The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-06-28


dollar 81 it, over $4,000 net to the
Individual owner, and hence it affects
that land and its value as directly as
d law could we'll be framed to do.
What then, may we ask, is the
Democratic excuse or justification
for this legislation9 We arc told
that the Wilson bill will furnish an
amount Of revenue inadequate to
meet the needs and expenses of the
government, hence the income tax
bill to meet the deficit resultant from
this tariff measure. This then is a
confession that the Wilson Bill fails
to carry out the Democratic platform.
That platform unquivocallv pledged
the party to system of tariff taxa
ton, whose end and object should be
the raising of sufficient revenue to
meet governmental requirements. we
were not told, nor was it understood
that Democratic tariff reform carried
with it tho bankruptcy of the Goy'
eminent or as at alternative, an in
come tax. That was not our party's
slogan cry in the last campaign and
the man is not truthful who says it
was. The honest, intelligent snffrag
ist who went to the polls in the fall
1892 and cast Democratic ballot
believed what had been told him on
the Hastings and through the press
that She Democratic party stood 1ol
tariff reform and that such reform
when chrystalized meant a tart
whose object should be the raising OF
sufficient amount Of revenue to
mcet-not part of-but the expenses
of the government. We think the
measure exceedingly unwise and I'M
polite fer many reasons, too many tc
be given in the limited space OF edl-
torial columns. 1t is a blow aimed
at the rich and we'll to do, to crafty
the abnormal and alarmingly increas.
ing jealousy Of the poor to the rich
1t is a scheme which springs from
the mind and heart of the demagogue
It excites classes one against the
other. It sows the seeds of com
munism at time when the laborlne
classes all over the world are in 6
state Of significant unrest. 1t vii
operate as an injury to the poor and
the laboring classes to whom it Is
now thrown as political sop. AND
why? With all the power and In
genuity that wealth can command il
will easily and quickly shift this tax
| upon those who by the sweat OF the
brow and the Drawn of the arm Gre
| ate this wealth. Either this or the
consuming class, not the rich man
will suffer. The railroad magnate
when he sees that part of his wealth
must go to the government will make
his road yield him more profits te
meet this deficit by decreasing the
wages paid his employees or increas-
| ing traffic rates. The manufacture
will lower his wage schedule or in
crease his price to the consumer fol
his manufactured product. And SC
on in every channel Of trade and bus
mess the weaker will be forced by
the stronger to assume the burden Of
this tax. 1t is an inquisitorial tax
and as such un-American. 1t opens
wide the inviting door Of fraud. Il
places premium upon perjury and
blackmail. 1t is, to our mind, I'm,
constitutional, and Our reason iol
SO thinking will appear in detail at
another time. And above and be
yond all other considerations it is I'M
Democratic and its very existence is
born of violated Democratic pledge
on the most important public ques-
ton before the American people.
The Coal Strike.
n, Cnt,r1,u A,,;1 01ot 1904