The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-07-06
Worried, Too.


AK is paternalism of government, and |
70 this theory the party has always been
strongly antagonistic. OF coure an in
,ome tax is only q step in that direction;
but after it is in operation, the next move |
will be for the control of the railways and |
.elegraphs 10 be transferred TO the author
ties at Washington City, and then 1t will
not be long before citizenship in this re-
public will he simply wheel in the great
and individuality will be obiiter-
ated. If Democracy means the rule of
the people. it cannot be consistent and en-
dorse a strong Capitalization of power.
With many is q well grounded complaint
that the government is too far removed
from the people, and they should be ieal-
nus of any movement that would deprive
them of their liberties. The tender care of a
father and mother is very necessary for the
infant, but In political affairs the citizen
desires to think and act for himself, and
not to occupy the unenviable position of
being an inanimate portion of machinery
that only moves when acted upon and pos
sessed of no power of violition of itself.
Now, we ask the Mountaineer earnestly
to tell us upon what hypothesis, method of
or analogy, its editor arrives
at the conclusion that the adoption of the
income tax bill is a step in the direction
of paternalism. When the United States
government uses its clearly delegated tax
ing power in laying tax upon the income
of its wealthy citizens, can this act be re-
garded as The assumption by the govern
ment of kind of fatherly relation 10 the
people, involving strict and close supervis-
ion of their business and social interests,
upon the theory that they are incapable OF
managing their own affairss If not, (aad
no man of reason can so regard it, then
it must be clear to every one that there is
no paternalism in the act. In searching
into mans business under the income
tax law, there is no purpose on the part of
the government to supervise the manage
ment of his business in order TO make It a
paying one, but, on the contrary, TO de-
mand from the tax payer a part cf his in
come to support the government. This is
the very opposite of paternalism, as any
one who compreheuds the import of gov
ernmental paternalism must know. Will
the MOuntaineer explain upon what hy-
pothesis it predlcates the statement that
the next move after the adoption Of the
income tax will be for the control of the
railways and telegraphs to Se transferred
to the authorities at Washington City p?
There is 70 such correlation between these
two subjects. The Mountaineer further
says: "If democracy means the rule Of
the people, it cannot be consistent and er-
dorse a.. strong Capitalization of power.
To this We reply that democracy means
the rule of the. people, and the democrats,
in endorsing the income tax proposition.
do not endorse a strong Capitalization Of
power. The party is as much opposed tC
Capitalization. of power as ever. The tax
ing power Of congress is strong one, bu
it has always belor ged to that body, and
its delegation to congress by the states in
framing the constitution has never been
questioned. So, there is no encrcachmeni
upor the rights of the people when con-
gress exercises this power. In fact 'hC
the taxing power is absolutely necessary
to the existence and perpe,uitY of tie gov
eminent. Money to run the gov Inmen
could not be raised, except through th'
taxing power, and without revenues th'
wheels of the government would soor
cease to move. Our colemporary furIheI
says: with many il is well grounded
complaint that the government is too fal
removed from the people"
Indeed! This is a significant confession
to be made BY a republican neWspar er
One of the cardinal plsrIs in the democrati
platform of faith is opposition 10 the cea
trahzst;on of power in the federal govern
ment. For that reason the democrats hav
always con.snded for a strict construction
Of the constitution OF the United States
while republicans have held TO a hbera
construction Of that instrument. Under
strict construction it would appear tha; IN
powers not dele gtsed 10 the United Safe
by the constitution, nor prohibited by it &
.he states, a:e reserved to the states respect
lively or to the people.
The powers Of gtvernm-rt exercised b,
the states are always close 10 and e1erciseC
under the immediate supervision of the Peo
pie, while those exercised by the genera
government are far removed from the pee
| pie. The democrats would restrict lh,
powers of the general gDvornmsn. 10 ihos
alone delegated to 1t by the constitution
under strict construction OF that instru.
ment. The MouLtsineer is getting on tn
democratic platform on that point, and ",
reJoiee much 'henat. No more pro
nounced example of governmental Paternal
ism could lie found than that of
protective tariff. Heie The governn ent as
sumes tha. manufacture is incapable O
making his business a success. and henc
throws around him the protective tariff b.
which 1t assumes a Kind OF fa;herly reIa.
lion 20 the manufac: urer, entsring into part
nership with him in his business becaus,
be was incapable of making success If /
himself. The sub,reasury scheme Of Ia,
po pulists is anttner important example o.
patefn2lism. All such schemes shoul,
meet the earnest prole,t of every American
citizen who believes in the inest;inabie priv.
flepes and benefits of an individuality in in