The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-07-13
Democracy Destroys Prosperity.

To read what Democrats and Popu-
lists say in support of the income tax,
one would suppose that capitalist was
public enemy-a man with an income
a person to be preyed upon. The social
ist would impose taxation upon incomes
until all property should be abolished.
The Democracy seek TO make votes by
catering somewhat to the same doctrine
by indirectly, at least, holding forth as
if the accumulation of property was a
thing to be repressed. And yet, if ob.
servation teaches anything, it shows
that you cannot have the upbuilding of
industries without the accumulation of
the money necessary to start them and
to carry them on. And, also, there
must be reasonable certainty of indi-
vidual profit to flow in as a result of
the undertaking or the investment will
not be made.
In all countries where rights of prop
erty are insecure, where accumulation
and profit are difficult and uncertain
and the enjoyment of income is made
burdensome, there it will be found that
industry has languished and the employ
ment and the rewards of labor have
been scanty and uncertain.
On the other hand, where the rights
of property have been held sacred,
accumulation and investment and the
where there has been stimulation to
rewards and profits therefrom have
been the largest, there has been the
greatest prosperity. Capital must be
accumulated before public improve
ments and important industries can be
carried on. There must be wealth to
start with and there must be assurance
that the investment will bring returns;
that there will he income to be derived
ana enri;Cyed, or the investment will not
be made.
All through literature, from the
writings of Solomon to the present
time, there runs admonition to dill
gence and economy, and condemnation
of idleness, waste and extravaganza
Practical life recognizes the fact that
he who saves for investment is a public
benefactor His accumulated wealth
becomes q means for the upbuilding of
society and the employment of labor.
In no other way can the working min
lions be afforded opportunity for work
and its reward except through the accu-
mutation and the employment of wealth;
and thus it is that mankind, from its
early barbarism, has gradually grown
to regard the rights of property and the
stimulus to the accumulation of wealth
as chief stones in the foundation of its
structure of prosperity.
And it follows, inevitably, that any
disturbance which comes to the security
of investment and to the profits which
are expected to flow from any un.
dertaking involving financial invest
ment, reacts most disastrously upon
those who are dependent upon this in
vestment of capital for employment
Mr.. Cleveland and his followers have
much TO say in favor of taxing the in
comes of corporations; but in Gripping
the corporations they cripple the goose
that lays the golden egg which pro
vides the means for the employment o.
the thousands of men whom they pre-
tend to favor. If they cripple the EN-
ployer they restrict the support of the
men who depend on the employer fol
their livelihood
There is no doubt that this war which
the Democratic leaders have instituted
against capital in this country has re
acted most disastrously upon the labor
ers all over the land. The Democrat.
said, and continues to say, that invested
property should be robbed of its re
turns. What was the result? Money
began to disappear; mills and mines
and shops were closed; new industrie;
that had been begun were abandoned
for the time, at least; men were turned
out of employment by the thousands
and all who still found work to do were
retained at reduced scale of wages
and disaster, and ruin, and idleness
and want are stalking abroad in the
land.
The Democracy and Populists can SEE
only one thing at time. The latter
sees capital and envies it; the former
thinks to make votes by striking it down
and between them they hit the very
class whom they pretend to wish tc
beneft-the laboring men.
Previous to the election in 1892 the
laboring people in this country were re
ceiving higher wages than had ever
been paid before, and the demand for
men was fully up to the supply. There
was abundance of food; abundance OF