Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-10-31
$tauntolt Spectator.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 81
TAXATION THE MAIN ISSUE.

In no preceding canvass has the
main issue been more important or
more readily discerned than in the
present one, and that issue is, whether
the people should vote for a represent
ative of party the policy of which is
ly, or for representative of a party
the policy of which is to relieve them
from such taxation. That is the main
issue in this Congressional election,
and it is SO palpably so that no one
who gives it a moments consideration
can fail to see 1t, and it would be Won
derful to see the people go to the polls
and vote to burden themselves with
unjust taxation, instead of voting to
relieve themselves from it. The peo-
pie have been unjustly taxed by the
legislation of the Republican party,
and have been relieved to a consider
abb" degree by the legislation OF the
Democratic party, and on the 9th of
November they will decide by their
votes whether or not they wish TO re-
turn to the system of taxation of the
Republican party. The high tariff
policy of the Republican party taxes
the many for the benefit of the few
This the Democratic party believes to
be wrong, and its policy is to secure
the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der. Its aim is to relieve the masses of
the people of unnecessary taxation ;
unjust taxation. The Democratic
party believes that taxes should be
paid by persons in proportion to their
ability to pay, and that they should be
taxed on what they have and not on
what they consume, as the high tariff
makes them do, and thus imposes on a
poor man, with a large family, more
taxation than on a rich one with a
smaller family. This, the Democrats
do not think is right, and consequently
oppose the policy of high tariff, and
have reduced the duties under the Nc
Kinley bill and the people are now be-
ginning to reap the benefit of such re-
duction.
The Democrats have not only done
that in the interests of the masses, but
with the view of imposing the burdens
of government in an equitable manner,
and making persons support it in pro-
portion to their ability-taxing them
on what they have and not on what
they consume-they passed the income
tax law, imposing a tax of two per
cent on incomes in excess of $4,000. In
this connection we quote the language
of Senator Vest, who, in speaking Of
the Democratic tariff bill, said =
IF there were no reduction of duties
in the new law should gladly support
it because it provides for a tax upon all
net incomes above $4,000 year.
All taxation should be in just proper
ton to the protection given by the
Government.
Under the tariff system advocated by
the Republican party, the poor man
pays as much to the support of the
National Government as the multi
millionaire. The tariff is tax upon
consumption, not upon property. The
rich pay no more under the system
than the poor, while the poor man is
called upon in time of war to risk life
and limb to defend the millions of
boarded wealth which pay nothing
towards supporting the National Gov
eminent. 1t is notorious that money,
bonds and personal property largely
escape all taxation, leaving the burden
to fall upon land, which cannot be con
cealed nor removed. Why should sur
plus income escape taxation which is
placed upon the toiling poor? Why
should the dividends of corporations
which have been lately protected by
the army of the United States not be
taxed to support that army ~