Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-07-19
The Road out of the Wilder
noSC

Many Of the Democrats are earaes. and
importunaie TO have Government bonds
taxed. There is a fairness upon the face
Of the proposition which is quite taking.
aud therefore it dads. with the linking.
much favor. What more fair than to tax
securities which bea. good interest. and
which are safe, and iiicsi can 1t ANY time
be converted into gold. or any ether
species OF property: Why should the
Fiel, man. or tine widow with her lew iinIl-
Lreds ee exempted from paying a tax or
this kind Of properly. 10 20 10 farther
than - ask these plain questions, leaves
the matter with many III doub. and per
piexliy. Mea love fairaess aud Justice. or
they commend tses- Qualities. uIs.ier niJst
aay circumstances and tacy nave the pow
er OF discovering WDaI Is rignt and wrong
ordinarily. But let t. iooA Into this snat-
ter Iitlle and see wherein lies fairness
and common Justice.
Daring all the rebellion the Govern
ineHt AS borrower Of money. aud no
time was il in 50 much need OF the siHews
Of war. a. daring he dark periods Of the
war. IL a.Aei tie citizens Of the country
to lend it nioney and take its notes. or
bonds. offering tempting Inducements. that
oil large interest, as compared with former
tunes, and the exemption Of its bonds
50 given. from taxation. 1t did not dis
criluiuate a. to who should purchase its
bonds. but any one. or all, who were in
possession OF funds were invited TO be-
come lis creditor or creditors. The press
Of the country contained long advertise
ucars, and full explanations Of the Ia-
ture of the securities to be given. and of
their advantages. SO that ali could avail
them selves of the Offer. But the circuin- =
stance, were different then from what they
are now. 4 portion Of our people talked
and acted as If the Government would in
the end have 10 suecumb to tie South aud
therefore they would not lend it money
Ii was on the brink Of ruin. as an expert
nent in governing the whole country. an |
therefore must collapse. and DecUm: bank
rupt in purse a. well Is ia it soserei "a
linus itsA>pEN4- mus
serted many Of our citizens. such men
would not invest dollar in five-twentles.
or ten-forties, nor hardly take green
back ia their business tran sactioHs. Thu
situated the men who encouraged the
government to light il out Oh this line :
until the rebellion was crushed, and who
were stimulating aud encouraging the
young men to ill up the ranks of the
Union Army. had also to lead its s,rug-
Cling government their money to pay the
soldiers and sailors. They did this in a
hopeful and trusting spirit. They trusted
the government. and defended it in every
possible way. when il cost something to do
this, and when the croakers in the street:
were as thick as ever the frogs were III
ancient Egypt. Now is it fair. or just,
In t the government has emerged from its
troubles into clear sunshine aud financial
success. for It to break faith with those
who trusted in its honor and believed in
lis ultimate success: Certainly not. But
il MY be said that these securities have in
many Instances changed hands. and that
they are now to be found locked up in the
safes of those who once refused 70 loan the
COVE rDmcnt its funds. Very well. Thi,
is so, but how oes TIL, change the nature
or the force Of the contract. The original
owners have voluntarily parted with their
bonds. and the owners now have not made
so much money a, they would have. had
they been original owners.-Btit the way
to get out of all this trouble is easy and
plain. 1t wassnggested by our brother OF
the Progressive Age some time since. 1t is
that the Democrats. or those who mt first
had no faith in the stability of the govern
meat, and therefore would not lend it mon
ey. sLall now purchase all these bonds and
then ask congress to pass a law funding
Them and making the bonds taxable. This
will be fair. 1t will ease the consciences OF
those who are now troubled because bonds
are not taxed, and will be perfectly salts.
factory no doubt to those who originally
purchased them.
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