Year: 1875

'Twixtthe People and the King.


The Repmbfieam Increase Of Tara


fion.


The proposal Of the Administration to
take an additional thirty or forty mil
lions per annum out of the pockets Of
taxpayers does not meet with much ap-
proval from the public. Taxation is
already higher than the country can
stand for any length of time. Business
is depressed; values suffering shrinkage;
labor scarce failures enormous trades
men losing money. Why should taxa.
tion be increased at such time rs this
What is the money wanted for? Is it
possible that General Grant, who was re-
elected to sustain prosperity" is failing
in that effort? Is it possible that the
Administration is not economical? Let
us see. This money is wanted to pay
Grant $25,O 900 salary per year more than
was ever paid any previous President and
s50,Oo0 per year in perquistes which
any other President would have been
ashamed to receive; to pay for toadyism
to the King of the Cannibal Islands; to
provide the means for sending troops to
New Orleans for the purpose of turning
out the Governor and Legislature that
the people have elected, in order that
the State may be further robbed by
a merciless gang Of public plunderers; to
establish a corruption fund for advancing
the scheme of Ulysses S. Grant to be
elected President for third term, and
for enabling his carpet-baggers to main
tain their hold upon the outraged South
ern States; to supply millions to lot of
speculative Rings, ostensibly for the pur-
pose Of eflecting impracticable schemes
of so-called internal Improvements, which
are not needed, which would be of little
use if completed, and which the country
could not afford to undertake in its
present condition, even if they were
necessary; to cover the OUTLAWS for new
public buildings, custom-houses, post
offices, court-houses, and the like all over
the country, on the system of Mullett,
the roofing, plumbing and gas-iitting all
to be executed by Boss Shepherd; to
raise millions upon millions for new rail
road grants and subsidies, that are to
be rushed through Congress under
the new rule, which deprives the
minority of that power of resistance
which even the slave power, with
all its fury, never diminished; to
provide great sums out Of which Bah
cock and Shepherd, and the other Dis
trict of Columbia scoundrels may defraud
the people by false measurements, lying
vouchers, aud other similar appliances OF
public robbery; TO satisfy the appetite OF
United States Marshal Sharp in Wash
ington, and provide him with sl3O,OOO
year; to pay for the swindle in the fiber
paper on which United States securities
are printed, and to enable Mr.. Adolph,E.
Borie and Others interested in the Ring
to get for their paper two or three times
its market value to fuSnish Landaulet
Williams with the means of procuring
himself carriages and horses and servants,
out of the contingent fund Of the Depart
ment Of Justice; to furnish Secor
Robeson several millions year to be
squandered in jobbery, paid out on
fraudulent and illegal claims, or other
wise stolen, under the pretense of sup
porting a navy, while in his hands the
navy became worthless and useless; to
supply the Indian Ring and other rings
that cluster around the Department of
the Interior with the necessary number
of millions to be taken out by them, so
that they grow rich while the people are
growing poor to give the Congressman
who vote for subsidies an opportunity to
fill their pockets with plumber.


These are few ofthc prominent objects
to be attained by am increase of taxation.
II cannot be expected that any intelli-
gent people would be satisfied with the
programme, which is clear and unmis-
taxable. Instead of this increase, there
should be diminution OF the expenses OF
government by at least thirty millions.
The New York Tribune shows clearly
where this is done. II starts with the
Navy, certainly an inviting field for re-
duction. and advises a cutting down OF
ten millions in that Department, which
would even then be a very large cost ior
the return made. Public buildings and
river and harbor improvements might
also get along with several millions less
Heavy salaries might be reduced with
no injustice TO those receiving them, and
an honest and efficient system Of collect
ing aud administering revenues nigh
he insisted upon. In addition To this
the prospect of trade under such pro
cess of economy would be increased, ant
the same rates now imposed would yiel'