The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-05-30

the powers of oppression. and dis
aster. II is vonr fqht. Are you
helping any?
SOME FACTS CONCERNING THE In.
COME TAX.
The people en- masse are the back.
bone Of the country. The country
is therefore just as strong as the
people choose to make it. When
they will to do SO, they can sustain
every law, good or bad, for the reg
ulation of the country's affairs. When
they choose, they can overthrow any
law either by violent or peaceful
revolution. The people On masse are
patient and long suffering; but when
they lave been continuously deceiv-
ed and imposed upon, and fully
awake to the fact that deception and
imposition have been practiced on
them, they will correct those abuses
peaceably if they can-forcibly if
they must. These statements are
wildly illustrated by history.
Does it not seem then, that the
wise course for all men, whether
they WELD power through wealth
or through Office, is to see
that this power is SO exercised as to
prevent causes which lead to
violent, national disturbances and to
the overthrow Of government
The oppressive power of wealth is
a matter which is being much studied
at this time. The people of this
country are beginning to see it more
clearly than they have seen it since
the revolutionary war. Protests are
being made galnst it. Themutterings
and rumblings of discomfort are
heard from every quarter in the
land. But instead Of listening to
and needing these omnibus warn
ings, the power of wealth and
Office is increasing in impudence and
arrogance, and openly and brazenly
dsfes the portents Of a possible dis
astrous storm.
The last Congress passed q law
imposing q tax on incomes. The tax
was not burdensome. This law as
sumed that an income of $4,000 q
year was sufficient to supply any
man or family with every actual
necessity and many of the Injuries
Of life. An income not exceeding
that amount was therefore left un-
taxed. The further assumption was
that the sources from which an in
come was derived had the protection
OF the government, and after allow
ing handsome suficiency for any
man, said that any more than q SUI
Aciency should. contribute little some
thing to the expense incurred by the
government for protecting it. Any
intelligent man can see that this law
was one of justice and equity.
There are men and corporations
in the country whose incomes are
immense; and though all they have
is made valuable by the presence Of
the people and protested by the gov
eminent, they did not want to nav
for this protsstion. r They therefore
went before the highest court in the
land. They told this court that .~ssa of
property were being taxed; and they
virtually asked the court to declare
the tax "unconstitutional."!
A little study Of the results Of this
movement is interesting. The Court
is composed Of nine Judges. Eight
Of them hsard the case. A mojori.y
Of them decided that incomes from
bonds and real estate could not be
taxed. The only men on earth who
do not work, but live on the work Of
others, are those who own large
amounts Of bonds and real o.
tate. They get interest on bonds. |
They collect rents from real estate.
1Aess afS the mon who, according to
the Court must not be taxed. There
are men who work farms and opsr-
ate factories, who conduct industrial
establishments and give employment
to many people. Those are the men ,