The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-28
THE BOUNTY QUESTION.

IN nVNfNNN nNN
80 ,,-..- m
mhue py the Secretary OF the treasury, con-
corning the equalization bill reported for the
oo.;o,, Of co,,aross 4. .,,oL l. ........,,
80 SUI" s'i ''n'0io"
and mastery presentation OF the financial
dangers and Additional burlens which would
- - q :, q,
ehsue lrom the passage OF the measure, ha'
we trust il will awaken public agitation upon
this question, and cause the representatives
of the people 70 nouse before striking this
fatal blow nj our credit and industry. Mr..
Wells practical business capacity, and his
largo eyperience in relation 10 the revenues
of the country, as well as his profound iudg.
ment on matters Of finance, entitle his views
to great consideration. Upon the subject
of our national debt and its proposed increase
he says:
THE country Is now passing through critical
p eGu q, US eslet'ehce' anu seems "s
and maintained, that the borrowing period for III,
nation has passed; and that henceforth, and unit
tionsI s.osndit"rss ny. ~ hs Dsi NV ,or,,iou sS.
clusively: Nothing less can satisfy the holders OF
me pubic debit nothing less can sustain natona
nation the resource Of loans for future emergonces
The existing public debt of the United State,
;n,a ror.;Ssrn,;"n, !, now cnnr,rotiys,x Tsrss,
than tina. Of any Of the States of the Old World
ana Is only exceeded IN actual 'mount oy mat o.
enormou. debt to such an extent that the annual
interest on the addition will be nearly equal to one
rSo,s GovsrDmout Surin" tho JspSSo 80 20 ~ ~,
commencement of the rebellion"
We cannot see how any patriotic or con.
siderate public servant dare disregard such
testimony, or be needless TO such plain and
startling warnings.
More than two months since, at the very
inception of this perncous measure, in the
columns Of this paper, We urged our obicc-
tons TO the equalization scheme. We called
upon the public press at that time to sound
the alarm and create sentiment which
would prevent fearful increase of our al.
ready gigantic taxation, and save our ma,
tional obligations from dissertation or de-
struction. We have now another powerful
ally in the field; and for the sake of the
country and its prosperity, we hope hi,
counsels will be considered
It may seem an apparent inequality that
Tue SOlultTs lOnNfSl III lut stINFt, WHO NtllI
through the terrible vicissitudcs of the whole
struggle, should not have received the same
amount Of money as those who entered the
service later 1t looks like injustice, we adj
nit that those to whom we owe the most
should have received the least But this j.
no new experience. The history of the world
is full Of similar hardships; and that parable
of orr Saviour, where as much was paid to
him who had toied but one hour as TO him
who had toiled oil day. was related TO prove
to a Christian people that there are inequali,
ties that cannot be adjusted, and hRrdships
that will never be rectified. Whoever sup,
poses that all the cases of suffering or OF
sacrifice which the war of the rebellion Occa-
stoned can ever be renedicd on this earth,
entertains an idle AMI impossible dream.
We can never repay the debt we owe to the
brave men who, in 1861, rushed to the dc,
fence of the imperlled land. This equaliza,
ton scheme will not do it, nor any honor OF
any wealth that can be bestowed on them, OF
upon those they have left behind them, would
commensurate them for their undauntcd
full estimation of redeemed nation is ali
that the providence Of God permits us the
reward to national benelactors when they
are to be numbered by hundreds of thou.
sands. II we cannot do all that we desire,
at least we should not do for The soldier that
which would be for his permanent injury,
as well as for the injury Of the country he
has saved. Nothing can be so detrimental
to this nation as to cause a distrust in it,
credit. Nothing would be SO fatal to the
soldier and the citizen as that. The armie,
have been disbanded; the soldier has agai
sought the avocations Of peace. He is till
ing the soil hammcring at the ap-stonc
watching the looms. or has entered IN,
countless avenues of industry which CLAIM
the needs of labor. 1t is by that labor he i
to support himself and family; by that he i,
to acquire what happiness and prosperity h,
may have in this world. Impair credit, par
alyze industry ind the certain CONSEQUENCE,
is to cease the employment of labor. thereby