The Opelousas courier., 1894-04-14
Senator Voorhees, on the Income Tax.

During the discussion of the tariff bill
i'm the United Senate last week Mr..
VOORHEES, spoke as follows of the portion
thereof referring to the income tax
proposition !:
The proposition contained in the
pending bill to levy a tax OF 2 per cent
on all net incomes OF corporations and
of individuals in excess of $4,000 per an
nun is so just and equitable toward the
handwriting tax-paying people OF
meagre throughout the entire
or explanation would be necessary here
or anywhere else.
But the narrow and corrOding selfish
ness of riches has been aroused by this
measure of justice into fierce resentment
and contention. We hear on all
hands the dictatorial voice Of individ-
ual and corporation wealth demanding
that it shall not be disturbed by the
slightest touch of the tax gatherer,
whatever may be the demands of the
government or the oppression OF the
toiling masses.
For no earthly consideration would ]
paint an unjust OF overweight pic
tule of the dangerous ~pretensiOns and
iptolerable arrogance of accumulated
wealth now manifest in this country !;
but, speaking in the fear Of my Maker,
| devoutly believe that the limit Of en-
durance has been reached that the
time has come for a test to be made be-
tween the power of boarded money and
the power of productive labor; that the
people from this time forward, more
than ever before, will organize and take
rapid and heroic measures against the
continued and brutal dictation Of the
p'utocracy against the paramount in
tluence of wealth against the rule and
supremacy of the rich in shaping the f.
%nancial policy of this government in
their own interests.
When the day shall dawn in which
the farmer, the mechanic and the wage
worker shall alike have the right and
the privilege to go into the open liber-
ated markets of the land, buy where
their hard-earned money will buy most
for their wants, with none to modest, to
assess, to levy, to take toll or to tax,
then, indeed, will the millennium of la
Dor have come, aud all the sons and
daughters of toll shall rise up and call
their government blessed.
Sir, this is the birthday of Thomas
jefferson. One hundred and ffty-one
years ago to-day he came into the world
the greatest emancipation of thought.
piiioSoPuSA VI ifoSltJ ~ tSNShSA Va
natural rights of men ever known in
human history. The blows he struck
for freedom, justice and equality in gov
eminent rise %resounding throughout the
earth, and they will never cease to be
heard until the last shackle of privilege
aud tyranny is broken. Ten days be-
fore his soul took flight from his noun.
tain home he wrote his parting words
to his own countrymen, and to all the
races of mankind. With this great dy.
ing message before us and in it's spirit
we take new courage and go on with
our work. Cali eyes are open, OF open.
ing,"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 a favored few booted
and spurred, ready to ride them legiti'
mately by the grace of God"
Hail mighty message and hail it,
speedy and certain fulfllment. All
hail the counsels of Thomas Jefferson in
this hour Of caste based on wealth, OF
privilege granted by law and of mon,
opoly fastened on the slavery Of labor.