Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1892 — MR. MILLS HITS THE GANG AGAIN. [ARTICLE]

MR. MILLS HITS THE GANG AGAIN.

Editor Republican—The editor of the People’s Pilot is again heard from. This time it is not the taxes that seem to worry his soul, and

harass his mind with perplexities; but the fear that the late Democratic tix law will become .odious in the eyes of the voters of Jasper county. In which event |the Democratic party might lose the late accretions that it is alleged to have received in Jasper County, through affiliations with the so-called People’s Party, that was organized through tempting schemes offered by these Democratic wolves who have been wearing the glistening fleece of reform, and who are vainly endeavoring to alienate the J affections of some of our would-be I dissatisfied Republican brothers. In order to accomplish this purpose it

became necessary to create some striking example of mis-management on the part of the county officials This could ‘Dot be done without resorting to false statements and to false reasoning. These false statements have been given to the people with all the apparent candoi r and appearance of truth, as in the allegation that the Republican, county officials have wilfully and without cause, “taken from the people from $16,000 to SIBOOO of the people’s hard earned money to make the Democratic tax law odious.” And false reasoning appears in the redicuIdus attempt to mhke the increase in taxes on the tax duplicate $3,000 more than it is. In addition to these statements, he has accused the bffi.'.AI cials of being guilty of robbing the people, but he does not point to a single case of robbery or defalcation If he knows of any instance in which the officers of Jasper county have been guilty .of crime, it is surely h'is duty to ferret out the guilty parties and bring them to justice. But instead of doing this duty of a good citizen and bringing these guilty parties to justice, this disciple of truth makes allegations that he cannot substantiate, and for the purpose of misleading the people he attempts to answer my statements, in answer to his vile charges. He has not even the political courage to 1 make them specific, nor openly; but he makes them skulking in the dark behind the convenient shield and in the protecting shelter of the“Peopfe’s Pilot.” *.

• See how eager he appears to defend the unjustifiable action of the last legislature in the act irkreasing the assessment of all classes of property in the State of Indiana, and at the same time increasing the State levies so that the State taxes are double what they were in 1890. Even conservative democrats do not justify this action, but hold that it

was an unnecessary hardship on the people. Had the increase been made in such a manner that the excess cculd have been applied z in'wiping out the State debt, that; has grown under democratic rule from 3,000,000. to over 10,000,000 dollars, the burden would have been cheerfully shouldered by the people; but this is . not the case. An amount equal to one half of all the State taxes paid in 1890 is set apart for benevolent institutions, creating a fund of thousands of dollars more than is, or can be possibly needed, to lie idle in the treasury while the people are paying interest on this enormous debt. If he is so eager to let the people know the truth, why does he say that the Rail Roads pay a sum nearly equal to the increase fur Slate purposes? when in reality they hav e

paid less than they paid last year, and they positively refuse to pay any more. In the mean time the County and township expenses have to be paid, and both county and townships will have to economize to have enough money to carry on affairs of public necessity, until the taxes are due for the current year. ’ His statements can not but convince the ( reasonable mind that he, if a tax payer at all, pays but very little taxes. A statement to have weight with thinking people must be consistent. If the people to believe that Jasper county officials are rogues, they must have some specific charges preferred, supported by substantial evidence, and that by some person or persons whose statements are entitled to credence. If our county officials are guilty of reprehensible practices, let him state who it is that is guilty of criminal acts, let him name the person or persons and designate the crime of which they are guilty; if he cannot do this, we will have to conclude that the truth, is not in him.

He quotes: County can point with pride to the officials who have managed her affairs” “says our county assessor” here he stops, why did he not quote the remainder of the sentence ? and add ‘*at the instance of the votes of her intelligent and prosperous citizens, during the last eight years;” “Self praise is half scandal” he says, Was the county assessor elected by the votes of her citizens ?

f One statement he’, makes that is absolutely true, he says times are good, prosperity abounds in field anc shop” and had he employed half the zeal that he now exhibits, in cultivatspotless virtue, that, irrepressible love of the truth, abhorrence of crime and its malignant consequences that he now affects, he would not now be howling calamity “ring methods” “robbery and criminal intention” but would.,be defending the wise administration of affairs that has enabled the people of Jasper 'county to now enjoy that freedom from debt, that era of prosperity of w hich her citizens are justly proud. In conclusion let me say to the editor of the Peopled Pilot, singly or collectively, go mend your ways, remember that the breath of scandal is withering** in effects, remember that the vile tongue that makes- a statement against his fellow man that reflects upon that fellow man’s character with no proven charge, is an object of scorn among men, anc is relegated to the shades of eterna darkness. Surely, it would be too bad to make this < emocratic tax law odious? , . ■ »-

Charles E. Mills.

Mr. Cleveland, in his calamity speech/it the “ notification ” meeting, said that the farmer is listening to a delusive story that fills his mind with visions of advantage while his pocket’is robbed by the stealthy hand of high Protection. Now comes the Senate report showing that pricesof agricultural products have risen, on the average, 13.67 per cent since the McKinley law was enacted. No wonder the farmer “ don’t understand ” Mr. Cleveland’s Tariff platitudes.