The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-05-02

$50 to 500. Hill lands that were
once worth s25 per acre can now
be bought for $40.
If protection does so much for
farmers, why is this sog VIII not
some of my Republican friends in
form me why these lands have not
advanced in value in view of this
wonderful home market that pro-
lection is said to give us2 The as
sessed values of farm lands does not
give a true idea of the demoraIiza.
ton in prices. l believe that very
little farm land, improved or othes-
wise, viii bring its assessed value.
i know that this is true in my own
section. Something has taken pros
perity from the fields and planted it
in the great cities, whore luxury
sits in unrivaied splendor; from
whose palaces go forth pleasure
seekers to cross the Atlantic, with
ability to spend one hundred mill
ions Of American gold in the Old
World each year. and Jet unwilling
TO contribute TO that Government
which protects their homes and
their wealth in their absence even
the mite of per cent on their net
incomes.
What is this subtle power that
has enabled the few to gather to
so rapidly SO large a
share of the country's wealth. The
explanation is foundin the fact that
the people interested in protection,
interested in banks and money
lending, have been allowed to make
our laws for a generation. Aye,
they have been invited to fix at
their own figures the tax that the
people should pay to them, and they
have not been slow to avail them-
selves of their opportunities. The
power to tax is a power that should
be most zealously guarded. In our
case it has been most shamefully
abused. The Republican party has
been and is now in unholy alliance
with these plunderers. It says to
them: "Give me gold to pay for
the blocks of FIVE and will allow
you to name the rate at which the
people of the United States shall be
taxed to fill your Golfers"
Gentlemen declaim against an in
come tax becanse its tendency, as
they say, will be to establish classes
among citizens.
Mr.. Chairman, we have classes
now. Have you never heard of the
Coupon Clipping Glass, those who
toll not, neither do they spin2 A
class composed of people made rich
by class legislation, and largely ex-
empt from all taxation by reason of
the law which prohibits the taxing
of Government bonds. There is an
other class, unhappily large and
growing larger-an Office holding
class, created by the civil-service
law with the intent to deprive the
people of the privilege of naming
their own servants. The gentleman
from New York, Mr.. Cochran, says
that in passing this measure we are
seeking to oppress a class of our
citizens, and almost in the Same
breath tells us that he does not
know one rich corporation or one
rich man who objects to this tax,
but that they in fact desire it, be-
cause it will afford them distinc-
ton above their fellow-citizens.
Mr.. Chairman, this powerful ar
gument is on par with all of the
reasons given by the opponents of
this tax, arguments SO childish and
contradictory as to be ridiculous.
1t has been shown that it is just
tax, easily and cheaply collected;
that through its operation the Treas
ury will receive some contribution
from sources heretofore barren; that
it is tax easy to pay because it
never falls on the unfortunate.
Let us not be deferred by the cry
of class legislation; it comes from
the very men who by the aid of
vicious laws have been enabled to
turn all the little streams of pros
perity into their deep channels of
wealth.
How can the Government by law
bestow prosperity upon a part of its
citizens? What has the Govern
ment to give, but something which
it takes from the peopie2 And can
it promote prosperity by taxing
one part of the people and giving
to another2 Rather let the taxes
be levied for the support of the
Government alone, and let all pay
in proportion to their ability.