The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1895-11-21
WHO PAYS THE TAX2


men who have been thinking.
The big questions of production
and distribution are under in
vestigation. There is a search
ing of the hidden mystries of
taxation. Men are asking each
other what effect this tax has,
and that tax, and the other. is
a taxation a blessing? Does q
tax check production? Does it
hinder distribution? Has it a
tendency to promote monopoly?
Is it the bulwark of trusts?
Does it foster corruption? Who
pays it? Who gets the benefit?
Who is injuredf Is it just? Is
it equitable? Can it be shifted?
Who and what are the individ-
uals most anxious to keep it up
and increase it?
The country school house in
every state is ringing with these
questions. The country news
paper is repeating them with
every conceivable vibration.
The corner grocery is the daily
resort of men filled with the
spirit of inquiry and controver-
sy. The great awakening is at
hand-Exchange.
And yet the farmers do not act.
When the assessor comes on his
yearly round and the honest far
mer tells about his real estate, his
household goods, and puts his old
styled piano or his organ or his
watch on the list at what he
thinks 1T might be worth, he
wonders how he will pay the tax.
When he says that his cow Rose
or Boss or whatever else her
name may be, is worth $40 he be
lievesit. His household furniture,
though purchased fifty years ago
is listed at all it would bring un'
der the hammer and more. He
does not that the city chaps have
forgotten all the different thing
they own. He is ignorant thai
their household furniture is scan
ty on that day; he does not know
that the banker and merchan
convert their surplus into imagin
airy greenbacks through their east
fern banker. In short, he doe
not know or care how easy it is Il
swear to this statement and yet a
void collection day, like his neigh
Dor in the city, so he pays the bill
He knows that monopoly is tn
curse Of the country. He is a
ware that the taxes are high ant
that the tariff is unjust. III
, knows this better that the polite
ian, because he pays the bill.
Il But what does he do TO remed
! the evil-the evil that will finall
engulf him in ruin and despair
It is true that the country schoc
5 house is ringing with the propos
: ton. But who makes it2 Til
shyster lawyer generally. TIL
smooth young rascal who loar
money and insures houses undo
the sign Of a lawyers Office an
who rides on a railroad pass. II
is there telling Of the wrongs
corporations, Of politicians-br
: he is there for his own glory--iC
, his own promotion. The countr
, press is also on the alert. I'll
country newspaper rings with ii
yeetiyes against terrible curse
Soon il is sileneed. Paper bill
are to pay. They always con
due. The politician comes wit
a few dollars. II is tempting
The editor takes the hfone.
smokes a profered cigar-he hs
unconsciously gone wronI
j Some do not, but most Of ther
o do.
G And the result2
8 A corrupt and venal crowd ofpO
j itical desperadoes come TO Il
- capital To make laws-each or
having assured his constituent
a that he would give them relic
!. The result is that the tax
piled up higher each year. II
!. crowd Of bummers disperSe ar
3: 60 home and apply for son
+. higher position Of trust and hon
d under a new administration.
" 1.-THE great awakening may
y at hand" but truly il is 10