The Portland daily press., 1895-02-27

and it would conduct the government
in the days when the Republican party
should be no more. (Applause.)
j. T. FITZGERALD
OF Boston being INTRODUCED next, was re-
ceived with loud shouts. He launched
very soon inc an elaborate defence of the
income tax appealing to the prejudices
of the poor against the rich. Some of
the statistics which Mr.. Fitzgerald gave
and alleged to be foundation for justi-
flying the tax, were embodied in the fol-
lowing portions:
"To show the unequal distribution of
wealth i'll this country today, | wish to
quote a statement of Mr.. George K.
Holmes, of the census department., in an
article contrib by him in the Polit-
ical Science Quarterly.
"Ninety-one per cent of the ~, eco. 1852
families of the country own no more
than 90 per cent of the wealth, and nine
per cent of the families own about II
per cent of the wealth. Up to the time
of the civil war, this country was pros
perous, and the wealth distributed
equally, and there were not two men
in the whole country who were worth a
million of dollars.
Under the beneficial system of taxa
tion put into operation by tie Repu bill
can party, what condition OF things do
we find for the past thirty years?
In 1850, the assessed wealth of this
country was $4,000, 600, and of this
the farmers were worth $4,000, 900, GOO.
In 1860 the assessed wealth was SIG, COO,
900, 600, and the farmers were worth ST.
900, 00O,0 900. In 1870 the assessed wealth
was $50, 600, 900, 900, and the farmers were
worth Sl1, 200, 900, 600. In 1880 the as
sesed wealth was s45, 900, 0o0,0 and of
this the farmers were worth $l2, 900, 000-
900. In 1890 the assessed wealth was
S62, 900, 900, 900 and of this the farmers
were worth $4,000, 00o, coo; and from
this SIS, 900. 900, 900 deduct the 50, 000,-
600, coo OF mortgage, and it will leave the
farmers worth So, 000. 900, 600. These fig
ures show that while just after the war
the farmers owned over one-half the
wealth of this country, now they have
been robhed of everything but one-sixth.
This state of affairs could not exist I'M
der equal laws.
"The amount Of wealth that has been
drawn from the wealth producers has
been enormous, and the only explanation
is the tax that has been levied in the
name of protection on the many for the
benefit OF the few.
"The average annual income of the
richest 1U0 Englishnsen is about $450,O00,
but the average annual income of the
richest 100 Americans is not less than
ST, 500, 600. Tt follows inevitably, then,
that wealth must be far more eoncen-
trated III the United States than in
Great Britain, because where enormous
amounts of wealth are placed in few
hands, this necessarily implies that the
great mass of people have small posses
sions.
IL. 4
that if the Republican method of TAXA
tion had continued in force, the United
States would be substantially owned by
less than $4,000 persons, constituting
less than one to 500 of the adults of male
population. Inc ratio is now one to 60.
alt seems just and proper to compel
the very rich to pay tax on these great
aggregatlons of wealth, and thus in some
measure relieve the many from the bur-
den of taxation"
The income tax was a very popular
SD bject with the Y.M.D.C.sif the APP
plause the speaker received was Fanny
sign. AT the close three cheers were Civ
en- for "the Democratic representative
from New England" 54M
A letter of regret was read from Hon.
John W.Deering, after which
HON. CHARLES F. JOHNSON
was introduced and received with loud
applause. He said he couldn't see why
he, who b adj been buried last Septem bel
by 10000 plurality, had teen invited tc
be present, unless it was to satisfy the
morbid curiosity of men to view the
badly wounded. daughter
He was all right physically, but men.
tally he had been much shaken up. He
thought he should feel better when this
Congress should have gone home.
daughter He had had presentimen,
that he should not be elected governor
as eaily as August, and he became re.
conoiled when he thought of the troub
esame questions to come before the ex.
ecutive. There was the $3.50 piggery
at Augusta (laughter), the great CUES
ton whether there were lunatics enough
in eastern Maine to justify hospital
then the State House roof leaked, anc
the place wasn't pleasant; the S tate
printing question Qaughter) was {
burning one, and the ring at Augusta
was horri fed at the idea that PORTLAND
could do the printing for $1,000 less year
ly. When the State Capital should be re-
moved to Portland he would be glad t.
be governor. (Applause)
Mr.. johnson then went on to say thai
last September phaianx of 80, 00(
Democrats soiemnly staid away from tn,
polls Why was it? 1t was disgust a
the action of those who had been en-
trusted win the duty of enacting Demo
cratic principles into law.
MR.. GOLDTHWAITE'S SPEECH,
Colonel Bradbury reserved the senti
ment "The Democratic Party TO Thu
last, and introduced Tristram Goldth
waite, ESQ.,, of Biddetord as an old tim,
Democrat, and as being just the MAJ
to respond. "The War Eaglen of Bidde
ford said that while this is pretty darl
| tina For tba nep,oora+;o ,,op+v - -