The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-10-07


In the course of his remarks, Mr..
Fairbanks said:
"1he people of Indiana expect us to
relieve them from the cruel aud unjust
burden imposed upon them by the
Democratic tax law.
"They well understand that when
ever Democracy has been invested with
power in the state, the debt has been
increased until the burden has become
unbearable.
.They have no confidence in Demo
cratic financiering, and well founded is
their distrust.
''The creating Of debt in this rich
and splendid state Of upward of -, ,000,-
600 is facrant abuse Of power.
"The people will always Loyalty sup
port the state and pay the taxes neces-
sary 10 defray the expenses of the gov
ernment honestly and economically in
Cured, and any party that recklessly
increases obligation, should be repudi-
ated at the polls
"The present odious tax law IL y
Democratic measure passed to rescue
the financial credit Of the state.
1.-The state was running in debt at
the rate of nearly s500.0 900 per annum.
1.-The eastern holders of the bonds de-
manded their interest when it was due.
Current expenses had to be met, and
the Democratic legislature passed the
present tax law as the best expression
of its financial wisdom.
IL misinterpret the signs of the times
If the people do not repudiate the law
and the Democratic party at about one
and the same time III November next
"No law ever rested more unequally
upon those who should bear the burden.
than does this.
1.-The people already heavy laden with
unjust taxes are compelled TO submit TO
additional exactions.
Farmers have been compelled TO pay
on their farms and improvements, and
householders on their lots and houses
beyond all reason and right, all Of which
you should remember is the enforced
tribute of the Democratic party.
How long will the patient people en-
dure these things?
"How long will they elect Democratic
members Of the legislature who do not
possess the discriminating ability to
place the financial affairs of the state on
a broad and conservative basis and who
will not more carefully legislate in the
interest of the peoplef
Too much money lis wasted in profit.
gate and expensive administration of
this state.
"The people are paying too dearly for
the privileges they ENJOY, but 80 long as
the Democratic Legislature is in author
ity they are powerless to escape.
There Is one way TO cure the tax
law, and that is to radically revise it.
1.-The inequalities can be effectually
removed in that way.
"And il should be SO revised that II
will etfectually relieve the farmers and
householders from the present grievous
burdens 80 unjnstly imposed. +"
Mr. Fairbanks manifestly drew his
inspiration from his corporation asso-
citation and his desire TO render them
service by dodging taxation.
Nor was the convention, over which
he presided. more fortunate in its decla-
ration 1t sought TO secure the friend.
ship of those who for years had seques-
tered the taxables, and declared:
"We arraign the Democratic party Of
Indiana for enacting an unequal and
uHJusl tdA INV.
The declaration Of the Fort Wayne
convention and the speech of Mr.. Fair
banks constitute remarkable blending
Of stupidity and cupidity, for which Re-
publican platforms and Republican
speakers have won a wide recognition.
Nor Is the impudence of the party less
pronounced, for now they are claiming
to have reduced the debt of the state,
but in so far as it has been reduced,
Democratic Legislation has supplied the
means by which the reduction has been
accomplished.
This fact is clearly shown in the off.
cial figures already produced. but in
view of some of the declarations of Mr..
Fairbanks, it seems expedient to add
few more official figures to still further
demonstrate the wisdom of the Demo
cratic tax law"
This Democratic tax law, which Mr..
Fairbanks denounced in his Fort Wayne
speech, and which he declared had i'm.
posed unjust burdens" upon the peo-
pie. sought first, to find 1.-The true cash
value of property" and second. to find
millions Of property in the hands of
which paid no tax at all,
and place it upon the tax duplicate.
These laudable purposes We're attained
and no injustice was done any citizen Of
the state.
Mr.. Fairbanks declared that the peo.
pie of Indiana "have no confidence in
Democratic flnanciering" and this, he
said. at time when democratic finan.
ciering" had added to the tax duplicate,
taxables amounting TO 1897. 5Sl ,55i.
His inordinate partisanism 80 dis
torted his vision and perverted his judg.
ment. so incapacitated him for stating
facts regarding measure relating to
the welfare Of the state. that to crafty
his implacable hostility to the Demo-
cratic party. he became one OF the most
blatant enemies Of Indiana. aud this,
too. not because the tax law worked any
injustice 10 any citizen OF Indiana, but
because the Democratic tax la w, by in.
augurating righteous proceedings, un-
aa RI had millions ~ pr.,parfv tho ox..,,...