
for an income tax, nor to sympathize with
the feeling, even if we do not let it con-
troll our judgment. There are some
shameful facts which lie at the base of
the proposition, if they are not.adyanced
by its supporters. Everybody knows that
the men i'll possession of large incomes
are the most adroit and successful dodg-
erS of taxation. This condition is not
local anywhere; it is universal. You
meet these dodgers wherever you go;
they drive by you in the streets. and
they bow with you in prayer when the
preacher sends up to the throne of grace
his petition that we may be given
strength to be honest and truthful and
just; and their ''amen' is louder than
yours.
Another motive lies in the knowledge
that, save as these men of incomes buy
the things which have passed the Gus
toms office aud paid toll there, or use
the things on which an internal revenue
tax Is laid, they do not pay cent to-
wards the support of the government of
the United States. What of this they
do pay is only lii proportion to what
they consume, and this is hardly re-
lated to their wealth; it is not at all
pr0portioned to it. Men with snail and
precarious incomes HAY pay as large a
sum for federal support as may the man
with an income running into the thou
sands. The underlying thought here is
that the income tax would correct an
inequality of taxation, and we confess
that there is much force and truth in it.
Another cause that inclines men to
assent TO tax on incomes who do not
believe in its principle is the fact that
much the greater part of these incomes
is drawn from industries which in one
way or another have been fostered by
government aid or gifts, either directly
or indirectly. If they are drawn
from mines of any kind they owe their
source to the wrongful permission
| of the government to individuals to
monopolize these great natural de-
| positS of potential wealth which should
! have been reserved for the people. If
they are drawn from Railroads or in
vestments in railway securities, here
again the right to exist and to exact toll
was free gift of the government, sup
| plemented in many instances with gifts
of lands, or loans of money or credit
| If they are drawn from industrial en-
terprises, these are often the recipients
of governmental aid in the way of pro-
| lection against competition from the
outside, or governmental tolerance of
| combinations to increase profits by
| Sitting competition from the inside. In
| one way or another, directly or Indirect
| ly.probably three-fourths of the incomes
of the country over $1,000 can be traced
| to sources originating IN some use or
| misuse of the power of the government.
Knowing these things is to know the
main strength of the feeling which sup
ports and is pushing the imposition of
an income tax, and it is also to feel that
| if the tax is laid it will be but the opera
| ton Of a rough retributory justice.
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