The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-06
Taxation and Revolution.

Taxation and Revolution.
From The N. Y. Herald.
The causes which produced ancient revolu-
tions are not fully understood but those
within the range of modern history have, in
many instances, sprung from the efforts OF the
people to free themselves from those burdens
of taxation which bad government has imposed
upon them. Nothing bears so heavily upon
the resources and the progress of individuals
as the fact that very large portion Of all their
gains goes to the inexorable tax gathe rer. It
is reasoned, and with truth, that there is no
necessity for the enormous expenditures which
demand such levies. From complaints, the
whole nation, impelled by the same force and
seeking a common focus, which is revolution,
find in this panacea for their ills.
The fifteenth century gives US an instance
in the German people, who were goaded to
premature revolution by the pressure of
Papal taxation. In the person of Tetzel we
have tax gatherer par excellence, whose
promises of heaven were in proportion to the
amount which he could force by religious
fanaticism from the people. The results were
the first great liberal and spiritual outbreak
in Europe. In England forced loans to carry
on the Spanish war, and finally the 'Tonnage
and Poundage bill," set the revolutionary
ball in motion, which did not stop until the
head of Charles l rolled upon the scaifOld.
France, in the prelude to her great revolution
presents no less sad picture of the results
of oppressive taxation.
The people saw no exit from it except by
the sword, and with the sword they cancelled
their debts. Our own revolution of l776
gathered its force from taxation. South Caro-
lima nullifcation arose from taxation. Our
late Rebellion, in its inception, found much of
II = ~ IL
was an idea around which the Southern leaders
could rally the masses. Spain rumbles with
revolutions to-day, because the people cannot
stand the OnerOus impOsts which corrupt ad-
minstratiOn imposes. Mexico has Just finished
a fifty years war to rid herself from the assess
ments which the clergy made upon all her
capital and energies. Cuba, at our very doors,
is fast being forced into revolution, because it
is impossible for her to prosper under the bur
dens imposed
Now of ourselves in 1867. As we glance
back at the history of taxation, we find that
we have taken it up experimentally, deter
mined to solve the problem of raising revenue
If it costs us a half dozen revolutions or the
disintegration of our nationality. We COM
mence after the fashion of 1898, and must run
through the phases up to the time we can say
that the problem is solved. In 1898 Sully
stated that out of l50,000,000 livres collected
by taxation from the French people, only
thirty million found its way into the public
| treasury. 1t would be an interesting scrap of
| knowledge to us of the United States to know
| what proportion of the revenues collected
| actually inure to the benefit of the Govern
ment. Would it be safe for the Government
to invite revolution by placing taxation before
the people in its true light
Our military government is to-day costing
us one hundred and twenty millions of dollars
annually, and vet we maintain no armed force
as protection against foreign powers, but
rather to dominate ourselves and increase the
costs of government Our total taxes swell to
the enormous figure of one thousand millions
of dollars annually-an impost of gigantic pro
portions in comparison with that of any other
country. There is not European power ex-
istiDg that could stand propOrtionate burden
without revolution; and. our Government
should understand that to be lavish in further
expenditure is to invite repudiatiOn, a COM
plete Overturning of the order of things now
existing, and even a new rebellion. As mat
ters now 60 the national banks, riding high
upon the political tide that forced them to the
surface, are reaping thirty millions of dollars
| annually from the bone and sinew of the
country, which is heavily taxed to pay their
enormous dividends. In fact, they represent
a hydra sapping the public prosperity.
In the train of enormous taxation follow all
those evils which produce feverish condi-
tion of the country. Taxation to excess means
degradation, poverty, ignorance, and iti
attendant evils. 1t means q drawing of very
broad lines between rich and poor and the
creation of classes--a powerful aristocracy
and a lower olass-which bubbles into wa
when oppression can no longer be borne. II
means governmental corruption in its wors
forms-an increase of spoils, and, conse
ouently, hotter contest for office at politica
elections. 1t means the creation OF an arm.
of oface-holders who feed upon the publ
purse without, as individual members Of tn
nation, producing anything for its support
1t means the subversion OF all those principle
, which we have so long labored to keep il
, prominence as the true bases Of our republi
, oanism. This we point out to the people, an,
tell them to guard well the future. The me-
they placed in power to carry out the demand
: of the times and overturn rebellion were we
J selected, and did their work bravely. Now
however other issues demand brains fitted &
meet them, and brains OF another class mus
, handle the great questions that follow our wal
Failing to recognize the truth of this, we shal
lapse again into revolution to settle by th
/ sword those questions to which rebellion CAV,
T ] birth.