Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-28
The Democratic Rout.

The income tax is the vital point of the
Gratis in congress. That it is not Demo
cratic, that it has never Teen favored by
Democratic conventions or votes, that it
was savagely denounced by the Demo
cratic party when it was imposed as a
necessity during the war, and by leaders
as prudent as Mr.. Tilden resisted to the
end as outrageous and unconstitutional,
that it is n glaring violation of the prin-
ciple, once dear to the Democratic party,
which demands equal rights for all. rich
or poor, only proves how far the Demo
Gratis of today have descended from
Democratic principles. For years it has
been charged that the Democratic party
had become infected with Populist here
Sizes, The income tax in the Democratic
revenue bill of 1894 is a confession that
the charge was true.
This one indecent and unjust measure
has become the main object of most
Democrats in congress. for which they
fight more desperately than any other
part of the revenue bill. In fact, the en-
tire measure has been twisted out of ali
respectable shape and made contem ptible
in the eyes of intelligent Democrats, for
the express purpose Of forcing this same
income tax upon the country. The
motive is as indecent as the measure
These congressman discovered from the
elections of 1898 that they were doomed
to destruction AS party and in most of
the districts and states unless they could
radically change their position. The only
chance which many Of them could see for
personal safety was in an appeal to the
property hating and socialistic notions
which formed the basis of the Populist
movement, and they set themselves to
make that appeal, regardless of the fate
Of their party, as rats desert a sinking
ship.
Most of them are perfectly aware that
the tax is not necessary, for ample reve-
nue. has been collected under the present
law, and could be collected under q tariff
for revenue only. They know that it
would be found an almost impossible tax
to collect, and therefore almost worthless
as a reliance for treasury in trouble
They know that it does not encourage
thrift nor provide larger help in accumu-
lated capital for productive industries
They know that it would not improve,
but would inevitably debauch the public
morals But they think it would catch
votes for them in certain districts or
states, and therefore care nothing for its
public influence. This is in the last de-
gree dishonorable. The men who barter
off public welfare for private advantage
gre morally just as guilty and as base as
he who sells his vote in congress for a
vulgar bride in cash.
When men are in that state of mind the
most odious Of trusts finds it easy to buy
or to befool them. So they were told that
the bill would be beaten beyond a ques-
ton unless they allowed the whiskey and
sugar rings to fix the bill as they pleased
of course they consented; such men were
ripe for consent to anything, however rot
ten, If it promised help to them. The
sugar ring has been bartering with all
the other rings and monopolies, and the
willing tools Of corruption vote exactly rs
It orders every time. Their care for per-
sonal honor vanished when they set til n
selves to barter of the principles of their
party for Populist votes.-[New York
Tribune.