Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-04-23
From the Albany Journal.
Taxation as q SchooImaster,

The people of the loyal States are about
to pass through-one of the most trying or
deals in the experience Of nations. They
are to be required to pay the expenses of
an enormous war. They are to be called
upon TO assume the burden of taxation
which is swelling at the rate of ten mil
lion dollars a week. They are to be pre-
sented with thealternative of bankruptcy,
reputation and dishonor, or the sacrifice
of the most darling of private interests
for the public veal. They are to be sub
jected to the last test of patriotism, and
confronted with an issue that viii prove
their manhood to the core.
We do not fear the result. They will
prove equal to the crisis. Theywill stand
the test unhinchingly. They will front
the monster taxation only as the citizens
of free country can do. They VIII SG-
cept cheerfully whatever the necessities
Of the hour shall impose. They will suf-
fer the sacrifice of private fortunes and
abandon the pursuit of personal emolu-
ment in obedience to the imperative de-
mands of our imperilled country. Let
the Government have no fear upon this
score. Let Congress dismiss from its
thoughts all apprehension of a revolving
constituency. Let it do its duty fearless
", and with the full assurence that the
country will accept whatever burdens
it may, in its wisdom, see fit to impose.
And there is a sunny side even in this
horror of taxation. 1t will prove, instead
of curse, a minister of benefcence. 1t
will prove one of the best schools in which
the people have ever been instructed 1t
will teach them the most salutary lesson
of the times. 1t will chasten and purify
them instill habits of -eeeAsaazE siE3y,l; -
their mode of life, make them more thrift
ty and proyident; and restore in some
measure the simple tastes of the Fathers
of the Republic.
Luxury has been the bane of all the
nations that have gone before US. 1t has
been the eanker that has eaten out the
heart of older Republics. 1t was the in
sidious enemy that consumed the great
ness of Greece to ashes, that overwhelm-
ed Carthage, that made Rome the prey of
the Nandal and the scoff of posterity. 1t
has assailed us even in the fullness of our
youth and strength, corrupted the springs
OF life at their very source, and threaten
ed to carry us off to premature grave.
But this corrupting of principle will
now be arrested by the strong hand Our
necessities will make us frugal Weshall
learn to dispense with what we cannot af-
ford to get. We shall learn to curtail ex-
penses that run beyond our means. We
shall adapt ourselves to the new condi-
tions which taxation viii enforce. We
shall eat less splendid dinners; drink less
costly wines; smoke less delicate favored
cigars; dress in less splendid apparel
We shall have less grand parties; less
princely living at fashionable watering
places; less building of freestone front
less importing of superhuous
gew-gaws from Paris less aping Of foreign
nabobs.
We shall form habits of simple living.
We shall learn that happiness does not
consist in the possession of a certain num-
ber of dollars. We shall discover that
life can be made quite as endurable on
as on fifteen hundred year.
We shall live to look with disgust upon
our wild life in the days of our prosperi-
ty, and bless the calamity that taught us
such salutary lessons.