The Irish standard., 1900-06-02
ocrats were denounced as anarchists by

lHc press Oh the NepuDuCan party,
whose fixed policy it is to raise revenue
by tariff for the protection of the
rich at the expense of the bulk of the
people, while exempting the plutocracy
from paying its due proportion of the
expenses of the government.
The Republican party by its tariff
system has enabled favored few to
become millionaires, but it is unwilling
that these millionaires should give an
adequate return out of the wealth thus
accumulated for defraying the national
expenses. Such system of taxation
exists in no other country on earth. In
the British islands the wealthy people
pay cheerfully towards wars of con-
quest, but the imperialists of the United
States want wars of conquest at no ex-
pense to themselves, though they alone
are to reap the benefits.
A great deal is being said nowadays
about the increasing export trade OF the
United States. The balance of trade
during the past year has been enor-
mously in favor of this country. Why?
Because the high tariff on imported
goods and the lack of competition by
the formation of trusts keep foreign
goods away and enable the American
cormorants to charge their own people
nearly two prices, while able at the
same time to compete successfully in
the foreign markets by selling their
goods at half the price charged in this
country. Such state of affairs is rad
ically wrong and demands a speedy
remedy.
To show the discrimination between
the rich and the poor in the matter OF
supporting the government by tariff in
stead of income tax the following may
serve as an illustrations: Imagine a
community with total income of $1o,-
100000 year, divided among 10000
families. Suppose that of these one
family has $5,ooo,ooo year and the rest
$500 apiece. Is it not manifest that the
$5,ooo,ooo which has to support only
one family can afford to pay higher
taxes than the 100000 which has to
support 10000? Yet under Our present
arrangements the second $4,000
would have to pay the taxes on the
food, drink and clothing of ten thou
sand families, and the other only on
those of one family.
In a late issue of the New York
Journal it is suggested that "a gradu-
ated income tax" be placed in the
Democratic platform to De adopted at
Kansas City on the 4th of July. The
following estimated incomes that now
escape federal taxation are given there
in: John D. Rockefeller, $4,000, 1000;
Andrew Carnegie, $24,ooo,ooo; Waldorf
Astor, $o,ooo,ooo; Russell Sage, $780,
600; the two Vanderbilts, 100000
each; and c. P. Huntington, 100000.
By exempting incomes less than $1,000
and fixing a graduated tax of per
cent to 10 per cent on incomes rang
ing from $1,000 up to $1o,ooo,ooo the
seven millionaires mentioned who are
now dead heads would pay every year
the sum of $8,o5o,ooo, enough to build
two battle ships.
The Standard Oil magnate, first on
the list, is said to be worth $3oo, ZOO, 600.
Four years ago his income was esti-
mated at $6,25o,ooo; now it is not less
than $4o,ooo,ooo. He is probably the
richest man in the world, and he has
amassed his fortune out of the pockets
of the people who are taxed. for the
support of the government, while he
escapes scot free. He is only sixty-two
years old and has but small family.
While the average family among the
masses can save not more than $50 a
year he saves $4,000 900, or as much
as 100000 working families, numbering
4, 100000 people. 1t is impossible for
him and his two or three children to
eat, drink and wear as much as they
do, and it is right and proper that he
should support the government in some
other way than by revenue or tariff
tax. No wonder he is playing the part
of philanthropist by donating $780,
600 to the Baptist university in Chicago.
After reading carefully what we say
in this article, is the reader surprised
that the wealthy classes of the country
who reap so many benefits at the ex-
pense of the masses are in favor OF the
Republican party? Does he wonder
that the monster corporations called
trusts contribute millions to keep that
party in the ascendant? Is he amazed
at the vilifcation OF the Democratic
party and its leader, William J. Bryan,
by the reptilian press of the plutoc-
racy? Every sensible citizen who is not
dependent for living on these rapa-
cious vultures should vote against Mark
Hanna's slave in this years election and
turn him out of the White House.
The examination of Miss Maud
Come in Dublin court appears in this
issue OF The Irish Standard. Her an
swers to the questions asked by a
queens counsel show her to be a cour-
ageous and patriotic woman OF whom