The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-18
CITIZENSHIP.

our esteemed contemporary the Weich
CIV. va Register. insists that it is not
trying 20 stir up class prejudice in urs-
ing that the rich be made to pay the eX-
pense OF the war with Spain. There
never has been a spark OF prejudice
says the Register, "in our reasons why
those who would be reached by an in
come tax law should pay the war tax
in preference to placing a levy on the
neccssaries Of life
We impeach no mans motive and we
accept our contemporary disclaimer,
but we insist that the effect of the Reg
istors argument is to array class against
class. and to create prejudice against
the rich. Everybody knows that the
millionaires will not 80 on the battle
field" says the Register That statement
must create prejudice and yet it is not
borne out by the fact. Read, for exam
pie the following from the New York
Herald:
There are no two men more eager TO
fight for their country than William As
tor Chanler ana Theodore Roosevelt. The
former is estimated to be worth mill
lion. and the latter a half million. RoOse-
velts Rough Riders" will be unique.
New Yorks men OF fashion will ride flank
TO flank with the untamed cowboys OF the
wild and woolly west. And there will
be no lines drawn. One man Will be as
good as another i'm this organization.
physical strength and endurance being
the only qualification.
IL would be difficult TO estimate accur-
ately the wealth represented by the men
who have Joined Roosevelt. Teddy"
himself as j have said is worth half
million. but there are men in his COM
mand who could buy him out several
times over.
Equally well known as young men OF
wealth and fashion are Reginald ROnalds,
Woodbury. Kane. James H. Burden. Jr.,
and Craig WadsWorth. Each of these
took his own servant although II Is
doubtful If the Quartettc OF Wallets viii
be retained Both Woodbury. Kane and his
brother Nicholson Kane. arc worth I'm
the noighborhood of $4,000. Nicholson
Kane who IS an Annapolis man. is now
seeing service on the St. Paul as special
aid to Captain Sissbee. Another brother
Colonel Delaney Kane. a graduate Of
West Point. will also offer his services 60
the government.
Woodbury. Kane is a noted polo player
and also made a reputation for himself
on the football field at Harvard Young
Wadsworth is a scion of the wealthy
Gereseo family OF that name. tie is
great rider "Reggy" Ronalds IS as
everybody knows a son OF Mrs. Pierre
Lorillard Ronalds. who lives in London.
We mention also the fact that Stewart
NJ and William Kirk Brice, sons Of CAL
win s. Brce. a millionaire, have enlisted
and we could extend the list, If It were
necessary to the argument. We deny
that this is a class war. We deny the
implication Of the Register that I'm Vir-
ginla the soldiers now being mustered in
come from any particular rank in life
They come from all classes and are the
representative men of Virginia
i is the privilege as wen as the duty
Of every citizen 10 bear his share OF the
public burden and we do not see how any
proud American can bring himself TO the
point of saying that he is willing for "the
rich" to pay his part of the cost Of con-
Quoting the war; It is a great privilege
TO be an American taxpayer. for It car
ries with # all the honor and dignity and
rights Of American citizenship. IL is a
proud distinction that no right-thlnklns
man win surrender.