The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-10-24

which was the only real and live
Issue which the Democrats offered
In 1896, must be required to .slumb-
CT for few yesrs.' According "a
senator Simmons, the order of
things next year Is to be Just the
reverse OF what they were In 1896.
AT that time the tariff question was
an embarrassing one for the Demo
Gratis to handle, and they let 1t slum-
Der, until they imagine that the
people have forgotten the many
heartaches and financial disasters
that were directly traceable to the
free trade legislation which had been
enacted by the Democrats while
they were in power"
| AT this point the Senator should
have the New England manufacturer
VINO has grown rich by manufactur-
ing our raw materials from the
South, now wants free trade because
the Snuth has begun to manufacture
its own raw material. He showed
how the South was ready to prosper
by protection as New England had
done. Yet at this very time the
Democratic leaders and the New
England manufacturers are ready to
join hands to rob the South of its
advantages and prosperity under
proper protection for our infant
industries.
Concluding he said:
"The Democratic party having
failed in its efforts to manage our
national affairs, the inquiry which
arises is as to whether it can be en-
trusted with the management and
control of the affairs of the State Of
North Carolina. / am prepared to
show by evidence that is indfsputa-
BILE, that its efforts to legIslate for
the people Of North Carolina will
prove as fatal to the Industrial well
fare of our people from a local stand
point as its efforts in Congress prove
disastrous from national point of
| view.
"The Revenue Act passed by the
last legislature is long step in the
direction of the point toward which
the Democratic party in North
Carolina is drifting. Many of it,
provisions are different from any
revenue act that has ever adopted.
While 1 am informed that many of
the Objectionable features of the
original bill which vas Introduced
early in the session were eliminated
at the same time it contains many
provisions that are calculated to
cripple the industrial enterprise of
our State. So obnoxious are the
provisions of the revenue act that
our State Auditor, among other
things, has been compelled to write
a letter of apology to the officers of
the private corporations doing bust
ness in the State. This letter was
dated June 25th, 1901. Among
other things the Auditor says:
"'This is novel law for our peo-
pie, and yet l do not think it was
the purpose of the legislature to op-
press the corporations by an unjust
tax. am sure it is not the purpose
of this department to do anything
Of that kind. l want you gentle
men to understand that it is the de-
sire of this department to accept the
appraisal which you make of your
property for taxation as final.'
"These quotations furnish the key
note to the situation. When in the
history of North Carolina has the
legislature enacted a revenue act
which was SO odious as to require
the Auditor of the State, who is a
sworn official, to assume the role of |
apolOgist for the acts Of the legisla-
tive branch of the government? Mr..
Dixon says: 4 do not think it was
the purpose of the legislature to op-
press the corporations by an unjust |
tax He Was creful to avoid any,
thing like positive declaration to
the effect that it was not the purpose
of the legislature to oppress the
corporations by an unjust tax.
The Senator then proceeded to |
show up the great injustice of the
merchants tax passed by the last |
Legislature, and also the timber law
and especially the unjust laws against |
private corporations and industrial
progress.
In conclusion he said:
1--WE should bear in mind that |
many of our sister States are possess
ed of equal advantages with that of
North Carolina, and it is suicidal on
our part to enact any law which is
calculated to discourage those who |
are likely to invest their capital in
the many industries that are now
being developed throughout the
State. We should endeavor to en-
courage capitalists from all sections
of the country to come among US
and to assist in the development of |
our wonderful resources. We are
peculiarly blessed with natural adj
vantages, but in many sections we
are sadly in need of the capital |
necessary to secure their utilization.
The prosperity which we now enjoy |
may not only be crippled, but it is
possible for unjust legislation to
completely destroy it. There is a |
growing tendency ON the part Of tt e |
Democratic party in North Carolina
to iscriminate against private corpo-
rations. This class of corporations
get nothing from their charters ex-
cept the right to perform in corpo-
rate capacity such acts as the private
citizen is entitled to do without any
authority from the State. Public
corporations, such as railroads,
municipal corporations, street cars
and woter-works, exercise the right