Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-04-07

meagre resources throughout the entire coun-
try, that not word In its defense or explana-
tion would seem necessary here or anywhere
else. On all the wants and necessaries OF life
the man of wealth, with heavy income, pays
less ratesiof tarin tax under existing laws than
the aborfng man or woman whose wearing
apparel is of coarser material. and whose
household living is supplied with cheaper
goods bearing higher rates OF duty. His bonds,
his accumulated riches OF all kinds, and all In
comes arising from them are exempt from all
government burdens, remaining not only un-
diminished and unmolested amidst darkened
homes and fagrant distress, hut growing fat
ter stronger, and more defiant as the days and
the years a. by"
In considering an income tax the most ex.
traordinary and startling fact we discover Is
the very smsl number OF people to whom II ap-
plies
The commissioner OF internal revenue, in a
recent commlpit alton TO the ways and means
COMMITTEES ofthe house, estimates the present
population d the United States at not less
than @Go.00)and the wealth Of the country at
s65,000.0a1 he.or an average OF 81, 900. II there
was an .lef redistribution. His further esti-
mate he.," shss 50 oreat has been the
F,osaeiis3pehed q capital into the ownership OF a
small and powerful class that the tax here pro-
posed on incomes Of over 81 900 will reach only
about 9i, 900 individuals and corporations out
of more than 65GD.OOO.
These figures may we'll give the country
pause, They recall the first days OF Rome.
and other governments both ancient and mod
ern, whose liberties we're lost by the accumu
lation and power OF wealth in the hands OF
patrician aristocracies.
What shall be said Of one OF the leading ar
guments urged against the enactment of an in.
| come tax; We are gravely informed that such
tax can not be collected because of the whole.
sale perjury which income owners will commit
In order to evade the law. II the criminal
classes OF the country or those OF assumed re-
spectability can defeat the enactment OF laws
| by threatening TO commit crime in their viola
| tion, then indeed, have we reached n depth OF
| degradation far beyond the hand or the power
OF resurrection. | will believe nothing so in.
| famous OF the congress OF the United States as
| its submission to threat so atrocious or an
| argument so revolving.
II confess that am shocked inexpressibly
| shocked, to be assured now by gentlemen of
great ability and high position that the princ-
| pal property holders and income owners Of the
United States are ready for the sake of de-
| fraudng the government out OF small pit
,ance to blacken their souls with the detesta-
| BILE crime OF false swearing; to render them
SclNts Nv dSSOClulnS LOT tnltVtS, HouSc-UFeHk-
ers forsers and cutthroats in prison houses OF
this world, and to become everlasting inhabi.
tants Of hell in the world to come"
Taking up next the wool tax he declared
| that II he believed putting wool on the free list
| wouldhurt the farmers he would not vote for
| the bill, but it was a matter of actual dem
| onstratton that free wool, accompanied by
| such reduced rates as can then be placed on
| manufactures OF wool, and which are placed on
| them IN this bill, is one OF the greatest bless.
| ings tlat can befall the farmer
| IIsperoration was as follows:
"SiI, this is the birthday OF Thomas Jefcr
son. One hundred and fifty.one years ago to.
day h. came into the world the greatest eman-
cipator of thought, philosopher of liberty and
teacher OF the natural rights Of man ever
known in human history. The blows he struck
| for fteedom, justice and equality in govern
ment are yet resounding throughout the earth,
and they will never cease to Re heard until the
last shacke OF privilege and tyranny IS
broken Ten days before his soul flight from
| his mountain home he wrote his parting words
to his own countrymen and TO all the races OF
| mankind. With this great dying message be-
| fore US and in its spirit, we take new courage
and go on with our work,
All eyes are open Or opening he said, to
the rights OF man. The general spread OF the
| light OF science has already laid open to every
| view the palpable truth that the mass Of man.
kind has not been born with saddles on their
| backs nor hvorei few booted and spurred,
ready to ridethem legitimately by the grace OF
| Cod Hail mighty message and hail its
speedy and certain fulfllmcnt. III hail the
counsels OF Thomas Jefferson in this hour OF
caste based IN wealth, Of privilege granted by
law, and OF monopoly fattened on the slavery