The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-01-13
For the Democratic Advocate.
Letter from Gen. Bradley T. john
son on Equal Taxation.

The following letter was written to IL. Van
deriord, Esq, by Gen. Bradley I. johnson,
under the impression he was still the editor
of the ADVOCATE:
My DEAR YANDERFoRD IL rarely see a
county paper and therefore was more than
pleased at y late number of the DEMocRATIc
ADVOCATE advocating equal taxation. The
vigor, courage and independence OF your
position recalled the great struggl lie of 1S57-60,
when you and | in our youth staked every
thing for equal rights in our fight against he
KnoS Nothings. want to say now that the
fight for equal taxationiu Maryland will have
to be made by the county press. The repre-
sentatives of great aecumulatlons OF capital
nowhere will consent to taxing capital. 1t
is the universal opinion among them that tax
alton of personal property in bonds and stocks
will result in the withdrawal of the capitalist
from the community and thus leave us in the
barbarism of being deprived Of their assist
ance, guidance and support. The fundamen
tai principles of liberty require that each man
shall have the right to work as he pleases,
when he chooses and for such wages as he
agrees to. No one has the right, nor has
everyone together the right, to Interfere with
this fundamental right OF every freeman. And
MS a necessary consequence every man is en-
titled to all the product of his own labor-to
do with it as he pleases-and only so much
can be taken from this product by society as
is his proper proportion to be used for the
support of order and good government.
If more is taken from one class than their
share they are thereby made to contribute to
the support of another class, and they are
robbed to that extent OF that amount of their
earnings.
Tariff taxation under the protective system
is identical in principle with the robbery of
UNEQUAL taxalion-one class is taxed for the
support of another class. The same is true
of exemptions from taxation. A manutac
turer is exempted and the rest of the commu
nifty makes up the taxes he does not pay, that
is, contributes bonus for the protection Of
manufacturers What is the difference in
principle between taxing the rest of the com
nunity TO support the Woodberry cotton
mills by laying a tariff on all imports which
compete with their products or taxing every
body to make up the $1,000 taxes from which
Touring mills are exempt? or taxing every
body to make up the taxes which the stocks
and bonds are not made 10 pay?
The idea and principle of protection is at
the bottom of each-taxing one set of men
for the benefit of another set. 1t is clear that
with little courage this state can be relieved
of all state direct tax. An income tax, made
legal by Constitutional amendment, can
easily be made TO raise enough revenue 10
pay the fixed charges of the state government
and support the public schools. And while
that amendment is being carried through a
thorough system of assessment of personal
property will reduce the direct tax 66 per
cent. The tax is now IL cents on 500 or
whereabouts. A tax on personal property
will reduce it at once to q cents on 500 and
an income tax will wipe it all out. The coun-
try man pays taxes on cows Why not the
bond holder on coupons? The one pays
taxes on farm stock Why not the other on
bonds and stocks?
The only interest have in this matter is
that Justice and right shall control, as cour-
age shall direct, the Democratic party in this
state. For without these principles we shall
lose the state, and without the party good
government is impossible in this state. Wish
ing You success in your effort for equal laws
and equal taxation, am respectfully yours,
BRADLEY 7. JOHNSON.