The Crime of Caste in Our CountryDavenport, Benjamin Rush
History
The Crime of Caste in Our Country
Davenport, Benjamin Rush
Social problems; United States -- Social conditions -- 1865-1918
After reading the above--and presumably it is correct--let us stand in
holy astonishment that Jay Gould should suddenly have acquired over
$65,000,000 of personal property, according to his will, since this
schedule and assessment of personal property was filed, because this
late lamented Gould was the possessor of personal property only, with
the exception of his residence. Therefore it is obvious, since he swore
to possessing only $500,000 of personal property, that he must have
acquired, in some miraculous manner, more than $65,000,000 of personal
property, which he bequeathed to his children, according to his will,
recently filed in the Surrogate’s office in the city of New York.
Mr. George Gould swears that he has only $10,000 in personal property.
Now who believes it? Mr. Russell Sage has only $100,000 in personal
property! and the Vanderbilts each have from $100,000 to $200,000 worth!
Poor men! Let the commiseration of the masses go forth. These
gentlemen, who are accredited with the possession of millions, and
who, when they die, find themselves suddenly possessed of the millions
with which they are accredited by the public, are poor men while they
live, and have to pay taxes!
Right you are, New York _Sun_; an income tax would lead to perjury!
Of course, not upon the part of the gentlemen named--for “Brutus was
an honorable man”--but we will agree with you, after reading this
schedule, that an income tax would lead to perjury. But let us suggest
that we, the people, have elected a man as chief executive of the
nation, who represents us, the “Common People,” and will see to the
execution of the laws of the nation--Grover Cleveland. To be an honest
man and fulfill the expectations of the people, he will see that those
who should pay the expenses of the Government by an income tax shall
make honest returns concerning their possessions, and pay that sum of
money to which the Government is entitled.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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