Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-11


there is the most justice to all the
people, the poor as we'll as the rich,
in addition to what I have already
suggested, they should have report
cd provision for an Income tax.
Then the rich, those who have
the money, would have to pay into
the revenues that are necessary to
run this war, and it is right that it
should be so for the man
who has the money is the
man who "talks'' war, and is not
satisfied without rumors of war, at
least. But the poor man is the
one who has the fighting. to do.
He has to bear all the hardships.
And now you bring in a measure
here which heaps up his burdens
but the higher by still further
taxing some of his necesssries.
If a poor man is picked up and
made to do the fighting for cause,
you who are in luxury and plenty
and can stay at home and hoard
up your money ought at least be
made to pay the expenses of the
fighting. And this would be the
effect Of an income tax, and that
is WHY I am in favor of it.
But you say it is unconstitu-
tionall tits impractical The Su-
creme Curt to the contrary not
withstanding, I believe that is all
stuff, for we have had an income
tax in operation in this country.
If it was not unconstitutional
then, why is it now? If it was not
impractical then, why is it now?
And even if it be granted that
it is unconstitutional, we could
bring itwithin the decision of the
Supreme Court; and besides, this
is no ordinary time. We are in
the midst of war is evidenced by
the moving to and fro of the
soldiery Of our country, and an
emergency has risen and we should
be governed accordingly and
prepare to meet it, but meet it in
the right way.
Lot us incorporate in this bill
this income-tax feature as an
emergency measure if need be, as
a var measure If neceefary. But
you say no, it will no do. You
must not touch the dollars Ct the
opulent and wealthy. You can go
into the home of the poor and take
the father away from the helpless
wife and lite ones whose only
support he is and you can take
the only son from the poor weeping
widowed mother, whose labor is
her all, and you can march them
off and into the bloody conflict,
never to see home and loved ones
again, and that is all right
Nothing is to be thought or said Of
1T. But when you attempt to
touch the dollar of the moneyed
man to pay the expenses of these
poor men and boys while they
fight for you and your country
you throw up your hands in holy
horror and exclaim, "No! Mol
Don't do it'll"
| do not mean to reflect on any.
body, but I tell you, Mr.. Chairman,
it is q nice state of affairs if the
moneyed men of this nation can
come to it's Congress and say to i
any of its committees, "Thus and
thus shall you reI ort to your House,
and thus and thus shall yon not
report" and can then so further
and say to the judges on the
Supreme Bench of our United d
States, "Such and such decisions
shall you render, such and such
decisions shall you not render;
you must pronounce the income
tax unconstitutional"
I do not assert that thia has been
done; 1 only hope that such has
not been the case, and if it has not,
may God forbid that it ever shall
shall be; but circumstances some
times look very, very peculiar,
indeed. But, fellow-members, this
is no time for parleying over petty
differences; no time for dillydally-
ing and trifling, but it is time for
action-wise and manly action.
War is on us and you say we need
money and must have. If so, let
US get it in the right way and from
the right source, and in my opin-
ion, that source is, in part at least,
an income tax. / know that it
will require nerve and backbone for
some of you, representing the
districts and interests that you do,
10 vote for this proposition and
against this bond issue, but in my
opinion the pressing necessity of
the hour demands it, justice to the
greater part of the country dem
ands it, justice to ourselves dem
ands it, and justice to our soldiers
demands it.
Now, will we give it to them?
Do any of you wear Wall streets
,ollar7 Are any of you shackled
by the money power? Are you
afraid to do your duty in this ex-
igency by voting for an income
tax and opposing the issue of
bonds? God forbid But if 80, let
me urge you in this momentous
time to catch yourselves, as it
we're, by the boot straps and to
1874 x,o,rca1yyou hovo no rtiea n hin |