The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-05-09

nue., and that this revenue must be {
srgely raised through a national in
.ome tar, which il the fairest and
most equitable Of all taxes.
This IL exactly what the Peoples
Party has contended for In every
1ne Of It's national platforms. The
Peoples Party had been champion
Ing this doctrine for years and years
before the Democratic party OF 1896
placed an income tax plank In It's
We regret to say, how
ever. that since 1896 the Democrat
ic party has never made In Congress
the serious and honest efforts that 1t
should have made for an income
tax. For the last six years the
writer has had, pending in the Sen
ate, a Joint resolution providing for
all income tax or proposing an
amendment to the Constitution i'll
necessary TO carry out such pur-
pose, but has been unable to get 1t
reported from the judiciary Com
mittee Of the Senate either with q
favorable or unfavOrable report.
But we will let that phase Of the
matter pass.
We wish now to call attention e.
pecially to the meaning Of this sud-
den conversion on the part Of the
Republican party in favor of an in
come tax. 1t means, first, exactly
What we stated in our editorial in
the last issue under the heading "a
New Tariff Move" to be the fact;
namely, that the Republican party
was getting ready TO shift its posi-.
ton from protection as fast as posi-
bic. This being 30, of course 1t is
absolutely necessary to raise revenue
by some other means, and therefore,
they naturally come to the POpulist
position favOring an income tax,
because it is the fairest and most
equitable tax. Possibly further
reason may be found in the fact that
the men who have retired from &C.
tive business and who no longer
contribute to the campaign funds,
but who have large fortunes and
large incomes can in this way be
called upon to contribute their fail
share to the support of the Govern,
ment. Even if they do complain
they will be simply a few individ
uals, with large amount Of money
to be sure, but as they are no longer
in active business their political in
fluence is not great, and so they will
not be dangerous to the party i'm
posing an income tax on them. W.
do not mean to criticise the Repub
lican party for being Influenced b!
this motive, but we simply throw
it out as an explanation why it i
the kind of tax that could be lev
led and collected from politica
standpoint with the least resistanc
and least danger, which considers
ton would, no doubt, infiuenc
more or less any political party,
D In this connection, it is also to b
J noted that few weeks ago MI
: ingalls,, the president of the Chess
: peake & Ohio Railroad, who was
. vigorous supporter of Mr.. McKinle
for President, also declared for a
income tax.
!. Every person who believes in jus
: taxation will be delighted to sc
y and to know that the Republica
party, which is now in power and
position to act effectively, is in ia vc
o of reforming our direct taxation I
t this extent, but from Souther
standpoint the milk In the cOcoanu
is the determination, as 1t seems,
take from the infant MANUFACTURER
industries of the South the inciden
al or direct protection which hs
made the manufacturers of tn
n North rich. 1t is this phase of tn
!. question that deserves serious Col
9 sideration from Southern statesme
and the Southern press, and it
p this phase which should appeal I
Q the Republican party not to be sex
i tiOnal at this time, but to be bro a
o and national enough to stand ft
y the best interests of the industris
progress of every section of tn
: country.