St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-07-31

GIaG Wu6H AlSluIy cD6dt 1Oe0iA ~
the disruption of this government,
and a despotism is substituted, it will
be caused by the abuse Of the taxing
power, which is now controlled by the
trust corporations. They have up to
the present time defeated the impos-
ition of an income tax, which is the
only means of forcing them and the
millionaires of the country to con-
tribute a fair share of taxation, at
the same time that they place the
burden exclusively uponthe consumer.
The tariff, by excluding foreign
competition, has given to the Ameri-
can manufacturer a monopoly of the
home market, and encouraged by its
protective and p~rohibitory features,
great corporations have been formed,
and which control the price Of the
raw material Of which every article
of universal use and consumption is
manufactured. They control also its
transportation as well as that Of the
manufactured article, and dictate the
price at which the manufac-
tured article shall be sold. 1t needs
no argument to prove that this is a
vicious and oppressive system of tax
alton. These protected interests
have grown so powerful that they
write the schedule Of the duties in
tariff legislation, and which if always
with studied ingenuity to bear as
lightly as possible upon the wealthy
classes, and to be born altogether
by the consumers, thereby meriting
the scathing anathema pronounced
by Christ against the lawyers:
.sYe lade men with burdens grieY-
GUS to be borne, and ye yourselves
touch not the burdens with one Of
your fingers"
To reconcile the American people
to the yoke, these favored classes
maintain in their pay great numbers
4
Of influential newspaper and writers
Of ability, arguing that protection
brings prosperity to the nation, and
confusing and misleading the public
mind. More than this; by their great
power and influence, they coerce vast
armies Of laborers of the country to
their support, and against their will
and better Judgment.
Thus again meriting the condemna-
tion by the Master Of the deceivers
and oppressors when he said:
"Ye have taken away the key Of
knowledge; ye entered not in yourself,
and them that were entering in ye
hindered."
It ought to be so plain that a way
faring man need not err therein, that
a people cannot become rich by taxa
ton.
While | believe in the principal Of
free trade, it is admitted on all sides
that it would be impracticable at the
present time, owing to the great
demands upon the Federal Treasury.
The raising of revenue by import
duties is also the method Of taxation
most agreeable and acceptable to the
American people, but it goes without
saying that it should be so adjusted
as to bear as lightly as possible upor
the consumer, and an import duty
should only be imposed upon sucE
articles as will bring much revenue
into the national treasury. For thai
reason, and for that reason alone, an
import duty upon sugar and rice il
entirely defensible. The loss Of rev
enue by Tightening the heavy burden
now resting upon the consumers o.
the country could and should be sup
plemented by an income tax, and b,
a heavy import duty on all imported
articles not in common use by tht
masses of the people, such as jewelry
tapestry, rugs, carpets, etc, etc.
The subject is too great a one t
permit of a discussion of details
Suffice it to say an exhorbitant an,
and oppressive tax is levied by th
federal government, upon every al
ticle used or consumed by the peopl
lon the crockery ware, cutlery, tin
ware, and hardware, used in ever
household. On the shoes and clothing
that are worn. and upon all plantation
implements and machinery that on
farmers must employ in the cultiva
ton and harvesting Of their crops
Many articles in general use are sub