The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-09-09
THE REFORM CRY.

THE REFORM CRY.
Some people have been fooled into
the idea that the Populist party was
the great champion of the masses
against the expressions of the
classes, the party of the people, the
exponent of the doctrines of needed
reform. 1t may be admitted that it
was this idea that caused many
voters to flock around the standard
of the new party. Some recognized
the fact that the great Democratic
party enuncia ted correct principles,
but they were led to believe that
Democracy was too slow in insSitut-
ing reforms and in enforcing those
that had been promulgated. They
wanted a shorter road to the goal
and they were persuaded that the
new party offered both the way and
the means of transportation.
This delusion took such a strong
hold that recourse was had to trad
ing and dickering with party that
was the opponent of nearly every
thing that the reformers advocated.
So, finally, it came about that
through this trading process a
majority of the State offices fell into
the hands of representatives of the
new party.
The office of State Auditor, in the
pie-traffic arrangement, went to a
man who had made himself hoarse
by loud lamentations over the
wrongs inflicted upon the poor man,
and who, soon after his own poverty
was relieved by liberal allowance
from the public crib, began to talk
about the meagre reward received by
the States officers and advocated
increased salaries, and who, now,
boldly announces that the State
Board of Equalization, a body
created by the fusion Legislature,
has not advanced the value of the
rich mans property but has in
creased the value OF the poor mans
property, for purposes of taxation,
from 500 to 1000 per cent, and
pronounces this action "the best
work ever done in North Carolina"
In the face of this declaration and
the actions of others who were
elevated to position by honest, but
misguided and deceived, members of
the Populist party, is it not appar
ent that the cries of reform by the
political traders and office seekers
was a hollow mockery and was used
only as a stepping-stone to personal
ambition and means to gee a seat
at the pie counter?
Let those who love their State and
who have been hoodwinked by the
chicanery of political tricksters re-
feet upon what has already been
done by those whom they trusted
and who have deceived them, and
keep an eye upon their future course,
and discern for themselves that pie,
and not reform, is the guiding motive
of the office-holder by reason of
tricks and trades.
Let them, also, compare, with i'm
partiality and in the light of truth,
Democratic administration and Re
publican administration, and Demo-
cratic administration and Fusion
administration, and ask themselves
which is the best for the people OF
North Carolina.
Referring to Auditor Ayers boast,
mentioned above, the Statesville
Landmark says:
eff this injustice has been put upon
the people it has been done by the
fusion party and it is very great
outrage. The taxes of town, county,
State and country should bear as
equally as possible upon all, what
they have and what they are able to
pay being the basis of the levy; but
if there is any discrimination at all ii
should be against the rich and not
against the poor. Each should pay
on what he has aud hence the Justice
of the demand for an income tax;
hence the justice of the demand that
tariff duties should be so imposed as
to weigh heaviest upon the goods
and articles consumed by the well to-
do and the rich and lightest upon the
common articles used by the weak
and struggling. To say of the work
of a board that it is the best ever
done in the State, and that it raises
the taxes of the poor from 500 to
900 per cent, are two propositions
which sense of justice and fair deal
ing will not permit to dove-tail. i
the poor have been thus dealt by il
is matter not for boast butshame.'
DANGEROUS ASSAULTS.