The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-05-16

exert q mighty influence IN prevent
ing such unwholesome and oppressive
combinations.
The old honest direct tax system, so
improved by the graduating feature,
If used for the collection Of all revenue
for all purposes,-while from the
statute books are wiped off all other
schemes, revenues, licenses, special
tax. stamp tax, So, &c.,-would
bring wonderful relief to all industry,
revive working energy, increase pro
duction, inspire brotherly confidence,
promote wealth, and greatly prosper
the nation.
New Zealand, which is now boasting
of it's success in economic government
for the people, enacted graduated taxa
ton on its land values and that effect
uaIIy stopped land monopoly; not be-
cause it was a tax on land, but be
cause it is a direct graduated tax.
They also have a graduated income
tax which aids in preventing monop,
DIV; not because it is a tax on incomes,
but because it is a direct graduated tax
thereon.
It is the graduated feature of the
tax that prevents monopoly.
II all u revenue were raised by a
graduated direct tax, tquitably ad-
iusted, we should need no anti. trust
laws, nor any law regulating combina-
ton of capital or monopoly Of any
kind.
Graduated direct taxation would
make the burden Of government rest
lightly on the poor, upon all those who
are working hard, not making much
more than a living, and rest it heavier
on those who need not work with their
hands because their property is earn.
ing more wealth and rapidly sccumu-
lating.
The most natural law supply and
demand" as q leveler Of prices, should
not be arbitrarily interfered with, any
more than the other natural law that
water seeks its level"
II there is any protection needed in
government it should always be to
shield the weak from the encroach
ments of the strong and should eve
be the protection Of wealth as An en-.
vironment around, ever the most en-
larged freedom Of, the individual who
is purely q labor citiz3n
Some may think from the way I
write that we reformeIs are all pessi.
mists but we fully endorse the follow.
ing lines in which it will be seen that
we are the most solid optimists in the
State.
THE POOR MANS THANKS.
Thanks, we have the warm sunshine,
It's free for you and l.;
If t'were not 80, monopoly
Would make a corner cure,
| And messuIe If to poor men
Short Ulntuls Of the sky;
AS we go marching on.
Thanks, We have both Gun and moon,
For them there is no strife;
They give us light at night time;
1--WE work from sun to SUN
They'd cloud them il they dared to,
Anu bEuSB US Will d bhEEuS
As we go marching home.
Thanks, we have some earth left yet,
At least two feet by seven;
Some preachers tell Us, blsndly,
Your rich proud neighbors love,
They need most here for business,
You'll get the most above"
And we go marching on.
Thanks, pure running water clear
Flows free for beast and man.
They want the right to plug it,
And stop it's running go,
They wonder why the waste was
AuoW'd when earth began.
But we 90 marching on.
Thanks, for this great government,
With C0neCitutIon kind;
OF cours there are ''amepdments,"
Proposed by naughty men,
That get adopted,
When they are undivine;
But We go marching on.
Thanks, for that "High'r Government"
Add would there we're no other.
Loves it's law, its purpose pure,
When we shall reach it's shore,
Still and small" we'll hear the voice,
4Ou ubu0 LILY lmhB61 DEOGu6ES
And we'll go marching on.
Farmers and other workers may
sometimes be so cast down that they
fear they are only fit to grovel in ignc.
rance and serve the powers that be-"
1t is not so, because on every election
day in the United States, they have
the full power to readjuet all legisla
tion so as to lift up the down trodden
and relieve the oppressed; to promote
individual human rights and elevate
the standard Of liberty that was set up
by our fathers in the Revolution.