Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-11-29
THE SILVER QUESTION.
CONTINUED from last week.I

Another subject that is always of
great Importance to every citizen is that
of taxation. The taxes, national, state.
town, and as far in the divisions of
society as they extend, are large. The
aggregate of them is an immense
amount, and the payment of them with
each individual is not matter of small
moment, but generally attended with
Inconvenience, and often with much diff
ficulty.
1t is evident that the taxes ought to be
distributed equally among the citizens in
accordance with their ability to pay.
Adam Smith, who is held as highest
authority on the subject of taxation. says:
"rhe subjects of every state ought to con-
tribute towards the support of its gov
eminent as nearly as possible in proper
ton to their respective abilities, that is,
in proportion to the revenue which they
respectively enjoy under the protection
of the state. The expense of govern
ment to the individuals of a great nation
is like the expense of management to the
Joint tenants of great estate, who are
all obliged to contribute in proportion to
their respective interests in the estate.
, In the observation or neglect of this
maxim consists what is called the equal
ity or inequaltv of taxation Mill
says: Equality of taxation as a max
i'm of politics means equality of sacrifice.
1t means the apportioning the contribu-
ton of each person toward the expenses
of government, so that he shall feel
neither more nor less from his share of
the payment, than any other person eX-
periences from his"
1t is on this principle of equality of tax
alton, or equality of sacrifice, that an
income tax is based. And there is and
can be no ulster tax. 1t is assessed upon
those that are the best able to pay. 1t is
a tax upon wealth. But there is
another strong practical reason for an
income tax; that it reaches much prop
erty not otherwise taxed. 1t is well
known that a large part of the personal
property Of the wealthy escapes taxation.
New methods of assessment are necessary
to correct this, and probably none so good
has been attempted as the income tax.
The income tax for national expen-
SEES is, too, especially just in the United
States because real estate and personal
property now pay no taxes what
ever to the national government.
The government Is supported almost en-
tirely by duties on imports and excise
duties, the burden of which is dis
tributed over the whole population,
and therefore the very rich pay but
little if any more than those who are
poor. But the property of the rich has to
be protected. Forts are built and armies
and naves supported IN part for this
purpose. And it is eminently proper that
the owners of much property should con-
tribute their share towards its protection.
1t is true that wealth, through the use of
money, in employing the ablest lawyers of
the country, has succeeded in inducing
the supreme court to reverse their de-
/ '
interpose "A check to the income tax. SO
also state courts, undoubtedly in the
same interests, have interfered at several
points with the operation of the inherit
ance tax, that is also tax upon wealth.
But no court can ultimately over-rule the
will of the people, for all courts are final
ly dependent upon them for their power
and existence. In making new appoint
mcnts the people can see that sound udg
es are chosen; or if it is necessary to avoid
vacilating decisions, the Constitution can
be altered. TO enforce the income tax
probably both of these methods will be
used, and should it become necessary to
carry out the will of the people in this
or other matters, the powers of the
supreme court itself, as now existing, will
be abrOgated and another one created
more in accord with free institutions.
We come now to the political aspect
of the question As we have seen, the
attempted change of the money stand
ard in this country was done furtively.
Not single ole of the honest veomanry
of the great American nation was taken
into the confidence of those attempting
it. The attempt was distinctly and en-
tirely move of the money power in the
onward progress of its rule. When it
was discovered a storm of Indignation
arose. Had this been well directed it
would have restored blmetalism. But
the leaders of the plutocracy were active
to elude and alert to stem the tide. The
power they represented was thoroughly
organized, and too confident in its re-
sources to be overthrown by anything
but the most able and determined Oppo-
stion, and the time of that was not yet
come.
a number of causes have retarded the
opposition. Thus the interests of many in