The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-08-08
INDIRECT
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.


There are many ways Of applying
and collecting indirect taxes, but there
is only one way to efectually prevent
the evils that arise from such a system
Of tax, and that is to abolish it entire
ly. The only indirect tax that the
United States can at all be justified in,
ia the tariff" or revenue duty or tax
imposed on the products Of other ma
tions that are brought to our markets
and sold. If that duty is imposed
simply for the purpose of raising rev
enue in the United States, then it may
be as unjust as any other indirect tax;
but if it is imposed for the purpose OF
protecting, and so that it does effect
ually protect the labor and industrial
energies Of the people, then it is just
and right; because the people in the
United States, while sovereign IN con
trolling the money and other economic
matters in our own country, cannot
control such conditions for the work
ing people of other nations, whose
manner of life may enable or compel
them to labor under a low schedule OF
prices.
Our industrial people should DO pre-
tected from being brought into unequal
competition with sueh people of oSner
nations.
However, the revenue from such
tariff should be made to benefit all the
people alike, by applying it, cay to the
support of free public schools all over
the United States.
The income tax, 80 much talked about
in it's last analysis is an indirect tax
on industry, because the incomes that
would come under the tax, are largely
derived from the labor Of employe es,
and the employers always reduce the
pay of laborers so as to leave q margin
Of profits and interest on the money
invested, above all cost and expenses;
so the income tax does not fall upon
the capitalist, manufacturer or cor
poration owner, but on the industrial
people whose labor makes capitalists
their money.
This ia why I have always contended
that an income tax would give indus
trial people but little relief. Then in
the end the consumer is made to pay a
part or all Of the income tax again,
and more than five six5hs of the con-
suu,ers belong to the Industrial clas s9s.
We may follow up indirect tex by
wGy OF all licences, euch as manuiGC-
turers' license, inn keepers, lawyers,
dCctors or others professions or bust
ness and revenue stamp taxes, &c.
these are ell charged up as expenses
il business" and in most part, finally
paid by industrial people who are con-
sumers of the wares or ere patrons of
the professions.
Most nogabIe of all these is the saloon !
license or license on spiri5uous liquor,
under the deceptive false plea that it
prevents or limits much intoxication.
Uadtr rhi5 plea and the assumption
that it Furnishes the driD kcr5; the TEN
perance element approve this tax, |
whereas 1t a0serb5 not only the work. |
ers' LABOR, but robs the sisters ana
mothers, wives and children of food,
clothing and necessary comforts al
ready earned, simply because they /
nave drinking brothers, husbands
or fathers.
This is zee result of the indirect tax
on intoxicating beverages or of the
licensing OF evil; to say nothing of it's
teaching fraud and lying and its per |
jury corrupting~ tendencies among mil.
lions OF our people.
l have but briefly noted the indirect
tax for support Of governments, mu-
nlcipal, county, State and Nation, and |
not in a single instance can it be estab
lished in equity, but il il easily shown !
that evil results follow in it's wake. In
fact it is a relic Of imperial government
and vas a scheme so collect revenue
from the people without their knowing !
it," 1t never should have obtained = |
hold in a democratic government
where a sovereign people, promoted by
the patriotic love Of liberty, willingly
contribute of their substance a sufh-
cient revenue for all government sup |
port and public improvements.
Oar American people are as patri- |
otto as they ever were and as willing |
to contribute of their substance as ever
when they feel that they are not be.
ing robbed or ineqUitably dealt With,
and justice TO the people is practically
an impossibility under indirect taxa
eion."
Direct graduated taxation is the only
system that adapts itself to every re-