Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-04-10

II
suddenly sprung upon the country in
the hour of its distress, undemocratlc
IN its nature and sOcialistic in its tend
encies-I enter the protest OF the people
Of tho State of New York. They utter
" dissent from any proposal to get rev.
enue for the general government by
taxing incomes. Their dissent Is prac-
tically unanimous and altogether i'm
placable."
THE senior Senator from Indiana,
Mr.. VOORHEES,, calls this allegation
noisy and resounding charge Let me
tell him that 1t is not half so noisy as
the cons . t vituperations which we
hear on every hand from blatant dema-
gogues who are abroad in the land loud
IL inveighing against the wealth OF the
country and impudently demanding its
con6scation through every means which
their devillsh ingenuity can invent.
THE public should not be nisled In
to the belief that only those whose In
comes exceed S4, 900 are affected by THIS
bill.
THAT IS A MISTAKEN IDEA.
''In the first place, all those having
incomes less than $1,000 but more than
So, 500 are put to the annoyance OF
making sworn returns, and they neglect
il at their peril.
'In the second place, 1t may reason
ably be apprehended that some portion
of the tax paid will reimburse itself oy
an increase OF rents, where the income
was derived from that source.
$50 poor tenants may be atected In
some degree as we'll as rich landlords.
The bill seriously affects the rights ana
interests Of building and loan associa-
tions throughout the country incorpo-
rated under State laws. The Senate
amendments do not cure the defects
complained OF.
In outlining his position, he said that
not one dollar of tariff taxation should
be imposed except what is necessary for
the needs of the government, economi-
cally administered, but whatever those
needs are the necessary revenues there
for should be supplied from tariff taxa
ton and that alone, save and except the
taxes upon liquors, oleomargarine and
tobacco, 70 which the country has long
been accustomed, and which, Tor ooVl-
Gus reasons, need not be disturbed.
For my own part, as Democrat, he
said. prefer indirect taxation and tar
iff reform above direct taxes and tariff
extinction. l prefer taxing foreign
products rather than home products. l
follow Jefferson IN regarding even the
species OF indirect taxation on home
products by internal revenue war taxes
as not good To be extended, and the
first TO be rid Of when their need is past.
''IF M'KINLEIIsM Is SOCIALISM
for the benefit Of the rich, and the in
come tax is socialism FOR the benefit OF
the poor, no true American Democrat
will look to the hair OF the dog TO cure
his bite. American Democrats will re-
ieet socialism Of both kinds. II my
cOupsels were needed l would surprise
and satisfy the country by the cOnserv-
atism Of our progress in revenue reform.
The Mckinley bill lost the country TO
our opponents by its extreme features
in one direction, and we should avoid
the opposite extreme.
In conclusion, be defined his position
In these earnest words:
~ stand ready TO support any reason
able measure for tariff reform framed
within the lines and based upon the
principles which I have here partially
indicated, aud which were fully set
forth in my speech In opening the
political campaign in Brooklyn, on Sep
tember 10, 1892. / stand to-day where
! stood then. / have nothing TO add
and nothing to retract.
II will cheeriuliy vote for the Mills
bill and join with you in making many
material reductions of duties therein.
/ am ready 70 waive all minor difference
OF details which do not involve Ques-
tion Of principle.
Having spoken to-day especially
upon the income tax feature OF this Dill,
/ reserve the eXpeesoion OF my views
upon It's other features until near the
close OF the discussion.
"Mr. President, this is an impartant
crisis in the history Of the Democratic
party. The failure OF the tariff re-
vision, means the defeat, the demorall-
zstion, If not the division and annihila-
tion of our party. Moreover, it means,
as we believe, injury to the best inter
ests of the country. Let those who in
sist upon injecting into this DILL this
odiouS and undemocratic feature OF an
income taxa relic Of war legislation
pause and reflect upon the possible con-
sequences OF
THEIR UNwARRANTED DEMANDS.
"They snouId realize that it means the
loss OF the control OF this Senate, now
nearly equally divided between the two
great parties; it means the loss OF the
next House Of representatives.; it means
the loss OF the electoral votes OF New
York, New Jersey, Connecticut and
probably every Northern State; and
finally, 10 means the loss of the next
Presidency and all that it implies.
They should recollect that the In
come tax feature Is justly regarded In
New York and many other States as a
scheme Of SpOilation and unwarranted
sectional attack upon their citizens OF
means.
"They should consider whether there
Is anything about an income tax so
sacred, so desirable, so popular, so just
and so deiensible that its maintenance
is worth the risk which they are precip-
itating. Let them remember 1860 and
the ultra demands then made upon the
Democratic party, 20 which it could not
honorably aecede, demands which led
20 our division aud defeat; let them re-
member the triumphs OF our opponents,
the civil war that followed, the devaSta-
tion, the suffering, the humiliation
that followed, the military and
the carpetbag governments which
flourished, the force bills which
threatened and all the incidents Of the
terrible years which darkened our
party's and our country's history from
1860 70 1854, when, through wiser coun-
sells, moderate action, conciliatOrY meth
-, Gan,aa